Category Retirement
The Father of the Modern 401(k) Says It Fails Many Americans
<http://www.marketplace.org/topics/sustainability/consumed/father-modern-401k-says-it-fails-many-americans> “Thus began the era of make-your-own-retirement.” The 401k wasn’t exactly an accident – it was intentionally put into the tax code. But the blockbuster growth of it, and the way it’s supplanting the traditional pension more and more – that was not the original intention. Scott Tang at American Public Media (NPR) discusses the […]
How to Save More For Retirement Without Really Trying
Today’s column from the excellent Jason Zweig: http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424127887323361804578390313278109482.html?mod=djintinvestor_t How to Save More For Retirement Without Really Trying [Click the link above to read the entire article] A highlight or two: • When people want to save but can’t bring themselves to do it, their retirement funds need to do the saving for them—automatically. • At companies that […]
The 4% rule and its failings
The 4% rule and its failings There are plenty of articles about shortcomings of the 4% rule – which is still a great *starting point* if not a real plan. The WSJ brings up a few alternatives to help overcome the problems with the 4% rule: http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424127887324162304578304491492559684.html?mod=googlenews_wsj Some of the adjustments/alternatives discussed: (1) using […]
Delaying the start of Social Security
Delaying the start of Social Security – potentially a fantastic deal [Note, this post is from our On The Spot newsletter. We publish it infrequently and strive to always include helpful, informative articles such as this one. Sign up here: http://www.meyersmoney.com/resources/special-reports/ and we’ll also send you a copy of our most recent “10 Things” special […]
Real 10 year yields
From an article about adjusting assumptions for retirement withdrawal rates in a ‘yield-free’ world. http://www.advisorone.com/2012/06/27/retirement-in-a-yield-free-world?t=the-retiree The author makes some important points about the rule-of-thumb that so many use for planning the level of withdrawals that’s “safe” from a given portfolio (or flipping it around, the level of savings that will be necessary to […]
Counting on an Inheritance? Count Again.
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052702303990604577370001234970954.html?mod=googlenews_wsj From the Wall Street Journal on Monday, June 11, 2012: Worth the read. Great reminder that (a) you should probably not be planning on an expected inheritance to take care of your retirement savings for yourself; (b) you should seriously be having a frank talk with your parents about their finances; (c) your siblings […]
Saving For Retirement: 10 Things You Need To Know
We periodically make special reports available to our clients and others. Please let us know you’re interested by filling in your e-mail address below. We are currently offering “Saving For Retirement: 10 Things You Need To Know”. The report is free. http://www.meyersmoney.com/resources/special-reports/
Zvi Bodie, TIPs, Zero-Cost Collars and Equity Risks
Major piece in today’s Wall Street Journal, “Why Stocks are Riskier Than You Think” by Zvi Bodie and Rachelle Taqqu http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970204795304577221052377253224.html?mod=googlenews_wsj (Of course, Bodie and Taqqu are also hoping that this article will lead a lot of people to buy their recent book, “Risk Less and Prosper”. Bodie and Taqqu’s own retirement plan likely hinges […]
Choosing a financial planner: 5 red flags
http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-505144_162-57356132/choosing-a-financial-planner-5-red-flags/ A nice article from CBS’s MoneyWatch site. Summary – Watch out for the following things (notes which follow the bullet points are my own): Variable Annuity pitch – sometimes these may be appropriate, but certainly they are not something anyone should suggest at a first meeting. If they are suitable, they require a detailed […]
WSJ – The Bond Buyer’s Dilemma
The Bond Buyer’s Dilemma The yields on long-term US Treasury bonds will likely fall below inflation for years. Fortunately, some reasonable alternatives strategies exist for investors. http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970204449804577068152764286924.html –snip– A few bits and pieces from the opinion piece: Are we in an era now when many bondholders are likely to experience very unsatisfactory investment results? I […]
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