Mortgage refinancing applications surged in the second week of March 2020, jumping by 79% — the largest weekly increase since November 2008. As a result, the Mortgage Bankers Association nearly doubled its 2020 refinance originations forecast to $1.2 trillion, the strongest refinance volume since 2012.¹ Low mortgage interest rates have prompted many homeowners to think […]
Four Things to Consider Before Refinancing Your Home Read More »
As the number of COVID-19 cases began to skyrocket in March 2020, Congress passed the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act. The legislation may make it easier for Americans to access money in their retirement plans, temporarily waiving the 10% early-withdrawal penalty and increasing the amount they could borrow. Understanding these new guidelines
Tapping Retirement Savings During the COVID-19 Financial Crisis Read More »
The due date for federal income tax returns and payments for the 2019 tax year is Wednesday, July 15, 2020. Due to the coronavirus pandemic, the original due date for filing federal income tax returns and making tax payments was postponed by the IRS from April 15, 2020, to July 15, 2020. No interest, penalties,
July 15 Due Date Approaches for 2019 Federal Income Tax Returns and Payments Read More »
Most Americans will receive Social Security and Medicare benefits at some point in their life. Every year, the Trustees of the Social Security and Medicare Trust Funds release lengthy reports to Congress assessing the health of these important programs. The newest reports, released April 22, 2020, discuss the current financial condition and ongoing financial challenges
Social Security and Medicare Face Financial Challenges Read More »
A frequently asked question in our office is related to the subject of Social Security income and whether it will continue in its current form, be changed or be there at all in the future. Since Social Security checks are many people’s primary source of retirement income, what people are really asking is how their
Rethinking Retirement Income Read More »
Today is Veterans Day and we want to express our gratitude to all the brave men and women who have served in the U. S. military. Thank you for your years of service.
We Salute Our Military Veterans! Read More »
Clients hear a lot about different types of financial risks they are exposed to when they plan for retirement; however, when you boil it all down they really care about only one risk and that is the risk of loss. Investors have lost 40% of their portfolio value since 2000… twice! One loss alone requires
Automated Financial Advice – Robo or No Robo? Read More »
This is the second of two posts on how avoiding investment disasters is no accident. It takes careful and thoughtful planning. In our previous post (here) we discussed how a static risk management approach supplies too little protection in bear markets and too much in the bull markets. In fact, a good analogy is to
Avoiding Investment Disasters: It’s No Accident – Part 2 Read More »
It has been some time since I stepped away from a strictly financial planning topic and pulled back the curtain to talk about something more personal. The goal of this e-newsletter every month is, after all, not about me but about how I can help you find Clear Direction for your Retirement. However, with Thanksgiving
Reflections on Being Thankful Read More »
As most of you probably know, the new tax law that went into effect for 2018 presents both challenges and opportunities for many. For many of our clients, one of the opportunities this change created concerns Roth IRA conversions. To refresh your memory, a Roth conversion is different from a Roth contribution. A conversion simply
Roth IRAs and the New Tax Laws Read More »
