Developing a Financial Plan

What should my long-term financial goals be?

The first step is to figure out a realistic financial goal for yourself and your family. Talk with your loved ones to ensure that everyone has the same goals in mind. Clearly, not all families will have the same end goal – figure out what is important to you, whether it is early retirement, financial comfort, children’s education, travel, taking care of elders, or your children.

The first step is to figure out a realistic financial goal for yourself and your family…

Are there simple guidelines to follow towards a comfortable retirement?

Someone starting their savings in their early 20s can save 10% of their income and have a sufficient nest egg, while someone starting in their 40s may have to bump that number up more towards 20%. This is all dependent on the time of your life that you choose to start, the size of your current nest egg, and the amount of money that you will need to retire comfortably.

It is always a good idea to contribute as much as possible to retirement plans, to take advantage of tax deferral and employer matches.

Generally, people need around 80% of their pre-retirement income after they have retired for the first few years and then learn how to live on less. This will greatly depend on the expenses that you plan on having:

• Is the mortgage already paid off?
• Do you have car payments?
• Are you sending your children through school?

Another strategy worth following is to always have an emergency fund of at least 6 months of expenses. Considering your situation and the situations of the people that you depend on or depend on you, you can adjust the number of months accordingly, but 6 is a good ballpark number. This will also depend on how many bills you need to pay.

Someone starting their savings in their early 20s can save 10% of their income and have a sufficient nest egg…

What should I take into account when I start investing?

• • Risk vs. Return
  • Asset Allocation
  • Diversifying
  • Monitoring Progress

Risk vs. Return

The first step in the investment process is to figure out what sort of Return on Investment (ROI) you are seeking and to determine what level of risk you are willing to take.

These professionals will have ideas and recommendations for your investment portfolios, but never invest more aggressively than you feel comfortable with.

The first step in the investment process is to figure out what sort of Return on Investment (ROI) that you are seeking…

Asset Allocation

Asset Allocation is the selection of assets from across the asset classes: stocks, bonds, and mutual funds. This is a way to minimize risk. It ensures that if one of these groups takes a drastic downturn, you still have investments in the other sections and hopefully won’t take large losses. It is recommended to allocate through at least 5 types of classes.

Asset Allocation is the selection of assets from across the asset classes…

Diversification

Diversification is similar to asset allocation but within the asset class. For instance, diversification would be buying 15 or 20 different stocks, with the same purpose in mind as asset allocation, to minimize risk and to make sure that if something tanks, it doesn’t take your entire portfolio down with it.

Diversification is similar to asset allocation but within the asset class…

Monitoring Progress

You can start by examining your trading records and ensuring that all of the trades went through at the prices that you instructed and with the correct commissions. Make sure to keep a good paper trail of all the transactions that occur in your portfolio just in case you ever need to contest anything.

Keep tabs on how your assets are performing. If they seem to be underperforming, you may want to change your investments to some that may be more lucrative. You may want to also check to make sure that the investments that you own are in line with your current investment strategy. Your strategy may change over time. Be sure to compare your investments to your current situation.

What risks will I be exposing myself to by investing?

There are definite risks to investing, but educating yourself can drastically limit your exposure to these risks.

• • Always trade through your brokerage firm.
  • Never make purchases from phone solicitations offering the next hot stock.
  • Never send personal checks to a sales rep, always to the company.
  • Always receive your monthly statements to double-check that everything is correct and that there are no irregular charges.
  • If any sales representatives attempt anything that seems out of place, contact the branch manager of the company.

What factors should I consider before making a stock investment?

• • Is this investment too risky for me?
  • Do I feel comfortable with this investment?
  • Do I have any moral conflict with what the business provides?
  • Is this investment registered with the SEC?
  • What sort of fees are associated with this investment? Does it have a load that could possibly cancel out the earnings that you would receive?.
  • How liquid is the investment? Could I sell this quickly?
  • What would need to happen in order to profit from this investment?

What factors should I consider before making a mutual fund investment?

• How has this fund performed previously?
• Is there a load? What fees are associated?
• How often will they produce statements?
• What does the fund invest in?
• Are there any specific risks related to this investment?

What investment pitfalls should I be on the lookout for?

• Don’t invest emotionally. It is better to keep a moderate controlled approach to investing as opposed to constantly chasing the jackpot which can be dangerous.
• Don’t trust tips. If you aren’t the head of a large investment firm, by the time a tip reaches you, it is probably too late.
• Pay attention to your investments. Stay involved with what your investments are doing, don’t rely solely on others helping you.
• Re-evaluate. Your financial situation may change over the course of time, be sure that all of your investments are still appropriate.

How should I allocate my IRA investments?

IRAs are just like any other investment – you should take into consideration how much risk you are willing to take on and act accordingly.

For people who are more risk-averse, fixed short-term investments could be more fitting.

Be careful about investing in municipal bonds – by doing so you will sacrifice returns that would convert tax-free income into taxable income.

What are derivatives and options?

Derivatives are investments whose values derive from the security on which they are based. Options can be useful in making a portfolio less risky. Derivatives can also be futures contracts or swap agreements.

Stock options are a contract that allows one to sell or buy 100 shares of stock at a given price and in a specific time frame. These can be traded on numerous exchanges.

When an option is bought, an investor will buy a premium, which is the commission plus the price of the option. If an investor is to buy a “call” option, they are predicting that the price of the security will increase before the option period expires; on the other hand, if the investor buys a “put” option, then they are predicting that the price will decrease.

This can be a useful tool in an investment portfolio but is not recommended for beginners, if you are interested in trading options, be sure to do your homework.

What are the biggest mistakes investors make?

• Starting too late
• Paying high fees
• Investing Emotionally
• Using a one-size-fits-all plan
• Not taking taxes into consideration
• Overly Risky Investing

Starting Too Late

The time to start is now. The power of compound interest is astounding – the earlier you take advantage the more it will work for you. If you start out earlier, you can start with less, invest less, and still end up making more than if you started out later.

Paying High Fees

Broker’s commissions can negate all of the hard-earned interest that you have accumulated. Don’t let this happen to you – pay attention to what you are being charged. The more you pay, the less you keep.

Investing Emotionally

Successful investing consists of planning and reason. Once emotion gets involved, it can ruin all of the planning and reason that you had used to construct your investment strategy. Keep using the strategies that have consistently made people rich over the years don’t look to follow the new and exciting strategies that haven’t yet stood the test of time.

Using a One-Size-Fits-All Plan

Your individual needs should trump any ideas of blindly following any plan. Keep an account of how much risk you are willing to take, and what your time frame is. Your portfolio should match your needs.

Not Taking Taxes Into Consideration

The net profits from stocks are taxable as capital gains. Being in a tax-deferred investment account will stop this from eating away at your savings.

Overly Risky Investing

Being extremely risky can pay off big time, but it can also leave you with a diminished nest egg if you gamble wrong. There are many great investments that offer decent returns without putting your funds in excessive danger.

What is the Difference Between Cumulative vs. Annualized Return?

Annualized return is the return on investment received that year. Cumulative return is the return on the investment in total.

For instance, the money gained in the first year of an investment would be the annualized return. The total return of investment accumulated at the end of the second year would be the cumulative return.

What is the Rule of 72?

