Retirement Planning
« Previous EntriesA Glimpse into One Retirement Future
Wednesday, December 31st, 2008Mrs. ToughMoneyLove and I are wrapping up our short visit with family in Florida. This visit has exposed us again to the different retirement lifestyles available in one of the most popular retirement destination states. Florida is attractive to retirees both for the weather and low taxes, including no state income tax.
My Dad lives in [...]
Your Home as an Investment? Let’s Re-think this.
Sunday, December 14th, 2008Mr. ToughMoneyLove engages in many debates over “good” and “bad” debt and the logic of having substantial equity in your home or even paying off your mortgage. Regarding the latter, some folks insist that their home is an investment and resist building equity through their own efforts (such as making a substantial down-payment.) Instead, they want [...]
Sad Worlds Collide: The Unretired vs. the Unemployed
Sunday, December 7th, 2008The dramatic rise in unemployment (over 500,000 jobs lost last month) may be combining with an equally dramatic drop in the value of retiree investment accounts (40% and counting) to create a perfect storm. More specifically, the recently unemployed may be competing head-on with the newly “unretired” for many of the precious-few open jobs that will remain in our economy.
Year End Retirement Funding: The Moment of Truth Approaches
Tuesday, November 18th, 2008Many of us still have an important personal finance decision to make this year: Whether and how to fully fund our IRA’s and/or 401(k) for 2008. (Mr. ToughMoneyLove has already maxed out our 401(k) funding but re-balancing and non-deductible IRA funding are still decisions in process.)
Actually, 2008 IRA funding can be deferred until you file your [...]
How to Maintain Optimism in Tough Economic Times
Tuesday, October 14th, 2008Yesterday Mr. ToughMoneyLove suggested that ordinary Americans protest the credit and market meltdowns by burning their credit cards. Expressing your anger is helpful when channeled in a symbolic way.
But do not let your anger morph into feelings of hopelessness, helplessness and resignation. You can’t afford it. You must fight back.
The Market Falls While Congress Stalls: My Plan Revisited
Tuesday, September 30th, 2008When the U.S and international markets experienced their first drop following the failure of U.S. investment banks, Mr. ToughMoneyLove described his tactical money moves in response. I then described why doing nothing aboout our investment allocations was an appropriate strategy.
Yesterday’s market crash was yet a new event to consider because of both its depth and breadth. By [...]
Looking for a Financial Planner or Advisor? Start Here.
Monday, September 29th, 2008A New Era Dawns in the Need for Personal Financial Planning
As the chaotic behavior in the markets subsides, and with increased regulation of financial services on the horizon, a new era in retirement planning and financial planning will likely set in. Tax rates will have to sharply increase to pay for recent government rescues and bailouts. Baby [...]