Estate taxes are a hot-topic amongst both political parties and often big news when they are brought to the forefront of campaigns. While the parties battle back and forth, there are still some ways you can potentially reduce the impact of taxes on your estate. Using an estate planning checklist is a good place to start, as it helps you map out your estate planning strategy. Rather than take estate planning advice from just anyone, consider what you really want to do with your money and look for estate planning tips that are tailored to the plans, goals, and ideas you have. Here are five potential ways to lower your estate tax bill. [+] Read More

It’s been quite a bull run for stocks, and the benefits are many for those who have been heavily invested in the stock market these last seven years.1 However, there is a downside to such a run, taxes on capital gains distributions. Over the past several years, the amount of capital gains has steadily increased, and the increase will likely continue as long as the stock market continues to rally. This leads investors to wonder what they can do to decrease their tax burden. Before we talk about possible strategies, let’s take a look at the situation. After several years of gains, funds began making payouts, just small payouts at first and gradually larger and larger percentages per share. These payouts qualify as taxable gains, and as such, they are taxable. Additionally, payouts lead to outflows when what you really want to do is preserve your capital. Capital gains don’t often fit into investors’ long-term wealth strategies, so it’s wise to know what other options are available to you. [+] Read More

Another day, another headline about a potential Greek exit from the eurozone. The “negotiations” between European leaders and Greece over the past few days have ended in (sometimes quite bitter) stalemates, and Greece is running out of time to secure their next bailout. They owe the International Monetary Fund €1.53 billion by June 30,1 and it does not appear as though they have the cash needed to pay up. So what does this mean for investors and your portfolios? If Greece does not strike a deal with other members of the eurozone very soon, it could mean a messy exit from the currency bloc and could have rippling effects on Europe and the global economy. As investors, it is one thing to think about how Greece’s economy would fare on its own without the support of Europe (might not be too pretty), and entirely another to mull the rippling effects that a “Grexit” could have on the rest of the world. [+] Read More

Filing taxes often puts our financial lives under a microscope, and that’s a good thing – we take stock of where we stand financially and we can review strategic opportunities for how we take income, how we spend, and how we invest. With all of this information already out on the table, a sound next step is to shift focus to your estate plan. Tax and estate laws are constantly changing, so the planning process can be complex and you should enroll the help of professionals in each area as you get started. But there are also a few core elements of planning that have been fairly constant over the years, and we’ve assembled them into an estate planning checklist for you as a basic guide. [+] Read More

After years of cash yields of nearly zero across North America and Europe,1 the Federal Reserve has indicated that it is finally moving toward moving interest rates higher. [+] Read More

Income-yielding investments can be an integral part of your retirement lifestyle planning. Incorporating dividend growth investments into your retirement plan doesn’t have to be difficult. When choosing investments that will provide a steady stream of income, look beyond just fixed-income securities like bonds, CDs, and money market funds. Stocks, too, can be an important source of investment income. [+] Read More

Many people think of Social Security as a steady, if meager, contributor to their retirement income—no flexibility, but at least it shows up monthly. The truth is, however, that there are strategies you can use to maximize your Social Security income. By incorporating these strategies into your overall retirement lifestyle planning, you can provide yourself with more options during retirement. The Restricted Application for Spousal Benefits The Restricted Application for Spousal Benefits allows for one spouse to begin collecting spousal benefits even as their own retirement benefits continue to grow. If you continue to let one spouse’s benefits grow until age 70, the benefit will be quite a bit higher than it would have been if collected at age 66. [+] Read More

With much fanfare and a great deal of press, legendary bond investor Bill Gross shockingly announced his resignation from PIMCO on September 26, after 43 years with the company. Known as the “Bond King” for his track record managing the $222 billion PIMCO Total Return fund, Gross was leaving the company he helped found in 1971 and that he grew into a $2 trillion behemoth.1 Whatever the reasons behind his departure, it gives investors good reason to ask an important question: when the portfolio manager leaves a fund, should you remove your investments from the fund? The four considerations outlined below will help answer this important question. [+] Read More

Mistakes in your retirement plan can have a big impact on your future retirement income. The good news is that there are relatively simple solutions to these kinds of mistakes. The key is to identify these mistakes before they’ve had time to become problems. Once you’ve identified them, you can take the appropriate measures to get back on track. In fact, using your financial advisor as a sounding board and involving your loved ones can help fix the following 6 common retirement mistakes. A Do-It-Yourself Mentality Many investors have a knack for taking care of themselves, whether it’s installing a new bathroom floor or investing on their own, but this do-it-yourself mentality can backfire when it comes to your retirement investment plan. [+] Read More