At the end of March, the White House announced the “American Jobs Plan,” a $2 trillion spending plan which includes a combination of one-time infrastructure spending such as mass transit expansion and water system lead-pipe replacement, and ongoing spending such as electric vehicle purchase rebates and job training programs. As characterized at CNBC, it would
Retirement
Bank accounts are often a source of dispute after someone dies. How you fill out the account opening forms and whose name you put on the account will determine who owns the account after you die. It is quite common for someone to think they have opened an account in their name alone – which
Today’s column addresses questions about how taking early retirement benefits would affect survivor’s benefits taken later, when spousal benefits can be available and how divorced spousal benefits are calculated. Larry Kotlikoff is a Professor of Economics at Boston University and the founder and president of Economic Security Planning, Inc, which markets Maximize My Social Security
If you’re near retirement, there’s a good chance you are in active information-gathering mode, combing the Wild West of the internet for the best advice on how to prepare yourself for such a huge life transition. And there is great information available. You can find endless commentary on things like Roth conversion strategies, investment allocation,
A guide to understanding the relationship between trustee and beneficiary A trust is an arrangement whereby one person (the grantor) places property in the care of another (the trustee) for the benefit of a third (the beneficiary) for the purposes and under the terms described by the grantor. Trusts are often created for the long
You may have heard of the term “gamification.” It means what it sounds like: taking an everyday activity and turning it into a game, or at least something fun. Mary Poppins did this when she reframed the boring mundane chore of cleaning up one’s room into a delightful spoonful of sugar. It’s true. “In every
Caveat Emptor: This piece is not about the fairness of our tax system. This is a simple analysis of the proposed business tax plans in DC at the time of this piece. Draw your own conclusion about the fairness of the tax system, and who should pay what. It seems very likely tax increases will
Today’s column addresses questions about how taking Social Security retirement benefits at 62 might affect spousal and survivor’s benefits, what spousal benefits can be available after a divorce and withdrawing Social Security disability benefits. Larry Kotlikoff is a Professor of Economics at Boston University and the founder and president of Economic Security Planning, Inc, which
Since his death last week, Prince Philip has been remembered around the world as a model of service and a loyal and loving husband. His over 70 years in the public arena as a member of the Royal Family has many feeling that a beloved member of their own family has passed. While memorials and
Prior to passage of the SECURE Act, I posted suggestions for drawdown strategies for the wealthy. A lot has happened in the eighteen months since that post, and strategies for all prospective retirees have changed. The pandemic upended the economy, we have both a new President and a new Congress, and life expectancies have changed.