Why & How to Retire Early
CategoriesArticles/Publications, Retirement, Retirement Income by

Why and How to Retire Early

Are you faced with (or hoping for) an early retirement?

Then you’ll want to do your homework to learn how to retire early without hurting your finances.

According to a study from the Employee Benefit Research Institute, nearly 50% of workers plan on retiring after the age of 65 to collect maximum social security benefits. However, only 19% end up staying that long.

Most of the time, early retirement can be attributed to unexpected events such as poor health, economic downturn, loss of employment, or family issues. However, with the right planning and budgeting, you can retire early on your own terms. Read More

Are Annuities Worth It?
CategoriesAnnuities, Articles/Publications, Retirement, Retirement Income by

Are Annuities Worth It?

Most financial advisors either love them or hate them.

Are annuities the right retirement option for you?

Are you planning for retirement?

If so, you may be thinking, “How do I convert that money I set aside during my years of work into ongoing income?” The financial industry does not suffer from a lack of choices when it comes to investments and, quite often, annuities can be an appropriate option in retirement.

Yet probably no product in existence  generates so many reactions as annuities.

Before you invest in them, however, there are many different things to consider. Keep reading to learn more about what annuities are, the types of annuities, and how to determine if it’s a good investment for your future. Read More

Traditional vs. Roth IRA
CategoriesFinancial Planning, Income Tax Planning, Retirement, Retirement Income, Roth IRA, Traditional IRA by

Traditional vs. Roth IRA: The Pros, Cons, and Everything in Between

Read on to learn the advantages and disadvantages of traditional vs. Roth IRA to make the right decision for your retirement.

 

Planning for one’s retirement is one of the best ways to make sure that you’ll have the means to support yourself and your family when you no longer have a paycheck. And the earlier you start planning, the more prepared you’re going to be.

One of the most important things to know about retirement planning is the difference between traditional vs Roth IRAs. By choosing the right kind of IRA, you could potentially end up saving yourself thousands of dollars.

If you’re interested in learning more about IRAs, then continue reading and we’ll take you through everything you’ll want to know! Read More

CategoriesFinancial Planning, Retirement, Retirement Income, Using A 401(k) by

What Is a 403b and Is It the Right Option For You?

A 401k retirement plan has been a standard part of employee benefits packages since the late 1970s. This type of retirement plan involves withholding contributions from each worker’s paycheck and holding those monies tax-deferred in an investment account until that worker retires. 

Nonprofit, tax-exempt organizations were not able to offer 401k plans to their workers until 1996. Before that year, the only employer-sponsored option for nonprofits and their employees was known as a 403b plan.

The 403b plan is still an option for nonprofit workers and exists alongside traditional 401k offerings. But what is a 403b, exactly, and is it a good investment? Read on to find out.

Read More

CategoriesFinancial Planning, Income Planning, Retirement, Retirement Income, Roth IRA by

What Is a Roth IRA? Everything You Need to Know

Apparently, most Americans are not prepared for retirement. While these people may not be terribly concerned about their future at this point in their lives, many are in for a rude awakening when their income suddenly drops dramatically. 

By having an individual retirement account (IRA), you can diversify your portfolio and prepare your finances for your future. You might not know this, but there are actually two different kinds of IRAs: the traditional IRA and the Roth IRA. 

Read More

CategoriesFinancial QB TV Videos, Retirement Income, Roth IRA, Traditional IRA by

New RMD Rules and COVID

On March 27, 2020, the CARES Act was passed and signed into law.

This massive piece of legislation was passed as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. The legislation made significant changes that impact retirees, retirement income strategies, IRAs, income taxes, and qualified retirement plans like 401(k)s, 403(b)s, etc.

One major impact it made was in reference to Required Minimum Distributions (RMD). Read More