It is difficult to create an effective investment plan without first targeting a specific dollar amount and recognizing how much time you have to pursue that goal. Only 14% of American workers say they are “very confident” they will have enough money to live comfortably throughout retirement. 1 To help reduce such uncertainty from [...]
Stay or Roll Over? What to Do With Your Old Retirement Accounts
Having your retirement portfolio in one place can make it easier to track performance, ensure proper asset allocation, and make changes. How many retirement accounts do you have? If you’ve changed jobs a few times over the years, you could have several accounts housed in different employers’ plans. While it is certainly acceptable to leave [...]
2012 Year-end Tax Planning—Opportunity or Nightmare?
Year-end tax strategies for 2012 are complicated due to the ongoing uncertainty around the “fiscal cliff.” However, one fact is definite: An effective tax plan is specific to a taxpayer’s individual situation. Without the extension of the Bush tax cuts, one can be sure that tax rates will increase in 2013. Being armed with knowledge is the best defense in the present environment of uncertainty, and year-end tax planning need not be one’s worst nightmare.
Investment Income Surtax for High Earners Is on the Way
Consider shifting fixed-income investments to tax-exempt municipal bonds, since income from munis is not considered net investment income for surtax purposes. As part of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, a 3.8% surtax on investment income is scheduled to go [...]
Thinking About Life Insurance? Start Here
Universal life policies are highly flexible in regard to premiums and face value. Do you need life insurance? If there are individuals who depend on you for support — financial or otherwise — you probably do. But what kind and how much? Below are some definitions that can help you familiarize yourself with insurance products. [...]
Getting Smarter About Your Credit Scores
The longer an account has been open and managed successfully, the higher your score will be. Americans have become more informed about certain aspects of their credit scores during the past year, but most still don’t know enough about the risks associated with low scores and alleged “credit repair” services.1 A large majority of consumers [...]
How Much of a Mortgage is Affordable?
Remember that additional household expenses such as taxes and utilities are likely to increase over time. With initial foreclosure filings exceeding 200,000 in May 2012, it may be worthwhile to review guidelines for affordable mortgage payments.1 Listed below, these criteria apply to prime mortgages provided by private lenders, so special situations, such as obtaining [...]
About PPS Advisors
The PPS Advisors Team is led by Larry Passaretti, Managing Director. Larry has over 25 years of financial investment planning experience.
