All around us are some pretty ominous signs: this has been a wetter than normal year (at least here in the Midwest), flu seems to have started earlier than normal (seasonal influenza, that is), and last Spring we saw a lot of signs pointing to the influx of H1N1 influenza – globally. If this is [...]
Posts from ‘October, 2009’
Have Confidence – In Good Times and Bad
Note: this is a re-working of a note I received in email today… it’s not necessarily about investing, but rather success in all things. It is particularly applicable to financial matters, I think, as it is critical to maintain confidence in your plans, both in prosperity and adversity. Confidence is one of your most important [...]
Estate Tax in 2010: Redux and Predictions
As an update to the earlier post – “Estate Tax Changes for 2010 and 2011” – I’ve recently seen some compelling arguments and interesting predictions about what may or may not happen with the Estate Tax for 2010. Prognosticators Things may be a little different from what I described in the earlier post. Some very [...]
Sam, You Made The Pants Too Short!
With apologies to the writer and performers of the original “Sam, You Made The Pants Too Long!”… This article is about what happens when your IRA declines substantially in value and you’ve put a 72t Series Of Substantially Equal Periodic Payments plan (SOSEPP) into play – and the decline in value has brought your IRA [...]
3 Ways to Do a Roth Conversion – Tax Free
So you’re hearing all about this Roth IRA conversion – for 2010 there are no income limitations as there have been in the past – and you’re wondering if there is a way to do this tax free… There are actually several, three of which I’ll list here. After-Tax IRA Contributions If your IRA is [...]
Turns Out You CAN Be A Little Bit Pregnant
Remember back in junior high (or whenever it was) during health class (or sex ed, or whatever they called it for you) – how it was explained that pregnancy is a black or white thing; “nobody gets just a little bit pregnant” was the story my health teacher gave us to remember. As it turns [...]
Economic Slowdown Impacts Prepaid Tuition Plans
Several months ago I pointed out an article where the Illinois prepaid tuition plan, CollegeIllinois!, seemed to be elated over the impacts of the economic downturn on other types of 529 savings plans. Essentially these prepaid plans offer a guarantee of value – the cost of a semester of college at an in-state public institution [...]
Facing the Possibility of Incapacity
Incapacity means that you are either mentally or physically unable to take care of yourself or your day-to-day affairs. Incapacity can result from serious physical injury, mental or physical illness, mental retardation, advancing age, and alcohol or drug abuse. Incapacity can strike anyone at anytime Even with today’s medical miracles, it’s a real possibility that [...]
401(kids)? A Rehash of the Coverdell
With much fanfare, Illinois congressman and US Senate candidate Mark Kirk (R-Illinois) has pushed his plan, adorably referred to as 401(kids) (see news story here). But what is this plan he’s referring to? Unless I’m missing something, this is the Coverdell ESA (Education Savings Account) that has been in existence for quite some time now. Kirk’s [...]
IRA Trick – Eliminate Quarterly Estimated Tax Payments
Retirees: don’t you get tired of making those quarterly tax payments? January, April, June and September, like clockwork, you have to hand over tax money, just because you’re receiving a pension, retirement funds, and/or Social Security benefits. What if there was a way to send this money off one time, and then you wouldn’t have [...]
And if you've come here to learn about queuing waterfowl, I apologize for the confusion. You may want to discuss your question with Lester, my loyal watchduck and self-proclaimed "advisor's advisor".
