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Dos and Don'ts of IRA Investing

Many people own substantial IRAs and have the bulk of their investment portfolios in IRAs. Some of these investors might not realize there are investments that are prohibited from IRAs and others are allowed but incur tax penalties. The issue of how to...

Published 04-03-2009 10:18 AM by Bob Carlson

Filed under: Bob Carson, IRA Benefits, Traditional IRA, Roth IRA, Carlson, Bob Carlson, income taxes, iras, ira distributions, real estate, retirement plan, retirement, retirement plans, employer stock, stock, selling a business, small business, stocks, investments, portfolios
How to Revise Your Spending Plan

The swift declines in most asset classes in late 2008 and into 2009 damaged many portfolios. For those who are retired or near retirement, one necessary step after such an event is to re-evaluate retirement spending. Specifically you have to check the...

Published 03-27-2009 11:24 AM by Bob Carlson

Filed under: Bob Carson, IRA Benefits, estates, Carlson, Bob Carlson, iras, ira distributions, retirement plan, retirement, financial crisis, retirement plans, insurance, annuities, stocks, stock market, investments, portfolios, income investing
Time to Stop Deferring Taxes?

Conventional investment advice has been turned on its head by changes in the fundamentals of the economy and markets. Now, fundamental changes in the government, demographics, and the economy are forcing changes in tax policy and tax planning advice....

Published 03-19-2009 1:34 PM by Bob Carlson

Filed under: Bob Carson, Estate Planning, IRA Benefits, Traditional IRA, Roth IRA, estates, Estate tax, Carlson, Bob Carlson, income taxes, iras, ira distributions, estate taxes, retirement plan, retirement, retiree health care, retirement plans, stock, stocks, stock market, portfolios, income investing
Avoid the Retirement Medical Expense Surprise

The wildcard in every retirement plan is the cost of medical care. It probably is the cause of many retirement plan failures. There are several reasons medical expenses disrupt so many plans: § Many people are used to employer-paid medical care....

Published 03-06-2009 2:42 PM by Bob Carlson

Filed under: Bob Carson, Carlson, Bob Carlson, retirement, medical expenses, retiree health care, health care, retirement plans
The Wealth Effect, Your Portfolio, and Your Retirement

The net worth of Americans is declining. That is no secret, though the extent of the decline will surprise many. The decline has affected and will continue to affect the economy, stock market, and your portfolio. The Federal Reserve gives a picture of...

Published 02-27-2009 9:26 AM by Bob Carlson

Filed under: Bob Carson, Carlson, Bob Carlson, retirement plan, retirement, financial crisis, retirement plans, stock, stocks, stock market, investments, portfolios, indicators, market timing, modern portfolio theory, portfolio theory, market indicators
What is Ahead for 2009

Major structural changes have occurred in the economy and markets, and more changes are on the way. The failure of Lehman Brothers was a watershed event. Investors stopped making even routine transactions, bailing out of even money market funds. The effects...

Published 02-10-2009 2:32 PM by Bob Carlson

Filed under: Bob Carson, Carlson, Bob Carlson, iras, retirement plan, retirement, financial crisis, retirement plans, stock, stocks, stock market, investments, portfolios, market timing, modern portfolio theory, portfolio theory, market indicators, income investing
Taking Advantage of the 0% Capital Gains Tax Rate

For the two lowest tax brackets, the tax rate in 2008 through 2010 is 0% for qualified dividends and long-term capital gains. This compares to the 15% top rate others will pay on those types of income. Single taxpayers with taxable income up to around...

Published 01-30-2009 5:21 PM by Bob Carlson

Filed under: Bob Carson, Estate Planning, estates, Estate tax, tax-free gifts, taxable gifts, gifts, Carlson, Bob Carlson, income taxes, trusts, estate taxes, grandkids, grandchildren, retirement, stock, stocks, investments, portfolios
The Neglected Step: Preparing Your Heirs

Many estate plans ultimately fail. The problems are not with the plans. The owners spent a fair amount of time and money preparing and executing the plans. They are sound plans that, if properly executed, would meet the goals. The problems with many estate...

Published 01-23-2009 2:17 PM by Bob Carlson

Filed under: Bob Carson, Estate Planning, IRA Benefits, estates, Estate tax, gifts, Carlson, Bob Carlson, wills, iras, trusts, ira distributions, estate taxes, grandkids, grandchildren, retirement plan, retirement, retirement plans, selling a business
2009 a Key Year for Roth IRA Conversions

Converting a traditional IRA to a Roth IRA has been a valuable tool to consider since the Roth was created in 1997. There are two reasons why a conversion is worth far more consideration now than in the past . First, a brief review of the basics. A Roth...