The rule of 72 is a quick way to calculate how long it will take your investments to double at different interest rates.

Take the rate of yearly return on your investment and divide 72 by that number. The result is the number of years it will take for you to double your investment.

What is the Significance of Total Return?

The total return is the amount of money that a fund makes after reinvesting and receiving dividends. This will deliver the most benefit from the compounding interest. The total return is a way to accurately gauge the real return on investment that you will get with a mutual fund.

What is a yield?

The yield is the amount paid annually by an investment. The yield is most commonly a percentage of the market price of an investment, which does not take into account the appreciation. Since money market funds and certificates of deposit don’t fluctuate as stocks and bonds do, the yield would be the same as the total return.

What is an annuity?

An annuity is an insurance contract – the insurance company invests in stocks and bonds on behalf of the purchaser with the tax-deferred money.

When the purchaser turns 65 the purchaser will begin to receive payments, which will fluctuate with the prices of the underlying securities. An annuity will guarantee that the purchaser will receive payments until their death.

Annuity contracts will often carry various charges which vary from one company to another and would be worth reading before purchasing. Since these are not securities, they are not regulated by the SEC.

What do I need to beware of when investing in an annuity?

You will not be able to withdraw any of the money in an annuity during its tax-deferred growth period without incurring large fees. You will be charged 10% for the tax code and the insurance will usually charge “surrender charges” on top of that.

You will not be able to withdraw any of the money in an annuity during its tax-deferred growth period without incurring large fees…

What types of annuity are available?

• Single-Premium Annuity. This is where the investment is made all at once in a lump sum.
• Flexible-Premium Annuity. This annuity can be funded with a series of payments.
• Immediate Annuity. With this annuity, the payments begin back to the purchaser instantly.
• Deferred Annuity. Payments will be redistributed back to the purchaser many years later. This is usually used as a vehicle to let the money gestate tax-deferred.
• Fixed Annuity. The company will invest your money into fixed investments such as bonds, and the principal is guaranteed for a minimum period of time.
• Variable Annuity. With a variable annuity, you are able to invest in either stocks, bonds, or cash equivalents. The principal is not guaranteed with this annuity.

How and when do I collect my annuity?

There are a few choices that you have when choosing to collect your annuity. Some people opt for a lump sum, even though it negates one of the major features of the annuity: payments until death.

The amount of the monthly payments that you receive depends on:

• The amount of money in your annuity contract
• The life expectancy of the annuitant
• Immediate Annuity. With this annuity, the payments begin back to the purchaser instantly.
• The size of the minimum required payments (if any)
• Whether the payments continue after death or not

There are various different settlement options. Be absolutely sure when you choose, because the decision will be final when you make it.

• Fixed Amount. With a fixed amount option, you will choose a monthly amount that you will receive until your annuity runs out. There is a possibility that your money may run out before you pass on, and also the chance that you may die before your money runs out. In that case, your beneficiary will receive your payments.
• Flexible-Premium Annuity. This annuity can be funded with a series of payments.
• Fixed Period. The company will pay you for a fixed amount of time. If you are waiting for a retirement payment from another investment, it may be a good idea to get this fixed money until you start to receive payment from another investment. Again, if you are to pass before the money is fully paid, the remainder will go to your beneficiary.
• Life With Period Certain. With this plan, you will receive payments until death – and for a period afterward, your beneficiary will receive payments too. The longer the period, the lower the monthly payment.
Installment. This guarantees that if you die before you have exhausted your funds, the rest will be distributed to the beneficiary.
• Joint And Survivor. In this option, the payments are made to the joint annuitants. In the event of one’s passing, the other will continue to receive a lesser amount.

How are the annuity payments taxed?

The tax rates will differ for qualified and non-qualified plans.

An annuity that is tax-qualified is one that funds a qualified retirement plan. When this qualified annuity is used it follows the same tax laws as these retirement vehicles, such as:

• Tax deferral during the gestation period
• The earnings will not be taxed until withdrawal

A non-qualified annuity is bought with after-tax dollars, but the benefit of tax-deferred savings still applies.

What taxes will my annuity be subject to after death?

Annuity payments to beneficiaries are subject to the same taxes that would have been collected from you.

What should I take into consideration when shopping for annuities?

• Commissions. Check the broker commissions – even though the insurer is the one who gives you the annuity, the broker may make anywhere from 3 to 8% which can substantially cut into your money.
• The Company. Make sure that the company that you are buying the annuity from has a good track record. There is no agency (such as the SEC) that checks the procedures of these companies, so the reputation of the company is of the utmost importance.
• Compare and Contrast. Check the number of payments that you will receive from different companies. This may vary greatly from company to company – however, do not judge solely based on these numbers. Keep in mind the legitimacy of the company.

What hidden costs may be associated with the annuity?

• Commissions. If the commission is paid in a front-end load, this can reduce the amount of your initial investment. A no or low-load annuity contract is preferable.
• Penalties. The surrender charges usually only apply for the first 7 years, starting at 7% the first year, declining 1% per year until after the 7th year, when these surrender charges no longer apply.

What about other fees?

• Maintenance Fees
• Mortality Fees
• Investment Advisory Fees

These fees should be stated plainly in the prospectus…

Stock F.A.Q.

How does stock trading work?

Stocks are traded in quantities of 100 shares, called round lots. Any quantity of stock under 100 shares will be considered an odd lot.

What is the difference between Preferred and Common Stock?

Most stocks are common stocks. However, there is another type (known as preferred) that gives certain advantages regarding dividends. Generally, preferred stockholders do not have the same voting rights that the holders of common shares do. Common stocks are based on company performance, while preferred stocks will usually have a stated dividend.

How can I invest in foreign stocks?

It is fairly easy to invest in foreign corporations because these corporations need to register these securities with the SEC. These companies are subjected to the same rules as U.S. companies.

Mutual Funds F.A.Q.

How are mutual funds taxed?

All mutual funds distributions should be reported as income, whether you reinvest or not. Taxable distributions come in two forms, ordinary dividends, and capital gains. The distributions of ordinary dividends represent the net earnings of the fund and are paid out periodically to the shareholders. Since these payments are considered to be dividends to you, they must be accounted for accordingly.

Capital Gain Distributions are the net gains of the sales of securities in the fund’s portfolio and will be taxed at a different rate than that of ordinary dividends. Yearly, your mutual form will send you a form, called the 1099-DIV, which will have a detailed breakdown of all of these.

Can I avoid tax by reinvesting mutual fund dividends?

Funds will generally give you the opportunity to automatically reinvest in the fund. This does not prevent you from paying tax on your assets, but this reinvestment will prevent you from paying more “buy” fees to get into the fund, so it is advantageous.

What taxes apply to my return-of-capital distributions?

Mutual funds sometimes will distribute back to shareholders monies that haven’t been attributed to the fund’s earnings. This is a non-taxable distribution.

Buying or Leasing Your Next Car

Which is better, buying or leasing my next car?

It depends on factors such as

• What kind of deal you can make with the dealership
• The typical mileage you put on your car, 3) how much you wear down a car
• The primary use for the car.

