Posts by Eric Reed
Retirement
We Have $1.4 Million in IRAs and Fully Own a $750k Home. Can We Retire in 2 Years at 60?
Retiring early can be tricky, even if you have considerable home equity. Say for example that you’re married with $1.4 million in your IRAs and a home worth $750,000. Retiring early could well be within reach, but you may face be a few big challenges. Retiring at age 60 means having to wait several years… read more…
Retirement
I Have $845k in a Traditional IRA. How Can I Reduce Taxes When Converting to a Roth?
There’s no way to entirely avoid paying income taxes when you convert a traditional IRA into a Roth account. However, with smart financial planning you can reduce the impact of those taxes. A financial advisor can help you roll over your retirement savings into a Roth IRA and manage your investments. Connect with a fiduciary… read more…
Retirement
Our Combined Income Will Top $400k This Year. Can We Use a Backdoor Roth to Avoid Future Taxes?
A backdoor Roth conversion can save you significantly in future taxes, but at the cost of paying those taxes now. This isn’t always a good deal in the long run. If you’re considering a backdoor Roth IRA or other strategies to save on taxes, consider talking it over with a financial advisor. For example, perhaps… read more…
Taxes
How to Make a Charitable Gift From Your IRA
Each year, you can make a tax-free charitable gift from your IRA or certain other pre-tax retirement account. This is known as a qualified charitable distribution or a QCD. These distributions allow you to meet your annual required minimum distribution without paying taxes on that amount. To do so, you must transfer the assets from your… read more…
Taxes
Tax Deferred vs. Tax Exempt Retirement Accounts
The most common form of retirement account is tax-deferred. This refers to portfolios which allow untaxed contributions and gains during your working life, but which require you to pay income taxes on any money you withdraw in retirement. Other portfolios are known as tax exempt. But this is inaccurate, as the IRS does not offer… read more…
Retirement
I’m 68 With $950k in an IRA. How Do I Make Sure It Lasts My Whole Life?
Longevity risk is at the heart of retirement planning. You wind down work and income, counting on savings to carry you through the rest of your life. But with careful saving and money management, it might be possible to make this money last. For example, say that you recently reached retirement age at 68 and have… read more…
Advisor Resources
CLU vs. ChFC for Financial Advisors
Financial professionals have a range of certifications to show their skill and specialties. Among these, the chartered life underwriter (CLU) is a certification program for life insurance specialists. It covers law, products, planning and business within the life insurance industry. The chartered financial consultant (ChFC), on the other hand, is a certification program for financial planners. It… read more…
Retirement
We’re in Our Late 50s With $1.6 Million in Our 401(k)s. Should We Switch to Roth Contributions?
A Roth IRA offers significant benefits for retirees. As an after-tax account, distributions from Roth IRAs are typically tax-free. This can save you a lot of money in retirement, but at the cost of up-front tax payments while you’re saving. You will spend more to build your portfolio today, but will save money later. A… read more…
Retirement
How Much Money Most People Have Saved By Age 60
According to The Federal Reserve, the median retirement account savings for households between ages 55 and 64 is roughly $185,000. While this is a considerable amount of money, it’s probably not enough to secure a comfortable retirement for most people. A standard household making the median income will likely want between $415,000 and $825,000 in assets… read more…
Retirement
I’m Selling My House and Netting $800k. Can I Avoid Taxes While Downsizing for Retirement?
When you sell a primary residence, the IRS allows you to exclude from your capital gains taxes the first $250,000 of profits if you file single or $500,000 of profits if you file jointly. You must include any surplus of those amounts in your taxable capital gains for the year, though. So, what if you… read more…
Retirement
I’m 62 With $1 Million in a 401(k). Should I Convert $100,000 Per Year to a Roth IRA to Avoid RMDs?
Retirees with significant assets often have to plan around required minimum distributions (RMDs). If you already have sufficient income and don’t need the money in a pre-tax portfolio, annual RMDs can cost you significantly in otherwise-unnecessary taxes. For example, say that you have $1 million in a 401(k). The IRS could require you to withdraw… read more…
Taxes
I Worked Two Jobs in 2023. Can I Get a Tax Credit for Paying Too Much in Payroll Taxes?
If you paid Uncle Sam more than his fair share in payroll taxes in 2023, you may be owed a refund. In 2023, you would have paid a combined 7.65% in payroll taxes on all employment-based earnings up to the annual limit. But if you worked two relatively high-paying jobs, there’s a chance that a… read more…
Retirement
We’re 62 and Have $1.6 Million in Our 401(k)s. Should We Pivot to Roth Contributions?
