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For 2010 the Medicare Part B premium has increased to $110.50 although most people will continue to pay the 2009 rate of $96.40. Most people have their Part B premium deducted from their monthly Social Security benefit check. In 2010, Social Security benefits won't include a cost-of-living adjustme...

Tax-favored Section 529 college savings plans have been popular in New York state for many years. The 529 college savings plan starts to look even better when tax rates are on the way up as all of the income and capital gains earned within the the plan grow tax free, as long as the proceeds are ul...

No doubt this rule sounds like a contradiction of my rules #3 and #2. I spent time talking about how to be careful with your assets and control your spending. And those are important rules that merit attention - prerequisites, if you like. Once you feel comfortable with those two rules, you can focu...

If you retire at age 66 (full retirement from Social Security) you can expect to live to age 84. In an era of low interest rates you will need to squeeze enough income out of your assets while keeping enough capital intact to last a lifetime. This means carefully guarding your investment capital and...

Not the catchiest title, I know. And maybe it goes without saying. Most people are careful and cautious with their financial assets. But spend a few decades in the investment business and you will see some unfortunate circumstances. Sometimes a retiree will withdraw too much money and endanger their...

When approaching retirement it is critical to establish how much income you will have and from what sources it will come. It can help to sit down with pen & paper and list what comes to mind: Social Security - everyone will get this eventually, though when you should start to draw is a questio...

Inflation is often the most pressing problem for retirees living on a fixed income. It forces us to divert a potion of the portfolio away from the safety of bonds because we know that without growth the portfolio's purchasing power will slowly decline. Such are the pernicious effects of inflation. A...

This week I will offer 5 rules, advice for those approaching retirement, to help them enjoy a more anxiety-free time that is for many Americans likely to last decades. Starting from the bottom: Ready Rule #5: Take Inventory Whether you are about to retire or are 10 years away, here is a place...

I got plenty of feedback in January about my "Ten Ground Rules" for 401(k) success. The focus there was to help people who are working and saving for "someday" to be better off when someday arrives. But of course we have clients at every point on the spectrum and some are a lot nearer to "someday" t...

We are enjoying a nice breather today with the stock market snapping a 5-day losing streak, up over 150 points as I write this. Apparently the solons of the Street have changed their previous view that it's the end of the world. Fears of deflation were banished this morning by reports of rising indu...