To determine whether leasing or buying is best, compare the costs and other issues involved in a lease or purchase. The following factors should be considered:

• Beginning costs
• Continual costs
• Total costs
• Is there a possibility of deduction of any of the costs due to the car being used for business
• How important is it to have ownership of the car

Which is better, buying or leasing my next car?

You first need to decide on the type, size, and options of the car you would like (such as manual, automatic windows, airbags). You then need to decide what the car dealer has to pay for the car of your choice – the “invoice cost”. The difference between the sticker price and the invoice price can be negotiated.

You can obtain this information in two different ways. The best way is to look at an auto pricing service supplied by a consumer group or an auto magazine. For instance, Consumer Reports New Car Price Service (800-933-5555 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting 800-933-5555 end_of_the_skype_highlighting), at a price of $12 per model will give you details of the invoice price and the sticker price that can be adjusted for options or rebates as well as tell you how to use the data for negotiating. This is the best way because it gives you the most recent information.

Another way is to use pricing guides that can be found on the Internet. Two popular sites are Intellichoice (www.intellichoice.com) or Edmund’s New Car Prices (www.edmunds.com). You may also be able to obtain these books at the library and they will give you an idea about the information that you need instead of exact data. If you have a trade-in, you will want to find the value of that car too. You can use the N.A.D.A. Official Used Car Guide (check your local library or www.nada.org) to look up your used car.

Now it’s time to begin negotiating with dealers. Because you know the invoice price, you can use that information to bargain for the lowest mark-up from the dealer’s cost.

An amount like $300 to $500 above the dealer’s cost is a sensible mark-up unless the car you want to buy is either difficult to get or very popular. Any attempts by the dealership to sell you rustproofing, undercoating, or other extras should be refused. You may want to invest in an extended warranty, depending on the model’s repair history.

How can I negotiate for a new car?

You are not just looking for a car. You also have to select a dealer with whom you will continue a long-term relationship, as you usually have to service your car at the dealership. If you aren’t comfortable with A good time to try for a good bargain on a car is the last Saturday of September, October, or December.

Before you start looking for a car, learn about the financing options. You can be prepared when the dealer starts to discuss financing if you are aware of what the banks are charging.

Some points you will want to highlight during the negotiations are:

• You are aware of the exact model and options you want
• You are shopping around and will get quotes from other dealerships
• You will not be talking about financing or trade-ins until the dealer has given an offer and make sure not to mention a trade-in until the price has been negotiated.
• You are fully aware of the invoice cost of the car

Lastly, go to other dealerships even if you think you have a great price.

Do I negotiate on a car lease the same as I could on a car purchase?

Like a loan, the monthly lease payment is reliant on the term of the lease, the implied interest rate, and the initial “purchase price” of the car. The “lease-end” or “residual” value varies from a loan but is still important. This is the value that is expected at the end of the lease term.

You are paying the difference between the initial purchase price and the residual value in a lease. The lowest purchase price should be negotiated, which will lower the cost of leasing. If you don’t intend to buy the car at the end of the lease term and it is closed-end, you might want to negotiate a higher residual value. Make sure that your expected mileage during the lease aligns with the allowed mileage in the agreement. If it doesn’t, you may pay significant penalties when you turn the vehicle back into the dealer.

Like a loan, the monthly lease payment is reliant on the term of the lease, the implied interest rate, and the initial “purchase price” of the car…

How does an auto lease function?

Lease arrangements come in two different types: open-end or “finance” and closed-end or s is how they work

Open-End: The Risk of Depreciated Value Falls on You

At the end of the lease, the customer accepts the risk that the car will have a particular value or “estimate residual value” at the end of the lease. Due to this, the monthly payment is lower.

At the end of the lease and your return of the car, it will be appraised. If the appraised value of the car is equal to at least the estimated residual value stated in the agreement, it will not be necessary to pay anything. With certain contracts, it is possible to receive a refund if the appraised value is lower than the residual value, although, you might have to pay part or all of the difference.

Closed-End: The Risk of Depreciated Value Falls onto the Dealer

At the end of the closed-end lease, the car is returned to the dealership and you simply walk away. It must be returned with only normal wear and tear, and with less than the mileage limit that is stated in the lease. The monthly payment is higher than an open-end lease because the dealer bears the risk that the car’s value with a decrease by the end of the lease.

What is included in the initial costs of leasing a car?

Learn what the total initial costs will be when determining if you want to lease or buy. You will use this total amount to compare to the cost of buying.

Initial costs are the amount you will need to come up with for the down payment when you lease a car. The security deposit, the first and last lease payments, the “capitalized cost reductions,” the sales taxes, title fees, license fees, and insurance are included. Usually, the initial costs amount to less than the down payment that is necessary to purchase a car. During the bargaining with the dealer, all initial costs are open for negotiation. The Lessor must disclose all up-front, continuing, and ending costs in a standard, understandable format according to the Federal Consumer Leasing Act.

What should I ask about the car lease?

Here are a few questions that should be answered before you sign a car lease:

• What types of leases are obtainable and what are their differences? (Two were explained previously, but dealers may have variations.)
• What will the initial costs of leasing be?
• What will the continuing costs of leasing be?
• Will my initial cost or continuing costs decrease due to a trade-in?
• Can I exceed the specific mileage in my lease?
• If I take an early termination or a purchase option, how will my mileage allowance be enforced?
• If I fall behind in my payments or want to stop leasing, can I sublease?
• If I want to terminate my lease before the agreement is up, what happens?
• Do I have options at the end of my lease?
• What can I expect to pay at the end of the lease?

When I lease a car, why is a security deposit required?

If you owe money at the end of the lease or if you miss a monthly payment, the Lessor is permitted to keep the security deposit. It may also be used to cover the car’s damage or excess mileage from the limit stated in the lease by the dealer. Your security deposit is given back to you if you do not owe anything at the end of the lease’s term.

How much will I be charged at the end of an auto lease?

At the end of the lease period, the federal Consumer Leasing Act (CLA) puts a limit on how much the dealer can collect. The dealer cannot collect more than three times the average monthly payment.

For the following reasons, a dealer may collect a higher amount:

• The miles are higher than stated in the lease or the vehicle has unreasonable wear and tear.
• There was an agreement to pay an amount greater than what is stated in the original contract.
• The Lessor wins a lawsuit for a higher amount.

At the end of the term of the lease, the dealer may opt to sell the car. If the car is sold for less than the residual value specified in the leasing contract, you may be obligated to pay as much as three monthly payments to make up the difference.

You may want to negotiate to have the right to approve the final sales price as part of the lease agreement, so the dealer does not sell the leased car for less than the residual value just to get the car off the lot.

A few other things to keep in mind:

• You do not get a refund if you stay under the mileage limit.
• You probably won’t have to pay for excess mileage if you purchase the car at the end of a closed-end lease and you exceed the mileage allowance.

What must the dealer disclose about ongoing lease items?

Dealers must disclose the total number of payments, the total amount of those payments, a schedule of payments, and the amount of each payment in accordance with the Consumer Leasing Act. The Lessor must inform you if there is a penalty for late payment.

Dealers must disclose the total number of payments, the total amount of those payments, a schedule of payments, and the amount of each payment…

What type of lease is a “maintenance lease”?

