Business succession planning — what is it? One of the important decisions a business owner must face is when and how to step out of the business — in other words, business succession planning. Do you expect to retire from your business? Do you have a plan in place? What would happen to your business
In general If you participate in a traditional pension plan at work (technically known as a qualified defined benefit plan), you’ll generally be entitled to receive monthly benefits from the plan after you retire. These benefits are usually based on your age at retirement, as well as your years of service and your average earnings
As the cost of a college education continues to climb, many grandparents are stepping in to help. This trend is expected to accelerate as baby boomers, many of whom went to college, become grandparents and start gifting what’s predicted to be trillions of dollars over the coming decades. Helping to pay for a grandchild’s college
Answer: Although there’s no hard-and-fast rule about when you should review your estate plan, the following suggestions may be of some help: You should review your estate plan immediately after a major life event You’ll probably want to do a quick review each year because changes in the economy and in the tax code often
Planning on working during retirement? If so, you’re not alone. An increasing number of employees nearing retirement plan to work at least some period of time during their retirement years. Why work during retirement? Obviously, if you work during retirement, you’ll be earning money and relying less on your retirement savings — leaving more to
In today’s corporate environment, cost cutting, restructuring, and downsizing are the norm, and many employers are offering their employees early retirement packages. But how do you know if the seemingly attractive offer you’ve received is a good one? By evaluating it carefully to make sure that the offer fits your needs. What’s the severance package?
Social Security Retirement Benefits Social Security was originally intended to provide older Americans with continuing income after retirement. Today, though the scope of Social Security has been widened to include survivor’s, disability, and other benefits, retirement benefits are still the cornerstone of the program. How do you qualify for retirement benefits? When you work and
Losing a spouse is a stressful transition. And the added pressure of having to settle the estate and organize finances can be overwhelming. Fortunately, there are steps you can take to make dealing with these matters less difficult. Notify others When your spouse dies, your first step should be to contact anyone who is close
The longer you live, the greater the chances you’ll need some form of long-term care. If you’re concerned about protecting your assets and maintaining your financial independence in your later years, long-term care insurance (LTCI) may be for you. Who needs it? Approximately 70 percent of Americans turning age 65 can expect to use some
You’ve worked hard your whole life anticipating the day you could finally retire. Well, that day has arrived! But with it comes the realization that you’ll need to carefully manage your assets so that your retirement savings will last. Review your portfolio regularly Traditional wisdom holds that retirees should value the safety of their principal
