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Retirement 101: Roth IRAs

by Ron

Roth IRAs are one of the greatest wealth vehicles that has been made available to the average person in decades. By using after tax dollars to make your contributions, your growth and earnings are not taxed when you withdraw them after age 59 1/2! Roth IRAs are similar to traditional IRAs, but with three major [...]

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Retirement 101: Traditional IRAs

by Ron

Traditional Individual Retirement Accounts, called Traditional IRAs (or often just IRAs for short), are retirement plans that you can set up on your own, whether or not you participate in other, employer-sponsored retirement accounts. How Traditional IRAs Work Unlike 401(k)s, 403(b)s, and 457(b)s, traditional IRAs are retirement accounts that you set up directly with a [...]

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Why I Bought Life Insurance On My Kids

by Ron

One of the biggest myths surrounding the purchase of life insurance is that you’re only insuring income. Nothing could be farther from the truth, just ask anyone who’s lost a loved one and had to get back to work the day after the funeral. I have a friend who lost his young son in a [...]

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Retirement 101: 403(b) and 457(b) retirement plans and how they differ from 401(k)s

by Ron

403(b) plans are similar to 401(k) plans but are reserved for employees of tax-exempt nonprofit organizations, such as public schools, hospitals, foundations, charities, and churches and other religious organizations. Like 401(k)s, 403(b)s allow you to set up tax-deferred accounts and invest in mutual funds, stocks, bonds and various other investments. 403(b)s vs. 401(k)s There are [...]

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Retirement 101: 401(k) Retirement Plans

by Ron

One of thehe most common employer-sponsored retirement plans, 401(k)s, are offered primarily by larger, for-profit companies with 10 or more employees, though tax-exempt organizations may also set up 401(k) plans. If your employer doesn’t offer a 401(k) retirement plan, you may still be eligible to open an IRA (Roth or traditional) through online brokers like [...]

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May 2012 PowerPerks from PerkStreet: Get 5% Cash Back

by Ron

If you’ve read this site for any length of time, you know how much I love the PerkStreet checking account for its cash back rewards programs, its no-fee approach, and its ease of use. One of the great things about this unique bank is its commitment to rewarding customers everyday and its commitment to “mix [...]

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Retirement 101: Basic retirement plan terminology

by Ron

Before you can compare the various types of retirement plans and decide which one suits you best, it helps to know some basic retirement plan terminology so I assembled a listing of the most common terms used in retirement planning. It helps to be on the same page! Eligibility Requirements You must meet certain criteria [...]

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Retirement 101: An overview of different retirement plans

by Ron

A retirement plan is an investment account designed to encourage you to save money for retirement by providing special tax benefits. The plans are open only to account owners (called participants) who meet certain qualifications based on income and other factors. There are dozens of types of retirement plans available to US workers but over [...]

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Are Stocks Cheap or Expensive? Four ways you can tell

by Ron

The stock markets are trending higher, extending some recent gains and sparking the debate about whether stocks are cheap or expensive. With the markets difficult to predict and valuation swings from one extreme to another, it’s time for a refresher on some of the more traditional ways that stocks are valued. And not just if they [...]

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5 Easy Steps to Rollover Your 401K Into an IRA

by Ron

I recently received this email question from a reader who asked that I not use her name: I have about $42,800 in a 401(k) with my former employer that I want to rollover into an IRA. I really don’t know where to start. I also have a 401(k) with another $1,200 at another job. I [...]

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10 Investing Principles For The Ages

by Ron

Although it’s tempting to think that our time in history is somehow different and we need to alter the way we invest our money, solid investing principles never go out of style. Reading comments made both before and after the Great Depression from 80+ years ago sounds like many investors today. Before: “We’re in a [...]

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When Should I Hire A Financial Planner?

by Ron

When to hire a professional financial planner is a question many people struggle with. No one wants to overpay for services or products and no one wants to be made to look like a dolt by a smooth talking seller of financial products. Making the decision to hire a financial planner can be disconcerting if [...]

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