The dealer bears the maintenance expenses in a maintenance lease. The opposite is true in a non-maintenance lease. If the dealer provides repair and maintenance, you will need to bring the car to the dealership in line with the suggested schedule by the manufacturer to maintain the warranty coverage. (You will typically have to obey the manufacturer’s scheduled maintenance in order to guarantee warranty coverage, even if you have to pay for the repairs.)

You pay the dealer a set amount for maintenance each month in what is called a budget maintenance provision. The dealer subtracts maintenance expenses that are incurred from your maintenance account. When the lease ends, you will make up the difference or receive a refund if more was deposited than used.

The dealer bears the maintenance expenses in a maintenance lease. The opposite is true in a non-maintenance lease…

Are there final costs and if so, what are they?

The final costs include:

• Charges for excess mileage
• Typically, closed-end leases have mileage limitations. It is necessary to pay a fee if you go over the allowable mileage at the completion of your lease.
• There is no penalty with an open-end lease if you go over the mileage limit, although the appraisal value will likely be lower.
• Default fees
• Any payments or security deposits that the dealer doesn’t collect from you, or the costs and legal fees the dealer incurs to recuperate costs are covered here.
• Charges for excessive wear and tear
• When you return the car at the completion of the lease, you will need to pay for any charges due to excessive wear and tear. You must be informed in writing by the dealer of the specific definition of excessive wear and tear. Typically, it signifies anything past the regular usage, both physical and mechanical.
• Charges of disposition
• Costs of cleaning the car, doing final maintenance, and tune-ups are included. The dealer may defer these costs to you if the agreement does not specify otherwise.

What is an Option for a Lease Purchase?

At the end of your lease term, you may have the option to purchase the car. This is more commonly found in open-end rather than closed-end leases. The dealer must inform you of the estimated residual value of the car and formula to be used to figure out the purchase price at this time.

What are my Options for Early Termination of the Lease?

You will need to pay an extra charge if you end the lease before the completion date based on the difference between the estimated residual value at the end of the lease and the actual residual value at the given time. This may be a large difference. Most agreements state that you must have the car for a minimum of 12 months.

Before you sign the contract, the dealer must tell you whether you may terminate early, and the cost of early termination.

What is Implied by a Capitalized Cost Reduction?

It is very similar to a down payment. You may be asked by the dealer to put a certain amount of money down before the lease begins. The capitalized cost reduction varies with the geographic area and the customer’s credit rating. The smaller the monthly payment, the greater the down payment will be. Those that want to lease instead of buy normally don’t want to pay a large down payment – not having a down payment is one of the major benefits of a lease.

Getting Married

How does legal treatment differ between married and unmarried couples?

Unmarried couples don’t:

• Inherit each other’s property automatically. Married couples have state intestacy laws to support them if they do not have a will. Under the law, the surviving spouse will inherit (at the minimum) a fraction of the deceased spouse’s property.
• Have the privilege to speak for one another in a medical crisis. In the case that your life partner loses capacity or consciousness, someone will have to make the go-ahead decision for a medical purpose. It should be you, but if you haven’t filed certain paperwork, you may not have the ability to do so.
• Have the privilege to handle one another’s finances in a crisis. A married couple that jointly owns assets is less affected by this problem than an unmarried couple.

How should unmarried couples protect their estate and financial holdings?

Here are some important steps to take for couples that are unmarried:

• Draft wills. The chances of the intentions being followed through with after a death are greater if both partners make wills. Without wills, the probability of the unmarried surviving partner having no rights is more likely.
• Think about owning property together. This is a way to guarantee that property will pass to the other joint owner at the time of the other’s death due to the right of survivorship.
• Make a durable power of attorney. This will permit the partner to sign papers and checks and take care of other financial issues on his/her behalf should one become incapacitated.
• Make a health care proxy. Also known as medical power of attorney, this permits the partner to talk on your behalf to make medical decisions, should you become injured.
• Have a living will. This lets your wishes regarding artificial feeding and other measures to prolong your life be known.

Is more insurance necessary for married couples?

In the case of death, life insurance will provide a form of income for your dependents, children, or whoever is your beneficiary. Because of this, married couples usually require more life insurance than single individuals.

Having someone dependent on your income will determine if you need to have life insurance. If someone such as a child, parent, spouse, or other individual is dependent on your income, you should have life insurance. The following are situations where life insurance is necessary:

• Single parents or families with young children or other dependents. The younger your children, the more insurance is necessary. Insurance should be in proportion to the amount earned. If both spouses are working, they should both be insured. If both earners cannot afford to be insured, the primary wage earner should be the first to be insured and the secondary will follow. To fill the insurance gap, a less expensive term policy may be used. Insurance should be bought to cover the absence of services such as childcare, bookkeeping, housekeeping, which are provided by the spouse that works within the home. The insurance that covers the non-wage earner is secondary to the insurance that covers the wage earner’s life, if funds are scarce.
• Adults that have no children or other dependents. You will need less insurance than people in the previous situation if your spouse can live comfortably without income. However, some form of life insurance is still necessary. You will want at least enough to cover burial expenses, to pay of any debts you may have acquired, and to provide an easy transition for the surviving spouse. You may want to buy more insurance if you think your spouse would go through financial hardship without your income or if your savings aren’t adequate. This depends on your salary level as well as the amount of your spouse’s, the amount of savings you have and the amount of debt incurred.
• Single adults without dependents. Unless you would like to use insurance for the purposes of estate planning, you will only need insurance to cover expenses for burial and debts.
• Children. Typically, children only need life insurance to cover burial expenses and medical debts. An insurance policy could also be used as a long-term savings instrument, in some instances.

Who Needs to be Notified if a Spouse Changes Their Name After Marriage?

All organizations that you had correspondence with while using your unmarried name should be notified. You can begin with the following list:

• The Social Security Administration
• Department of Motor Vehicles
• Post Office
• Investment and bank accounts
• Employer
• Voter’s registration office
• School alumni offices
• Credit cards and loans
• Club memberships
• Retirement accounts
• Subscriptions
• Passport office
• Insurance agents

Should I update my will when I get married?

Definitely. When an important life event occurs such as marriage, it should be updated. If not, your spouse and other beneficiaries will not get what is meant for them at the time of your death.

After marriage, what are the tax implications?

You are entitled to file a joint income tax return upon marriage. Although this simplifies the filing process, you will more than likely discover that your tax bill is either higher or lower than when you were single. It’s higher when you file together, as more of your income is taxed in the higher tax brackets. This is commonly known as the marriage tax penalty. In 2003, a tax law that intended to reduce the marriage penalty went into effect, but this law didn’t get rid of the penalty for higher bracket taxpayers.

Once married, you may not file separately in an attempt to avoid the marriage penalty. Actually, filing as married filing separately can raise your taxes. For the optimal filing status for your situation, you should speak with your tax advisor.

Can married couples hold property?

Yes. After marriage, there are many ways of owning property. They differ from state to state.

• Sole tenancy, which is when one individual has ownership. The property is passed on in accordance with the will at death.
• Joint tenancy, with the privilege of survivorship. Two or more people have equal ownership. The property is passed to the joint owner upon death. This should be used to effectively avoid probate.
• Tenancy in common, property has joint ownership with the privilege of survivorship. The property is passed on according to your will upon death.
• Tenancy by the entirety, like joint tenancy, with the privilege of survivorship. This doesn’t allow a spouse to get rid of the property without the other’s consent and is only possible for spouses
• Community property, property that is gained through marriage that has equal ownership. States such as AZ, CA, ID, LA, NV, NM, TX, WA, and WI allow community property.

