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Category Archives: Retirement
Continuing-Care Retirement Communities: Weighing the Risks
Kelly Greene, who writes retirement-focused personal finance stories for The Wall Street Journal, recently reviewed some of the risks and benefits of an increasing trend among retired Americans. Continuing-care retirement communities have become popular but should be viewed as an … Continue reading
Posted in Financial planning, Retirement
Tagged assisted living, community, continuing care, costs, long term care, retirement, risks
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Exit plan a crucial aspect to small business ownership
Gary’s monthly column in The News Tribune was published in today’s (9/3/10) business section. http://www.thenewstribune.com/2010/09/03/1326289/exit-plan-a-crucial-aspect-to.html#ixzz0yU1OlMta By Gary Brooks Business owners by nature are courageous folks who are comfortable taking risks. But there is one thing that seems to commonly invoke … Continue reading
Posted in Financial planning, Retirement, Small business
Tagged business owner, exit strategy, financial plan, gary brooks, News Tribune, retirement
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Deciding When to Start Social Security
The decision about when to start receiving Social Security benefits is, for many people, the single biggest factor in determining financial security in retirement. Alicia Munnell and her team at the Center for Retirement Research at Boston College have produced … Continue reading
Do you know what to do if you inherit an IRA?
After a couple month break while The News Tribune welcomed a new Business Editor, my monthly column returned today. It details best practices for inherited IRAs. There are some common flaws that keep people from getting the most out of … Continue reading
Posted in Financial planning, Investments, Retirement
Tagged distribution, gary brooks, inherit, inherited, investments, IRA, News Tribune, retirement account, Roth, spouse, taxes
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How to Avoid the 5 Big Investing & Asset Protection Pitfalls of Small Business Owners
Many small business owners demonstrate five important traits that often make them successful entrepreneurs but lower their chances of achieving their retirement goals: Risk #1 – Reinvestment Because their financial future is often directly related to the value of their … Continue reading
Perils of the 401k
Long before the bear market from October 2007 to March 2009, employer retirement plans such as the 401k and 403b, left a lot of investors unfulfilled and disillusioned. The Pension Protection Act of 2006 was meant to improve these plans … Continue reading
Posted in Commentary, Investments, Retirement
Tagged 401k, 403b, advice, employer retirement plan, financial security, goal, retirement income, retirement plan
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IRA might help fill gaps left by employer-sponsored plans
Gary’s monthly column in The News Tribune was published today in the Business section. It examines five things that are often missing in 401k or other employer retirement plans: 1. Broad diversification 2. Inexpensive index funds 3. Money managers who … Continue reading
Posted in Financial planning, Investments, Retirement
Tagged 401k, 403b, column, costs, expenses, fees, index funds, IRA, News Tribune, Roth IRA, socially responsible investing
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Six Rules for Including Rental Real Estate in Your Investment Portfolio
For many people, investment real estate makes up a large percentage of their net worth. Rental property has been a more consistent part of the financial picture for our clients than we ever assumed would be the case. From a … Continue reading →