Saving money isn’t easy. If you’re trying to save money for retirement — and for your child’s college tuition — at the same time, you know just how difficult it can be. Fortunately, with proper financial planning, you should be able to comfortably accomplish both goals. Funding Your Retirement If you’re like many individuals, you […]
Getting Started: What’s Taxable in Retirement and What’s Not?
Here are tips for minimizing taxes in retirement. The first step to minimizing your taxes in retirement is knowing what is taxable and what is not. You can then take steps to avoid or limit taxes on your investments. Here is how the IRS treats the most common sources of retirement funding. It is impossible […]
What Happens to Your Unused Retirement Account Contributions?
Do you know what happened to that money you contributed to your employer’s 401K program? Are you worried it’s lost for good? Don’t fret, we’ve got you covered on what happens to your unused retirement money. Did you quit? If you have more than $5,000 invested in your 401K, most plans allow you to leave […]
Know Your Business Retirement Accounts: Simple IRA, SEP, Solo 401K and ESOP (Updated for 2021)
Being aware of the different types of self-employed retirement accounts that are available to you is important to get the most out of your retirement and retirement planning. The accounts that are available to most employees are your typical IRA and 401K with Roth and Traditional kickers. However, your account options are much more plentiful […]
Taxes, Contributions, and a Self-Directed IRA: Your Questions Answered
Ultimately, what makes or breaks a decision on what type of self-directed IRA is right for you will probably come down to tax structures within the account. That means it’s crucial to understand what these benefits mean, the limitations placed on them, and what that means to you. Self-directed IRAs are powerful tools that can […]
Multiple Methods for Investing in Real Estate in a Self-Directed IRA
Utilizing real estate as an investment opportunity is possible with any amount of money. It’s one of the most sustainable methods for building wealth over time. A significant number of the world’s wealthiest people have made their empires using real estate. Real estate is a relatively safe and understood vehicle that gives investors options. Here […]
Investing in Precious Metals with your Retirement Account (updated for 2021)
Should you invest in gold? Answers to this question tend to gravitate toward one extreme or the other. Many investors on one side of this discussion believe that investing in gold is a losing proposition because it does not pay any interest and dividends and it costs money to store and protect. On the other […]
What you Need to Know About REITs Before Diving in
You may or may not know that REITs (real-estate investment trusts) that invest in all sorts of commercial real estate, have been a favorite of investors for years. Why are REITs a favorite? There are a few reasons why. Get used to volatility REITs can definitely play it hot and cold, and they aren’t a […]
Estate and Financial Planning Guide for Families of Children With Special Needs
Everyone, no matter how wealthy, has an estate — all of your personal belongings, money, and assets — that needs to be taken care of after you pass away. Similarly, everyone has a default estate plan outlined by their state government, but this plan likely doesn’t align with your wishes, benefit your assets, or result […]
Control your Investments With a Checkbook IRA
Do you have an IRA or a 401K? According to the Federal Reserve’s Survey of Consumer Finances, in 2013, about 45 percent of households aged 25 to 64 had balances in retirement accounts. Do those 45 percent of Americans know what their retirement accounts are invested in? Most likely not, and that doesn’t bother most […]
How to Use a Self-Directed IRA to Invest in a Real Estate Investment Trust
A real estate investment trust is a company that owns or finances real estate. A REIT will invest in rental properties (known as equity REITs), or finance the mortgages (known as mREITs), or both. If you know how a mutual fund works, REITs operate similarly. Investors pool their money to build enough capital to fund […]
As a Small Business Owner, What Are Your Retirement Plan Options?
Being self-employed gives you a certain measure of freedom, but it definitely doesn’t give you an out on skipping on something as important as saving for retirement. There’s an argument that it makes putting money away that much more critical, because unlike an employee who might have access to a 401K, you’re on your own. […]