Getting Divorced

Is it possible to financially prepare for divorce?

A plan for the termination of the financial partnership of the marriage is crucial if you are thinking of divorce. All financial assets and liabilities that have been acquired during the years of marriage will need to be divided. If children play a role, the support that will be paid to the custodial parent in the future should be taken into account.

The time put into organizing this will be worth it in the long run. The following are a few steps to consider:

Prepare an inventory of your financial situation that will help you in two ways:

• It will aid in determining how debts accumulated during the marriage will be paid off. (It is best to try and get all the joint debt (credit card debt) paid off before the divorce. To come to an agreement as to the method for paying them off, it is smart to make a list of the debts. )
• It will give you an introductory look at the information needed to divide the property.

Prepare a list of all assets, whether joint or separate, that includes:

• Your residence(s)
• The value of any brokerage accounts
• Your valuable antiques, jewelry, luxury items, collections, and furnishings
• The current balance in all bank accounts
• Your autos
• The value of investments, including any IRAs

Locate copies of the last two or three years’ tax returns. These will be beneficial later.

Know the exact quantity of salary and miscellaneous income brought home by your spouse and you.

Obtain all papers regarding insurance, life, health, pension, and other retirement benefits.
Make a list of debts that are owed both separately or jointly, including mortgage, credit card debt, auto loans, and other liabilities.

How should credit card accounts be dealt with during a divorce?

As soon as you know you are going to be getting a divorce, immediately cancel all joint accounts.

Accumulating the bill, creditors can legally try to collect payment from either party on the joint credit card or another credit account. You will be responsible for payment as long as your name appears on the joint account. The agreement that is reached during the divorce may state who must pay the bills. From the creditor’s point of view, both your spouse and you are responsible as long as the joint account stays open. The creditor will attempt to receive payment from who they think are most likely to pay while reporting late payments to the credit bureaus in both names. Due to the irresponsibility of the co-signer, your credit history could be harmed.

You may be required to pay the remaining balance in full upon closure of the account. If this is the case, ask the creditor to distribute the outstanding balance to separate accounts.

What can I do when my current or former spouse’s bad credit affects me?

It is possible to separate yourself from your spouse on your credit report if the spouse’s credit is hurting yours. If you can prove that he/she opened the shared accounts prior to marriage and that he/she pays the bills, you might succeed in convincing the creditor that the damaging information is relevant to your spouse and not you.

It may take persistence to demonstrate that the credit history in question doesn’t reflect your own.

After a divorce, what happens to my credit history?

If the name on your account changes, lenders may appraise the application and credit line to decide if your qualifications meet the credit standards. You may be asked to reapply.

To avoid inconvenience, maintain credit in your own name. Preserving your own, separate, credit history makes things easier in the future. In an emergency, if you need credit, it will be available.

Avoid using your spouse’s name – i.e. , Mrs. Peter Johnson – for purpose of credit.

Get an update on your credit report. Be sure that your name, as well as your spouse’s, is being reported correctly. If you would like to use your spouse’s credit history to your benefit, simply write a letter to the credit agency and request that both names be put on the account.

Find out if there is any incomplete or inaccurate data in your account. Send the credit bureau a letter asking them to correct this information. They need to confirm receipt within a normal time period and inform you when the mistake is fixed.

Improving your own credit history in your name should be simple if you have been sharing accounts with your spouse. Make a call to a major credit bureau and ask for copies of your account information. Get in touch with the issuers of the cards with whom you share accounts with your spouse and request to have your name on the account as well.

During a divorce, what are the legal issues that must be handled?

Make an agreement with your spouse to plan for the legal issues that will be dealt with in the future, such as division of property, alimony or support payments and child custody. The amount of time and money that will be spent trying to reach a legal solution will be lessened dramatically if this can be done, either with the help of lawyers or court.

The following are general tips to face the legal aspects of divorce:

• If there are important issues with regards to child custody, alimony or assets, find your own attorney.
• Use referrals from other professionals, trusted friends or the American Academy of Matrimonial Lawyers (www.aaml.org) to find a good matrimonial lawyer.
• Verify that the agreement of divorce approaches all topics such as insurance coverage, life health and auto.
• On IRA accounts, life insurance policies, pension plans, 401(k) plans, and other retirement accounts make sure to modify the beneficiaries.
• Update your will.

How does the division of property in a divorce work?

Each state has their own laws regarding the division of property between ex-spouses. When it comes to applying those laws, matrimonial judges have a great amount of flexibility.

Whether or not an attorney represents you, you should make sure to have done the following:

• Learn how the laws of your state function with respect to property division.
• Make sure to have the papers to confirm that property owned separately during the marriage has been kept separate.
• Be prepared to report any non-financial contributions to the marriage that you have made – such as any non-financial contributions to his/her financial success or spousal support while he/she went to school.
• Be willing to report any need for alimony or child support.
Consider having the divorce agreement supply you with funds if you have not worked outside of the home during the marriage.

With a divorce, what are the tax implications?

Upon completion of a divorce, individual tax returns will be filed. There are a few areas that may result in tax consequences. The following are the most common:

Child Support

It is not taxable to the recipient and is not deductible by the payer. If it is specially designated as child support in a divorce agreement or lessened by the occurrence of a contingency relative to the child, meaning a child reaches a specified age, it is considered as a payment.

Alimony

It is taxable to the recipient and deductible by the payers. It is known as a payment in accordance with a divorce agreement other than child support or when allocated in the decree as something other than alimony. In a separation agreement, similar treatment is in accordance with separate maintenance payments. Payments may not end upon death of the recipient and may not be front-loaded.

Property Settlements

When in accordance with the divorce or separation, they are not taxable. In the event of transfers of assets amongst spouses, they do not become taxable income, gains, losses, or deductions. The recipient spouse gets the cost basis of the property. Your spouse may provide you with an equal share of the property based on a fair market value, but be careful with the lower basis. In the end, it can produce a taxable gain at the asset’s sale.

When retirement plans or IRAs are divided in a divorce, what happens?

If in accordance with the qualified domestic relations order or other order of the court in the case of an IRA, these plans are separated as non-taxable. However, this is the case only if the assets stay in the retirement account or IRA. Once the funds are allocated, they will be taxed to the recipient. The payer does not get the benefit of a deduction and the recipient does not have taxable income when divided.

Is the cost of getting a divorce a deduction?

Typically no, although specific fees paid for income or estate tax advice due to the divorce may be deductible. The fees used to decide the alimony amount or to collect the alimony may be deducted. These would be subject to the 2% limitation under the miscellaneous item deductions.

Am I entitled to deduct the dependency exemption of a child after divorce?

Typically, the custodial parent has the right to the deduction. This is normally discussed in divorce agreement negotiations. If agreed to in writing, the non-custodial parent may have the deduction.

Death of a Loved One

What will I need if a member of the family dies?

