Inheriting an individual retirement account (IRA) can be a great way to receive a financial boost from a loved one who has passed away. However, navigating the rules and regulations surrounding Inherited IRAs is often confusing, particularly given the recent updates brought about by the SECURE Act and SECURE 2.0 Act.
In planning for retirement, one topic is often top of mind: What if Social Security goes bust? As we covered in a related post, When Should You Take Your Social Security, most of us have been paying into the program our entire working life. We’re counting on receiving some of that money back in retirement.
It’s hard, and often counterproductive to comment about breaking news while it’s still moving through the proverbial grinder … which is why we usually don’t do so. However, we feel it’s worth commenting on the current, growing number of regional bank runs.
Ever since President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed off on the 1935 Social Security Act, most Americans have ended up pondering this critical question as they approach retirement: “When should I (or we) start taking my (or our) Social Security?” And yet, the “right” answer to this common query remains as elusive as ever. It depends on a wide array of personal variables. It depends on how Congress acts. It depends on how the unknowable future plays out.
The original SECURE Act was signed into law on December 20th, 2019. Its “sequel,” the SECURE 2.0 Act, was similarly enacted at year-end on December 29th, 2022. Both pieces of legislation seek to reform how Americans prepare for retirement while juggling current spending needs. Across shifting socioeconomic climates, a hard truth remains: Employers and the government play a role in helping you save for and spend in retirement, but much of the preparation ultimately falls on you.
To say the least, there’s been plenty of political, financial, and economic action this year—from rising interest rates, to elevated inflation, to ongoing market turmoil. How will all the excitement translate into annual performance in our investment portfolios? Markets often deliver their best returns just when we’re most discouraged. So, who knows! While we wait to find out, here are five action items worth tending to before 2022 is a wrap.
Our faith in these marvelous markets can be tested when bear markets rage like they have in 2022. It’s natural for our loss aversion tendencies (Investor Behavior Biases) to appear, tempting us to alleviate the uncomfortable feeling.
You may have noticed, the world never stops spinning. The same can be said for evidence-based investing. Even an evidence-based portfolio is expected to evolve over time.