Three Part Series On Social Security: Part Two
“The Social Security shopping mall has 81 stores for married couples.” I can’t take credit for this quote – but I love it. It’s a clever way to articulate something …
Retirement Reports
Three Part Series On Social Security: Part One
This is the first in a three-part series on Social Security. Look for part two on spousal benefits in the July Retirement Report and part three on how working impacts …
Eight Things Medicare Doesn’t Pay For
Original Medicare (Parts A and B) covers many medical and hospital services. But some of the things it doesn’t cover might surprise you. Here are eight things Medicare doesn’t pay …
My Take on the Debt Limit and Bank Crisis
When we set up Your Merkle Plan, we talked about legislative risk – how what happens in Washington can impact your plan in good and bad ways. A few months ago, …
How 5 Types of Retirement Income Are Taxed
Not all retirement income is taxed the same. We explore five types of retirement income and how the federal government taxes them. Traditional IRAs and 401(k)s Traditional IRAs and 401(k) …
A Guide to SECURE Act 2.0
New laws are changing the landscape of retirement – again. SECURE Act 2.0 consists of more than 90 retirement provisions, including changes to RMDs, catch-up contributions, Roth accounts, and college …
Why It’s Going to be a Great Year
2022 was a good year. I’m serious. I know, I know. There was a market correction, interest rates pushed borrowing costs to levels we haven’t seen since 2008, and inflation …
Legacy Planning: Revocable Trust vs. Irrevocable Trust
Many people believe that a trust is only for the wealthy. In reality, many families and individuals could benefit from some type of trust. The key is identifying which type …
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Year-End Tax Planning Strategies
Tax planning is an essential component of a customized retirement plan. We’ve seen first-hand how long-term tax planning strategies can increase your retirement savings. That’s why we are talking about and planning for taxes …
Retiring With a Pension? Interest Rates are Impacting Your Lump Sum
Attention pension plan owners! This information is for you. As interest rates are rising, pension plan lump sum payouts are decreasing. Have you run your calculations lately? You may have noticed …
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