The following is a list of papers that will be necessary:

• Copies of all insurance policies.
• Marriage Certificate (if the deceased’s spouse will be requesting benefits). You may obtain copies at the Office of the County Clerk where the marriage license was issued.
• Certified copies of the death certificate (a minimum of 10). These can be bought from the funeral director or from the Health Department in your county.
• Birth Certificates of dependent children. These may be obtained at either the County or State Public Health offices where the child was born.
• Social Security numbers of the spouse, deceased and any dependent children.
• Military discharge, if the deceased was a veteran. Write to The Department of Defense if you are unable to find copies.
• A complete list of all property, including stocks, savings accounts, real estate, and personal property of the deceased.
• Will, which will more than likely be with the lawyer of the deceased.

Should I take any particular steps with regard to the assets of the deceased?

To learn how to hand the following assets of the deceased, speak with your financial advisor.

General rules are as follows:

• Automobiles. Find out if the title of the car of the deceased needs to be modified by checking with the State DMV.
• Insurance Policies. The beneficiaries of policies held by the deceased’s spouse may need to be modified. (It might be smart to lessen the amount of life insurance coverage if the spouse doesn’t have any dependents. ) Revision of home and auto insurance may also need to be done.
• Bank Accounts. The title of a joint bank account will automatically pass to the surviving spouse. Advise the bank to change the ownership records. If the name of the deceased was the only name on the bank account, the asset will go through probate unless it is a trust account.
• Safe Deposit Box. A court order is necessary, in most states, to open a safe deposit box that is only in the deceased’s name.
• Stocks and Bonds. Verify with the broker of the deceased to change the title of stocks and bonds.
• Credit Cards. If the credit cards are only in the deceased’s name, they should be canceled and the estate should pay outstanding payments. If the cards are in both names, the surviving spouse should inform the credit card companies of the death and ask for cards only in the survivor’s name to be reissued.

What can I do to avoid overpaying for a funeral of a member of my family?

Planning ahead is the best way to avoid overpaying for a family member’s funeral. You should know about the Federal Rule or the regulation of the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) dealing with practices of the funeral industry. It provides that:

• You must be given, over the phone, price and other relevant information by the funeral provider to answer your questions.
• You must be given 1) a disclosure of important legal rights, 2) a general price list, and 3) information about caskets for cremation, embalming, and required purchases by the funeral provider.
• You must be given, in writing, any service fees for the payment of goods or services such as flowers, obituary notices, and pallbearers, on your behalf by the funeral provider. Some funeral providers add a service fee to the cost, while others charge you only the cost of the item. You must also be given any information from the funeral provider about refunds, discounts, or rebates from the supplier.
• You must be given by the funeral provider, in writing, information regarding your right to purchase and what is available to you – an unfinished wood box, a type of casket, or an alternative for direct cremation.
• In getting the products and services that you do want, you are not obligated to buy unwanted goods or services or pay any additional fees. You only need to pay for the goods and services you selected or that the state law requires in addition to the fee for the services of the funeral director and staff.
• You must be given an itemized list of the total cost of the funeral goods and services selected by you. It must inform you of any cemetery, legal, or crematory requirements that you must meet to buy any funeral goods or services.
• You are not allowed to be told that a certain funeral item or service can preserve the deceased’s body for an indefinite time in the grave or claim that funeral goods (caskets or vaults) will not allow dirt, water, or other gravesite substances to enter. Contact your federal, state or local consumer protection agencies, the Conference of Funeral Examining Boards (www.theconferenceonline.org), or the Funeral Service Consumer Assistance Program (FSCAP) (www.funeralservicefoundation.org) if you are having a funeral problem that cannot be resolved with the funeral director.

Are surviving family members entitled to Social Security benefits?

If the deceased has paid Social Security for a minimum of ten years, he/she is covered. Contact your local Social Security office or call 800-772-1213 to find out if the deceased was eligible. There are two types of available benefits, if eligible:

One-time death benefit

A death benefit is paid by Social Security towards burial expenses. To apply the payment to your funeral bill, simply complete the form necessary at your local Social Security office or ask the funeral director to complete the application. This is only available to eligible spouses or a child that is entitled to the benefits of the survivor.

Benefits of a survivor for a spouse or children

The spouse will be eligible for benefits if he/she is 60 years old or older. The benefit amount collected before the age of 65 will be less than that due at the age of 65 or older. Widows who are disabled are eligible for benefits at age 50. If the deceased’s spouse cares for dependent children under the age of 16 or for disabled children, they may qualify for benefits before age 60. The deceased’s children who are disabled or younger than 18 may also qualify for the benefits.

What is probate?

It is the legal process of allocating the estate to the lawful heirs as well as paying the debts of the deceased. The process typically includes:

• An individual being appointed by the court to function as the personal representative or executor of the estate. The person is usually mentioned in the will. The court will appoint a personal representative, typically the spouse, if there is no will.
• Validating the will.
• Letting all heirs, beneficiaries, and creditors know that the will has been probated.
• In accordance with the will or state law, organizing the estate by the personal representative.

A petition must be filed by the spouse or the selected personal representative with the court following the death. A fee for the process of probate will be charged.

Probation of a will might require legal assistance, depending on the size and complexity of the assets to probate.
If the deceased and someone else jointly owned assets, they are not subject to probate. The proceeds of a life insurance policy or Individual Retirement Account (IRA) will be paid to the beneficiary and are not subject to probate.

Upon a family member’s death, what taxes are due?

The following sums up the different taxes that may need to be paid upon death of a family member:

• Federal Estate Tax. Amounts that are given to the surviving spouse or to a charity are typically exempt from estate tax. Normally, the estate tax is only owed on estates (which, after decreasing the amount by what is given to the spouse and charity, surpasses the unified credit exemption equivalent).
• If you need to file an estate tax return, get in touch with the IRS to get a Form 706. Within nine months of the death, absent extension date, a federal estate tax return must be filed.
• State Estate Taxes. These differ by state. States may enforce estate taxes that may be applied on top of the federal estate taxes while others may be utilized when federal estate taxes don’t. There are inheritance taxes that some states impose, which are on the individuals that receive the inheritance, rather than on the estate itself.
• Income Taxes. The deceased’s state and federal income taxes are due for the year of death. Unless an extension is solicited, the taxes are due on the regular filing date of the coming year. For the year of the death, the deceased’s spouse may file a joint federal income tax return. If the spouse has a dependent child, he/she may file for an additional two years. It might be helpful to look at the IRS’s Publication 559, “Information for Survivors, Executors, and Administrators.”

May I refuse inherited property in order to reduce taxes?

To refuse all or part of the property that is being passed on to you by a will, intestacy laws or the operation of law, you should make use of the disclaimer. The property is passed to the next beneficiary in line with an effective disclaimer.

By the property passing directly from the decedent to the next beneficiary, it could possibly save thousands of dollars in estate taxes. The wise use of a disclaimer and the condition for a disclaimer in a will permits the shifting of assets and income to maximize the estate tax marital deduction, unified credit, and the lower income tax brackets.

To provide for financial contingencies, disclaimers may also come in handy. For instance, if someone needs funds, you can disclaim an interest to them.

My spouse died this year; may I file a joint return for this year?

Of course. If the surviving spouse didn’t remarry before the end of the tax year, he/she may choose to file a joint return.

Do I owe taxes on life insurance profits payable to?