By your early 60s, you’ll likely be paying close attention to your finances and retirement savings. This may include making crucial decisions on investment structure, risk tolerance, income needs and tax planning, among the many other moving parts of your financial life. A financial advisor can help you plan and save for retirement. Find a… read more…
Mortgage
We’re 65, Have $120k Left on Our Mortgage and an IRA Worth $650k. Should We Pay Off the Mortgage?
Should you prioritize debt or savings? This is one of the most common questions in household finance, and it comes up particularly in the field of retirement savings. For this example, let’s say you have a $650,000 IRA and a $120,000 mortgage. As you approach retirement, should you leave that money invested or pay off… read more…
Financial Advisor
I Have $1.7M Invested With My Advisor and I Pay a 1% Fee. Am I Paying Too Much?
When it comes to financial advice, what you pay can vary based on what you get. An advisor who simply sets you up with a passive S&P 500 index fund might not be worth a 1% fee, while an advisor who helps you manage taxes and cash flow, plan for retirement and save for your… read more…
Retirement
I’m 59 With $1.3 Million in a 401(k). How Do I Make Sure This Money Lasts the Rest of My Life?
Managing your money properly in retirement is critical for ensuring that it lasts as long as you do. For example, imagine you have $1.3 million in a 401(k) before age 60. While this is a considerable amount, a 4% withdrawal rate would only generate $52,000 per year. You’d also run the risk of running out… read more…
Retirement
Can a Nursing Home Take Our Assets? We Have $800,000 in Investments and Our Home Is Paid Off
Nursing home stays and long-term care can cost well over $100,000 per year. To pay for it, families often have to liquidate their assets either to raise cash or to meet Medicaid’s spend-down requirements. If you want to protect your assets against this result, long-term care insurance could be your best option. But if this type… read more…
Insurance
I Was Quoted $7,000 Per Year for Long-Term Care Insurance. Is That Too Much?
At $7,000 per year, or about $583 per month, a long-term care policy like this is priced higher than average for what most people can get. According to market data from the American Association for Long-Term Care Insurance (AALTCI), a single male or female should pay around $2,100 to $3,600 per year (or $175 to… read more…
Taxes
Five Medical Expenses You Can Deduct on Your Taxes
Taxpayers can deduct medical expenses by itemizing them on their taxes. However, these deductions may be out of your reach as the current standard deduction is high. In 2024, the standard deduction is $14,600 for individuals and $29,200 for joint filers. Therefore, taxpayers generally itemize deductions if the total amount is greater than the standard… read more…
Taxes
How Does the IRS Verify Cost Basis?
The IRS expects taxpayers to keep the original documentation for capital assets, such as real estate and investments. It uses these documents, along with third-party records, bank statements and published market data, to verify the cost basis of assets. This is an issue that will come up if the IRS has reason to believe that… read more…
Advisor Resources
How to Grow Wallet Share By Targeting Held Away Assets
If you’re looking to grow your business as a financial advisor, often the best place to start is within your own shop. While recruiting new clients is important, developing your relationship with existing clients is also crucial for your advisory business. By increasing the amount of each client’s assets that you manage, you can both… read more…
Taxes
Do I Have to Worry About the Gift Tax If I Give My Son $75,000 Toward a Down Payment?
Unless you have given away more than $13 million in your lifetime, a $75,000 gift will not trigger the federal gift tax. Using this for a down payment also does not affect the result. A financial advisor with estate planning expertise can help you navigate the gift and estate taxes. Connect with a fiduciary advisor… read more…
Retirement
We’re in Our 70s With $200k in Savings and Social Security. How Do We Make It Last?
Retirees with relatively small nest eggs are generally more reliant on Social Security than those with more money saved up. A financial advisor can help you plan for retirement and turn your savings into a stream of income. Connect with a fiduciary advisor today. Retirees typically have to make do with what they have.… read more…
Retirement
We’re 62 Years Old With $950k in IRAs. Is It Too Late to Convert to a Roth IRA?
Fortunately, there’s no age restriction on converting a pre-tax retirement account to a Roth IRA. You can roll funds from a qualifying pre-tax account to a Roth IRA at any time. A financial advisor can help you manage your retirement savings and build an income plan for your golden years. Connect with a fiduciary advisor… read more…
Retirement
We Will Make Over $300,000 Combined This Year. Can We Use a Backdoor Roth to Reduce Taxes?
High-income households can use what’s called a “backdoor Roth” to utilize a Roth IRA despite the program’s standard income restrictions. This can be an effective way to build a tax-free stream of income for your retirement, and it is a completely legal strategy. Whether this method will reduce your taxes depends heavily on your tax… read more…