Published 01-09-2009 3:05 PM by Bob Carlson

Filed under: Bob Carson, Estate Planning, IRA Benefits, Traditional IRA, Roth IRA, estates, Carlson, Bob Carlson, income taxes, iras, ira distributions, retirement plan, retirement, financial crisis, retirement plans, stocks, portfolios
A Tricky Year-End for IRA Owners

Update Dec. 19: On Dec. 11 Congress passed legislation that suspended the required minimum distribution requirement for 2009. But it did not change the requirement for 2008. the IRS was asked by members of Congress to suspend the requirement for 2008...

Published 12-05-2008 9:15 AM by Bob Carlson

Filed under: Bob Carson, Estate Planning, IRA Benefits, Traditional IRA, Roth IRA, Carlson, Bob Carlson, income taxes, iras, ira distributions, retirement plan, retirement, financial crisis, retirement plans, stock, stocks, stock market, investments, portfolios, market timing
Your Retirement Plan and the New Washington

Come January, Democrats will be in charge all over Washington. They campaigned on a theme of change, and we should expect major changes. The questions are which changes and how will they affect your retirement finances? I will focus on the changes I think...

Published 11-07-2008 12:44 PM by Bob Carlson

Filed under: Bob Carson, Estate Planning, IRA Benefits, Traditional IRA, Roth IRA, estates, Estate tax, taxable gifts, gifts, Carlson, Bob Carlson, wills, income taxes, iras, ira distributions, estate taxes, retirement plan, retirement, financial crisis, retirement plans, stock, stocks, stock market, investments, portfolios, market timing, market indicators
Why Most Retirement Investment Plans Are Wrong—Part I

The current financial crisis and market panic demonstrate why most of the investment plans for those in or near retirement are wrong. There are better ways to manage retirement money, but you will not learn about them from conventional advisors and sources...

Published 10-24-2008 1:58 PM by Bob Carlson

Filed under: Bob Carson, Carlson, Bob Carlson, retirement plan, retirement, financial crisis, retirement plans, stock, stocks, investments, portfolios, indicators, market timing, modern portfolio theory, portfolio theory, market indicators, income investing
Maximizing the New Roth IRA Opportunity

The markets created an opportunity for investors to convert traditional IRAs to Roth IRAs. The opportunity will last only as long as the financial crisis lasts and markets are bearish. Investors who converted their IRAs into Roths earlier this year probably...

Published 10-17-2008 6:05 PM by Bob Carlson

Filed under: Bob Carson, IRA Benefits, Traditional IRA, Roth IRA, Carlson, Bob Carlson, income taxes, iras, ira distributions, grandkids, grandchildren, retirement plan, retirement, retirement plans
A Fresh Look at Family Limited Partnerships

Family limited partnerships have been a key element in many estate plans for decades. The FLP provides an array of benefits to the estate owner, not the least of which are tax reduction plus continuing control of the assets. Those benefits and the popularity...

Published 09-26-2008 2:29 PM by Bob Carlson

Filed under: Bob Carson, Estate Planning, estates, Estate tax, tax-free gifts, taxable gifts, gifts, Carlson, Bob Carlson, wills, trusts, homes, estate taxes, grandkids, real estate, grandchildren, retirement, retirement plans, creditor protection, asset protection, business sales, selling a business, family limited partnerships, partnerships
Avoiding IRA Inheritance Disasters

IRAs are supposed to be simple, but when it comes to inheritance IRAs are more complicated than most people realize. It is not unusual for IRA heirs to misunderstand some key rules. A wrong move or two triggers high taxes, often causing most of the IRA...

Published 09-19-2008 1:31 PM by Bob Carlson

Filed under: Bob Carson, Estate Planning, IRA Benefits, Traditional IRA, Roth IRA, estates, Estate tax, Carlson, Bob Carlson, wills, iras, trusts, ira distributions, estate taxes, grandkids, grandchildren, retirement plan, retirement, retirement plans, stock

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Have You Seen This?

Dos and Don'ts of IRA Investing

How to Revise Your Spending Plan

Time to Stop Deferring Taxes?

Avoid the Retirement Medical Expense Surprise

The Wealth Effect, Your Portfolio, and Your Retirement

What is Ahead for 2009

Taking Advantage of the 0% Capital Gains Tax Rate

The Neglected Step: Preparing Your Heirs

2009 a Key Year for Roth IRA Conversions

A Tricky Year-End for IRA Owners

Your Retirement Plan and the New Washington

Why Most Retirement Investment Plans Are Wrong—Part I

Maximizing the New Roth IRA Opportunity

A Fresh Look at Family Limited Partnerships

Avoiding IRA Inheritance Disasters