Typically not. Unless the recipient paid for the privilege to collect the life insurance policies, they are non-taxable income. For instance, if a policy was purchased as an investment.

Are distributions of a retirement plan or IRA of the deceased taxable?

Typically, yes because it is considered income with regards to the decedent. The tax is due by the recipient because the deceased had not paid the distribution’s income tax. You may be entitled to a deduction for a segment of the estate taxes paid if the account’s value was incorporated in the estate tax return of the decedent.

If my spouse died without a will, how will his/her assets be distributed?

The law will pass on the jointly held assets with the right of survivorship to the joint holder. The designated beneficiary of the insurance policies and retirement accounts will be awarded to said individuals. The assets owned only by the decedent will be dealt with according to state law, known as intestacy. Generally, the preference is given to the spouse or children, but the laws differ from state to state.

Other Situations</strong

What can I do to resolve a consumer complaint?

You should first approach the seller of the item. Then, get in touch with the relevant consumer agency. If neither of the previous provides adequate results, a lawsuit can be filed or you may use arbitration.

Approach the Seller

• Compile all necessary evidence such as canceled checks, receipts, photographs showing the issue, a warranty, bill of sale, or contract.
• Determine your goal. Would you like the product replaced? Would you like a refund? Are you just looking for an apology?
• Schedule a meeting with the manager, customer service representative, or another appropriate person by calling the store or service provider. In this meeting with the individual, describe as clearly as possible the nature of the issue and what your goal is. If you can only speak by phone, write a letter as a follow-up and keep detailed notes of the dates and with whom you spoke. It is important to note that if there is a valid warranty for the product, it is best to follow up with the manufacturer and not the merchant.
• Take the issue to a higher level, if this doesn’t find a solution. This could be the corporate president or supervisor. At this point, you should put your complaint in writing if you have yet to do so. This letter should detail your name, phone number, address, and account number (if applicable). Include the date and place of purchase as well as the model and serial number if a product is involved. Concisely describe the issue at hand and the process you have gone through so far to reach a solution. Lastly, you should include what outcome you want and state a deadline for this outcome. Keep a copy of the letter for yourself and include relevant copies of documents. Make sure you keep the originals and retain copies of any correspondence you receive from the company.

Get in touch with an agency

• If your desired goal has yet to be reached, you will want to look on the phone for a consumer complaint agency, such as the county, city, or state consumer protection office or the Better Business Bureau.
• Another option is to go with the trade association method. There are industry trade associations that will offer to aid in mediating issues with regards to their members.
• You may want to get in touch with the appropriate state-banking regulator if your issue deals with a bank. If an insurer is involved, you will want to get in touch with the state insurance regulator, for a securities problem contact the securities regular, or for utility problems contact the public utility commission.
• Call the state-licensing department if the issue deals with a state-licensed trade, such as a plumber.
• Research the lemon laws of your state, unless you reside in Arkansas or South Dakota, by getting in touch with your state consumer protections agency in the event that you purchased a bad used car.
• Get in contact with your area postal inspector, whose information can be located in the U.S. government section of the telephone book, for issues that pertain to mail order or mail fraud.
• Look into finding a local television news program hotline for resolving consumer complaints.

Filing a lawsuit

• When there are no more options, you will want to file a court case in either small claims court, if the amount is small (usually less than $5000), or if not, a regular lawsuit.
• More than likely speaking with an attorney and having them draft a letter to the merchant or service provider giving the details about the lawsuit will resolve the issue.
• You probably won’t need to hire a lawyer if a small claims case is involved. If the case is bigger than small claims, you will want to hire a lawyer.

What can I do to reduce my bank fees?

The following are a few ways to lessen your bank fees:

• Look into what is necessary to get free checking and free ATM usage and do it. This is typically done by having a minimum balance and only using your bank’s ATMs. Another thought is joining a credit union instead of a bank as they generally charge less for banking services.
• Investigate how to invest in higher interest accounts. Determine how much money you would need in case of an emergency and roughly six months’ worth of expenses and keep that amount in your savings. Take the rest of you money and make it work for you.
• Don’t order checks through your bank. Generally speaking, check printers charge less than the printers employed by the bank.

What can I do to save money on my insurance costs?

These tips will help you save on all types of insurance:

• Shop around for your life insurance policy. Take the time it takes to periodically check the prices on different policies, as it will pay off in the end. If you have recently quit smoking, you will probably be able to get better rates in a few years.
• Evaluate your needs in terms of life insurance to see whether you are being charged too much for coverage.
• Use the same insurer for home and auto insurance, as you will more than likely get a break.
• Look around for auto insurance to find the best possible rate.
• Save on your homeowner’s insurance by installing burglar alarms, smoke detectors, and sprinkler systems. Consult an insurance agent to learn more.
• Do away with private mortgage insurance. Ask your lender to cancel this as soon as you have enough equity in the home (this is required by law).

What can I do to cut my utility costs?

These are a few tips to remember to help save money with utility costs:

• See if your utility has a subsidizing program to make your home more energy-efficient. If that turns up nothing, you can still caulk your windows and check the insulation to make sure it has a high enough “R” factor.
• Use fluorescent lights instead of incandescent bulbs for lights that are constantly on.
• Maintain the thermostat at the highest and lowest temperature for comfort in the summer and winter, respectively.

What can I do to reduce the cost of my phone bill?

There are many opportunities due to today’s cost-cutting competition among phone service providers, such as:

• Verify that your long-distance charges are competitively priced. Research which long-distance carrier will give you the best rate and switch if you are not with that carrier.
• Use the phone book instead of dialing “Information.”
• If you have children at home, block all “900” numbers.
• Stay in touch with relatives and friends through e-mail.

What can I do to reduce the cost of my mortgage?

The options that follow will help in reducing the cost of your mortgage:

• Think about paying down your mortgage. This is an effective way of saving and raising net worth for many people. Make a decision to pay a specific amount more than the mortgage principal and faithfully stick to it.
• Think about refinancing your mortgage. Determine if refinancing your mortgage will save you money. Calculate to see if the costs for refinancing are worth a reduction in your monthly payments. If you intend to remain in the house for at least five years, the common guideline is that at least two points reduction will make it worthwhile to refinance.

Car Insurance

How can I keep my car insurance costs low?

The first thing to do is bargain shop to make sure that the rates you are getting are reasonable in comparison to other companies. Within the policy that you have, these are a few tips that could save you a few bucks.

• Buy a cheaper or a lower profile car
• deductible Take out a higher
• Look into different insurance costs in different communities.
• Pay annually
• Drop collision damage coverage

What coverage is essential for my auto policy?

You will need to have liability coverage, property damage, and bodily injury. This way you will be protected if you are at fault and cause damage to a person or their property. It is recommended to have $300,000 per accident to pay medical costs and other costs that may be affiliated. You should also have at least $50,000 in property damage. You should have uninsured motorist coverage, which will protect you against financial damages caused by an uninsured motorist or a hit and run, should one occur.

How do I file an auto insurance claim?

A few tips to ensure that you claim correctly and receive your money as quickly as possible:

• File the claim immediately; take note of hospital bills, police accident reports, and copies of claims that have been submitted.
• Take notes of exactly what was said every time you speak with a company representative, make a note of the date and keep the information together in a file.
• If you get the feeling that the company isn’t being forthcoming with the results that you need, complain to the state insurance regulator.
• If you still feel that your claim isn’t getting the attention it deserves, call a lawyer.

