There is a little confusion out there regarding Roth IRA contribution limits and rollovers. Complicating matters is that contribution limitations are different for a Roth 401(k) and Roth IRA. For a Roth IRA in 2019, you are limited to $6,000. For those age 50 or older, the limit is $7,000. However, there are phase outs […]
Investing vs gambling. We shouldn’t confuse the two but often do. And to be fair, some investment decisions look a lot like gambling. Investing gives you ownership of an asset with potential to increase in value over time. In most cases, this asset will provide some sort of income while you wait. This could be […]
What a year it has been! As we say goodbye to 2018, here’s a look back at some of the most popular posts on The Astute Advisor blog. Hopefully you find some of these articles helpful. I love reading your comments and feedback. Please don’t hesitate to reach out. You can reach me via email […]
Canceling PMI can save you thousands. If you own a home and you put less than 20% down, it’s likely you have Private Mortgage Insurance, or PMI. This is insurance that you, the borrower, pays to protect your lender if you default on your mortgage. Stated another way, the loan-to-value ratio (LTV) is too high […]
Retirement saving doesn’t have to be painful, but the longer you wait, the harder it will be to catch up. That can be hazardous to your financial health. If you think it will be difficult coming up with the funds now, consider how hard it will be in the future. While this example assumes a […]
Is a Coverdell ESA right for you? With so many ways to save for future education costs, it’s hard to know which accounts to use. The first thing to realize is that the various accounts out there are not in competition with each other. In fact, they compliment each other. There are important differences between […]
If you have a work place retirement account, you are likely investing in mutual funds. While other investment vehicles like exchange traded funds (ETFs) have grown in popularity, mutual funds haven’t been replaced. At least not yet. Here’s what you need to know. What are mutual funds? Mutual funds are companies that pool money from investors. […]
Through my work as a Certified Financial Planner™ I receive and respond to many questions throughout the course of a week. They come from clients, readers, colleagues, friends, family, and more. Some questions are general in nature while others are specific. Either way, there are still little nuggets of information that can be helpful to others. […]
SIMPLE IRA plans can be a great way for a small company to provide a low cost retirement benefit as an alternative to a qualified retirement plan like a 401(k) and profit sharing plan. SIMPLE IRA stands for Savings Incentive Match Plan for Employees. However, calling it simple is probably a misnomer. To be fair, […]
Retirement investing for teachers can be confusing. In addition to pensions, teachers can have access to 403b and 457 plans. There are also considerations related to Social Security. It’s no wonder many teachers are scratching their heads. When it comes to the Natomas 403b plan, there are excellent resources available from human resources and the benefits team. […]
