Planning their daily routine in retirement could be less complicated than most clients think, writes a Wall Street Journal columnist. In fact, most of what they will do as retirees are found in their current daily chores. “[T]he average day in retirement involves a fair amount of puttering,” which “typically doesn’t cost a lot of money,” the columnist writes. It is good news for clients who are worried about burning through their savings. To read the full article in Financial Planning, click: Daily Life in Retirement is Loss Costly than Clients Think.
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It’s not hard to envision Gen X advisors finally achieving things that many of us hoped would happen a decade or more ago. To read the full article in Financial Planning, click: How I Stopped Worrying and Learned to Love the Next-Gen Takeover.
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Tracking IRA basis is critical for avoiding double taxation of assets, but this can be especially difficult for those who inherit retirement accounts. Reviewing the decedent’s Form 8606 is an important first step, and other tax forms can also provide valuable information if this form cannot be found. To read the full article in Kiplinger, click: How Beneficiaries Can Determine IRA Basis.
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Some baby boomers are taking out loans or using their retirement savings to help fund their children’s education. This, in turn, is contributing to the significant debt burden facing some families headed by people over 60. To read the full article in Think Advisor, click: Grappling with the College Debt Burden.
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McDonald’s is teaming up with AARP to post job vacancies for older Americans and also launch a pilot program targeting those who are lower income. To read the full article in USA Today, click: McDonald’s Commits to Hiring Older Americans to Fill Jobs.
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CPAs explain key factors to consider when moving to life’s next chapter. The calendar says it may be time to retire, but how do you know if you are emotionally ready to take that step? The decision to retire is intensely personal, according to Michael Goodman, CPA,PFS, president and principal of Wealthstream Advisors Inc. of New York City, who often counsels individuals on their retirement plans. To read the full article in the Journal of Accountancy, click: How to Know if Retirement is Right for You.
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More than half of older workers experience an involuntary job loss between age 50 and when they retire, an analysis found. Advisers should support clients by showing empathy, assisting with short-term planning, and helping them tap into home equity if necessary. Financial advisers are a valuable resource during trying times, and are in a unique position to help clients navigate the situation while minimizing the financial damage. To read the full article in Investment News, click: Advisers Can Offer Lifeline to Older Out-of-Work Clients.
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In addition to healthy financial portfolios, clients can benefit from “life portfolios” that can promote well-being and provide purpose in retirement. Life portfolios should address factors such as where retirees will live, their health needs, and the people who can give them support and companionship. Use The Adviser’s Guide to Retirement and Elder Planning: Practical Retirement Planning to explore more planning strategies for those approaching or in retirement. To read the full article in Nerd’s Eye View, click: Reboot, Rewire or Retire? Personal Experiences with Phased Retirement and Managing A Life Portfolio.
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In this video, Martin Shenkman, CPA, PFS, and Hugh Magill of Northern Trust, discuss issues that may arise as a result of longer life expectancies and an aging client base. Among other things, they discuss healthcare spending and the changing nature of estate planning. To read the full article in Wealth Management, click: What to Focus on When You Have Older Clients.
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The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act has provided certain advantages for clients, including a 20% deduction for qualified business income and a higher standard deduction. But a cap on deductions for state and local taxes and a different method for determining inflation adjustments could create challenges. “The TCJA has given wealthy taxpayers some interesting changes to their return,” noted Scott Kadrlik, CPA, PFS. To read the full article in Financial Advisor Magazine, click: Potential 2019 Tax Changes Your Wealthy Clients Need to Know About.
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Millennials are using TDFs more than others. Digital firms are paying attention. Some of the leading RIAs, asset managers and TAMPs updated their retirement packages with new tools to track target-date funds and savings statistics, ultimately giving clients more sophisticated information about their retirement options. To read the full article in Financial Planning, click: Why Digital Retirement Tools are Targeting Younger Clients.
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If your clients are super wealthy and want to avoid a big tax bill, they’re better off retiring in Michigan than in Maryland. The IRS collects around $18 billion in estate taxes annually, according to the agency. To read the full article in Financial Planning, click: Where Should Rich Clients Retire?
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CPA financial planners name charitable giving, business structure and estate plans as the areas of clients’ financial plans they have had to adjust most frequently after passage of the law known as the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. Planners can tap into their technical expertise to evaluate how different tax strategies would align with a client’s overall financial picture, said Robert Westley, CPA/PFS. Ultimately, the goal is to ensure that plans “support [clients’] life goals and to keep them and their family secure,” said Andrea Millar, CPA/PFS. To read the full article in the Journal of Accountancy, click: How Tax…
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Retirement assets received in a divorce settlement may be available to creditors, a federal court has ruled. The decision may have far-reaching consequences for clients. To read the full article in Financial Planning, click: Another Crack in Bankruptcy Protection for Clients.
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With the year coming to a close, Kiplinger offers last-minute tips for retirees to enhance their tax savings this year. Clients nearing retirement will need to revise their tax-saving strategies, as some tax breaks are no longer available and replaced by new ones, thanks to the new tax law, according to Kiplinger. For example, these clients should consider running the numbers based on standard deduction and itemized deduction and choose the option that will generate the bigger savings. To read the full article in Financial Planning, click: Trim Tax Tabs with These Year-End Moves: Tax Strategy Scan.
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Clients will be better paying off their mortgage before the retirement date to get rid of the feeling of having a debt burden. Carrying no mortgage debt into retirement will also give clients guaranteed return and greater flexibility in their budget. And about that tax deduction, it is not enough of a reason to keep a mortgage. To read the full article in FinancialPlanning, click: Yes, Clients Should Pay Off Their Mortgages Before Retiring.
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Some wealth management firms are finding that solutions to two of the industry’s big stumbling blocks—succession planning and diversity—may be intertwined. Indeed, a link between the two emerged when firms began to diversify their advisor staffs, according to executives. To read the full article in FinancialPlanning, click: Is Diversity the Key to the Succession Plan Challenge?
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Retirees may face a more complicated tax situation than when they were still working. For example, a portion of their Social Security benefits may be taxed at the federal level if their combined income, which is their adjusted gross income, plus any non-taxable interest and 50% of their benefits, exceeds a certain limit. Their retirement benefits may also be subject to state income taxes. Those who reach the age of 70 1/2 will have to take mandatory distributions from tax-deferred accounts that could boost their taxable income. To read the full article in FinancialPlanning, click: Beware of Hidden Taxes in…
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One rule of thumb that’s commonly incorporated into financial plans assumes clients will have paid off their mortgage before entering retirement. Not only does it ease cash-flow concerns for initial retirement years, but it can also create a sense of calm as clients become debt free. To read the full article in FinancialPlanning, click: Mortgage Advice it Might be Best to Ignore.
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Five years ago, I made the biggest mistake of my career. I gave some untimely advice to a new client and quickly realized the full impact our work can have on our clients’ lives—not just on their wallets. To read the full article in FinancialPlanning, click: The Worst Retirement Advice I Ever Gave.