By Thomas Mullooly, originally published at Mullooly Asset Management. ACAT Scam ACAT Scam Explained: How Thieves Can Transfer & Liquidate Your Brokerage Account Fast We discuss an “ACAT scam” involving the Automated Customer Account Transfer Service (ACAT). This system was created in 1985 to quickly move accounts from one broker to another. Tom describes how […]
Thomas Mullooly
By Jonathan Ping, originally published at My Money Blog. Vanguard has been a big part of building my net worth, and I’m always watching to see if they are keeping the culture. Barron’s last week ran the article Vanguard Conquered the ETF World. Where It’s Aiming Next, but it’s probably behind a paywall. Well, the […]
Jonathan Ping
One of the most challenging realities of retirement planning is the risk that long-term care needs in the final few years of life can consume a disproportionate amount of a household’s entire retirement savings. At best, this culminates in a fear that someone might not be able to afford their desired level of care in […]
Michael Kitces
Key Points Increasing your income today and verifying the accuracy of your earnings record can boost future benefits. Your earnings record tracks how much money you’ve paid Social Security taxes on throughout your career. Only the income that you pay Social Security payroll taxes on will boost your future benefits. The $23,760 Social Security bonus […]
Key Points A retirement income of $120,000 would be a generous income for most seniors. Investing enough to produce $120,000 in income may be within reach, especially if you start early. You need to set a savings goal based on a safe withdrawal rate to avoid draining your accounts too fast. The $23,760 Social Security […]
Key Points Retired workers born in 1960 or later get 70% of their primary insurance amount (PIA) if they claim Social Security at age 62, but they get 124% of their PIA at age 70. These retired workers can increase their monthly benefit payment by 77% if they simply claim Social Security at age 70 […]
Key Points At 67, you can collect your Social Security benefits without a reduction if you were born in 1960 or later. Filing at 67 could lead to more guaranteed income for life — and more peace of mind. It could also make life less complicated if you opt to continue working while getting benefits. […]
By Ben Carlson, originally published at A Wealth of Common Sense. One of the hard parts about using history as a playbook in the markets is we don’t have a huge sample size. In the past 100 years or so, there have really only been three secular bear markets and three secular bull markets. Since […]
Ben Carlson
By Jonathan Ping, originally published at My Money Blog. Groupon has brought back their limited-time deal on new Costco Gold Star or Executive Memberships. There are two options. $65 for Gold Star Membership Package 1-year Gold Star Membership (normally $65 by itself) Membership card for the Primary Cardholder and one additional Household Card for anyone […]
Jonathan Ping
By Nick Maggiulli, originally published at Of Dollars And Data. A year ago I wrote the blog post Why I’m Bearish on U.S. Stocks (for the Second Time Since 2017). Since then U.S. stocks are up 16% (total return) and my bearish prediction turned out to be misguided. So where did I go wrong? And […]
Nick Maggiulli
Welcome everyone! Welcome to the 504th episode of the Financial Advisor Success Podcast! My guest on today’s podcast is Sheri Fitts. Sheri is the founder of Sheri Fitts and Co., a marketing, event, and consulting business that works alongside financial advisors and firms. What’s unique about Sheri, though, is how she helps financial advisors develop […]
Michael Kitces
Key Points Many people simply need those benefit checks as soon as possible. Most of us would do best delaying until age 70 to maximize our benefits. Think through your choice carefully before making a decision. The $23,760 Social Security bonus most retirees completely overlook › Most of us have Social Security benefits to look […]
Key Points Social Security probably won’t be enough to support you by itself. There are ways to increase your future benefits. Social Security’s coffers are shrinking, threatening future benefits. The $23,760 Social Security bonus most retirees completely overlook › As we enter our 50s and start dreaming harder about retirement, we’re also probably thinking at […]
Key Points At 70, there’s no sense in delaying Social Security. If you haven’t claimed benefits yet, you may want to do so immediately. You can continue working without having to worry about having benefits withheld. The $23,760 Social Security bonus most retirees completely overlook › By the time many people reach age 70, they’ve […]
By The White Coat Investor, originally published at The White Coat Investor. By Jim Dahle, WCI Founder <!–Disability insurance agents routinely criticize group disability insurance policies and for plenty of good reasons. However, I bought one anyway more than a decade ago. Let me explain why. But first, a brief review of why group disability […]
The White Coat Investor
Key Points You may be eligible for Social Security as the spouse (or ex-spouse) of a qualified recipient. It’s important to know when spousal benefits become available to you. While you get a choice in when to claim, it’s crucial to file strategically. The $23,760 Social Security bonus most retirees completely overlook › A lot […]
By Rick Kahler, originally published at Financial Awakenings. How volatile your portfolio feels depends mostly on how often you look at it. Daily prices jump around. Weekly prices jump less. Monthly prices are smoother than weekly, and annual prices are smoother than monthly. Checking more frequently does not change your investment. It does change your […]
Rick Kahler
Key Points The average 401(k) match, claimed consistently, could be worth up to $1.38 million by retirement in ideal conditions. Your actual rate of return will depend on how consistently you save, how long your match is invested for, and what kind of return you earn. Claiming a partial 401(k) match, if you can afford […]
