Retirees with multiple retirement accounts are advised to have a tax-efficient way of tapping into these accounts to minimize the tax bite, writes Morningstar's Christine Benz. Retirees who have reached the age of 70 1/2 should take required minimum distributions from tax-deferred accounts, while those who are younger should draw from their taxable accounts, selling assets with the highest cost basis first, writes the expert. "Finally, tap company retirement-plan accounts and IRAs. Save Roth IRA assets for last."
Retirement investors will be better off avoid bitcoin than including the cryptocurrency in their portfolio, writes an expert on Washington Post. "For the average investor, folks with mortgages, student loans, credit card debt or regular jobs they can’t afford to lose, bitcoins are highly risky — more akin to gambling than investing," writes the expert. "Stay away unless you have the stomach for speculative investing and cash to lose your money without tears..."
This article on The Wall Street Journal weighs the prospects of a pre-retirement couple who wants to work on a part-time basis and travel more by the time they reach the age of 60. A financial adviser says that the couple, who are in their mid-50s, is ready to retire at that age but need to organize their finances in the years leading to retirement. The couple has $860,000 in 401(k) plans, about $350,00 in traditional IRAs, $79,000 in a Roth IRA, $139,000 in a brokerage account, and about $170,000 in cash, not to mention a house worth $900,000 and other rental properties.
Taxes, inflation, stock downturns and legacy pitfalls are the major risks that seniors face after they retire, writes a wealth advisor on Kiplinger. To mitigate these risks, retirees should ensure that they put their money in the right investments and develop a sustainable withdrawal strategy, writes the expert. "Your income plan is arguably the most important part of your comprehensive retirement plan. It will help you figure out what you need and where that money will come from."
After raiding retirement accounts for emergency expenses and other bills, clients can rebuild their nest egg by taking an aggressive approach to saving, according to this article on USA Today. They may also opt to move to a smaller home or to a cheaper location to free more money to save. Working longer and putting retirement saving ahead of other goals can also help clients rebuild their retirement resources.
