<i>Breakfast with Benjamin:</i> January was rough, and though Seattle winning the Super Bowl is a good omen for stocks, it's going to be a bumpy ride. Also: How defined contribution assets surged, celebrating 25 years as a top PM, who to thank (or blame) for 401(k)s, finding gems in the emerging markets and who won the Super Bowl of advertising?
Proposal would enable investors to open accounts with as little as $25. But would it turn us into a "nation of savers?"
MetLife Inc., the insurer reducing variable annuity sales by more than half, said rivals that are expanding are probably retaining less funds to back the retirement products.
Fixed-annuity sales in the third quarter reached their highest level since 2009, topping $22 billion. That number represents a 31% rise from the previous quarter and more than a 35% increase from the same period last year.
Major changes that kicked in this year, thanks to the American Taxpayer Relief Act of 2012, likely will result in increased interest in charitable giving by clients interested in softening the bite of even higher brackets on income and capital gains taxes. As a refresher, the highest income tax rate rose in 2013 to 39.6%, while the highest capital gains rate is now 20%. To make things even more interesting, ATRA has also established a net investment income tax of 3.8%.
They're a great way to save on federal taxes, but state treatments differ widely.
Just as advisers have to become experts in learning the best Social Security claiming strategies, they need to learn how Medicare and tax rules could affect their clients' bottom line in retirement.
Don't move funds based solely on the word 'free,' regulator says.
Advisers registered in one state could join new organization and sell insurance in other states.
Fiscal cliff agreement on exemption jettisoned in budget proposal; financial planners scrambling
More Americans than ever converted their tax-deferred IRAs into Roth plans in 2010, led by IRA holders with annual incomes exceeding $1 million. Advisers successfully pitched the switch as a pay now, save later strategy.
Future cost-of-living adjustments applied to larger base benefit
Financial planners share their concerns and actions for mitigating a slow-growth economy and the general trend of wage stagnation.
Financial planning practices are on a collision course with skyrocketing retirement health care costs, which could lead to higher-than-expected health care costs during retirement.
Waiting until age 60 or later to remarry preserves Social Security benefits.
It's a tough discussion that's not going away. It's only going to get tougher.
He will remain head of the DC business; Bruce Wolfe is COO of new business.
