Retirees who want to travel more should take advantage of their flexible schedule, which allows them to go on vacation during off season to save on costs, according to this article on Kiplinger. They should also make the most of senior discounts and opt for longer but fewer travels to minimize expenses. Retirees may also swap houses with other travelers from other places or house sit, as homeowners are likely to choose older people to take care of their home while they are away. Downsizing is another option for retirees to free more money for their travel plans.
A variable annuity is a complicated financial product, as it offers tax deferral on investment growth and contribution like a 401(k) plan but has an insurance element, according to this article on Motley Fool. The annuity may offer poor investment options, and clients can shift to another annuity through a "1031 exchange" to avoid taxes. Taking out money from the annuity can be a bad move, as it will trigger taxes and penalties.
Annuities, income-only portfolio, the reinvest-and-rebalance and the income-and-rebalancing approaches are strategies that investors can use to generate income from their portfolio after they retire, writes Christine Benz of Morningstar. It is important that clients know the advantages and disadvantages of these strategies, so they can choose one that best suits their circumstances, writes the expert. Read the article to know the pros and cons of each of these approaches.
Clients should plan carefully when contributing to retirement accounts to avoid unnecessary fees, according to this article on Yahoo Finance. These costs include penalties for early withdrawals from tax-deferred accounts, for not taking required minimum distributions on time, for filing for Social Security benefit early, as well as for missing the deadline for Medicare enrollment. Investors should also opt for investment options with low expense ratios to minimize the costs. "It's always a good idea to compare investment alternatives, including on fees," says an expert.
A farmer who wants to retire at age 62 is advised to drop his plan of directing his earnings to his unemployed wife's Social Security record, as the move could be counter-productive, according to this article on Forbes. That's because such a move could reduce his benefit rate as well as his wife's spousal or widow's benefit rate. Filing at 62 may also be a bad idea, as the monthly benefit payout would be lower than what he would receive if he starts collecting at 70.