How much is it possible to save by comparison shopping?

It is possible to save up to 50% by changing your companies. There are many factors that are taken into account by the issuing company, such as:

• Gender
• Age
• Driving Record
• State
• Vehicle
• Average Mileage Driven

Do not choose your insurer strictly on price, however. Quality and level of service should be a factor in your choice as well, and their ratings should be checked.

What deductible should I have on my car insurance?

Usually, it is most cost-efficient to get a large deductible which will drastically reduce the amount you pay for the service. For instance, raising your deductible from $100 to $500 will save you around 10 to 15 percent. A change from $100 to $1000 will generally save you anywhere from 25 to 30 percent. If you are in an accident and the damage isn’t substantial, it is more economical to pay to fix the car yourself rather than involve the insurance company and have them raise your premium.

Should I keep collision coverage on my old car?

Collision coverage ensures the repair of your car whether you were at fault or not, even if your car is damaged by fire, flood, wind, or hail. Depending on the value of your car, this coverage may not be cost-effective.

Does my car affect my insurance rate?

It is a good idea to check the insurance rates that are given to certain cars before you buy them. Usually, as the cost of the car rises, so does the insurance premium. The insurance rates on used cars are generally substantially lower than those of new cars. It is a good idea to check the insurance rates that are given to certain cars before you buy them…

How significantly does my address affect my insurance?

There is a big difference in the premiums that people pay in the suburbs where there is much less traffic congestion as opposed to people that live in big cities with many accidents per capita. Usually, this is judged by the area code of which you register as your home. There is a big difference in the premiums that people pay…

Should I pay monthly or semi-annually?

Monthly payments are convenient and you don’t have to pay as much at once. However, monthly payments end up costing you more in the long run.

How else can I save on insurance?

There are a variety of discounts available from the insurance company for all sorts of reasons: living close to work, getting good grades, and so on. Be sure to ask for a list of these discounts to see if you qualify for any of them. Agents may not ask you about these so make sure that you bring it up.

What will worker’s compensation cover if I ever need it?

Worker’s compensation will only cover you for injuries that occur on the job site. The compensation varies from state to state, but most states will pay throughout the lifetime of the worker, in the case of a permanent disability You can get all of the information that you need regarding an individual state’s worker’s compensation benefits by contacting your state’s Department of Labor.

What exactly is long-term care insurance and how does it work?

With long-term care insurance (LTCI), you are guaranteed to be paid a certain amount of money towards care for a specified length of time. As the age of the covered individual increases, so does the premium, so in order to get a better rate, this is something that you may want to purchase earlier in life while the premiums are still low. Indemnity-type insurance actually distributes the money to the caregivers, and pays the daily benefit directly to the insured party; this type can be easier because there is much less paperwork and more flexibility about how the money can be spent.

What should I consider when choosing a long-term insurance provider?

It is important to look at the stability of the company that you are looking into because they need to be there when you are in your time of need. Companies that sell long-term insurance may not be as closely regulated as other insurance companies. You can find the ratings of these companies from Standard & Poor’s.

What can I do to get a good price on my homeowner’s insurance?

Be sure to compare the differences in services offered and the prices quoted. Clearly, you should always perform a good amount of due diligence when searching for any discounts available for different things, don’t forget to ask if you qualify for any of them. Remember that the deductible will largely affect the price of the premium. It is a good idea to keep the deductible as high as you feel comfortable with to keep the premium down. You can generally get a better deal when you purchase your auto and house policies from the same company and you can also get a better rate by not insuring the land.

What level of home insurance should I buy?

Make sure that you are insured against whatever natural disasters are common in your area because insurance against these differs. If you don’t specifically ask, you may not be covered. Be sure to insure for 100% of rebuilding costs. The price of rebuilding your home could differ greatly from the amount that your home is valued at today.

What can I do to ensure that I am insured adequately?

Make a list of your possessions in your household. The more well documented this is the more likely you will be to be able to replace them. Make sure that you inform your agents of any changes that you make to the home so that if anything happens to the structure, the recent changes will be reflected in the payout. Check to see if there are any specific limits to what is insured by your company. Sometimes a person may think they are covered for certain things, but the limits negate that.

What deductible should I have?

It is always a good idea to keep the deductible as high as you are comfortable with. A high deductible will substantially decrease your premium. Do not insure the land, because the land isn’t at risk of being demolished in a flood, fire, or other natural disaster and you will save on your premium.

What other ways can I decrease my home insurance costs?

If a home has a sophisticated alarm system and/or a sprinkler system to prevent fires, the insurance company may drop the price of a policy. Be sure to ask your provider and do the calculations to see if it will be cost-efficient.

Life Insurance F.A.Q.

How are people classified for rate purposes?

To ensure that you receive the best rate possible it is useful to understand how these premiums are calculated by insurers. Firstly insurers will place people into four main categories:

• Preferred
• Standard
• Substandard
• Uninsurable

Someone who has a semi-serious illness such as diabetes or heart disease can be insured but will pay a higher premium. People with a chronic illness will be placed in the substandard category. Someone with a terminal illness will be rendered uninsurable. People with high-risk jobs or hobbies will be considered substandard as well. The premiums that you are charged will correlate with the category that you are placed in. Since the categorizing is not an exact science, one company may place you in a different category than another, thus drastically changing the prices of your premiums. Once you are approved for coverage from a company, they cannot deny you coverage for any reason unless you cease payment.

What should I be on the lookout for when I am purchasing life insurance?

First of all, beware that many insurance salespeople work on a commission basis, and may want to persuade you to purchase the policy that brings them the largest commission, rather than getting you the policy that makes the most sense for you. Most of all, be sure that the company you are buying from will be in existence when you need them. Make sure that you check the insurer’s rating before you consider doing business with them. Always review the costs of any recommended policy. The commissions will be stated, and you can see exactly where the money that you contribute will go. Ask the insurance agent to explain the different policies and why the one you agree on is the best for you considering your circumstances.

How can I easily compare prices between insurance companies?

In most states, there will be a set of rules laid down by a group of insurance regulators. Agents may be required to calculate two different types of indexes to aid in price shopping.

• Net payment index
• Surrender cost index

The net payment index calculates the cost of carrying the policy for ten to twenty years. This can be judged easily by remembering that the lower this number is, the more inexpensive the policy is. This is most helpful if you are more concerned with the death payout than the investment. On the other hand, the surrender cost index is more useful to those who are concerned with the cash value of the investment. The lower this number is, the better. The cash surrender value is what you will receive in return if you were to surrender the policy, which is different than the cash accumulation value. If you are checking the prices of universal life policies, if the policies have different premiums and death benefits, the policy with the higher cash surrender value would be the better investment.

Why should I have life insurance? Do I really need it?

The main reason that people purchase life insurance is to know that in the event of their passing, their children and loved ones will be taken care of. Life insurance can also help with the distribution of your estate. Your payout could go to family, charity, or wherever you choose to distribute it. The main reason to buy life insurance would be because you have dependents that would be put in a tough position without you providing for them. For example, if you have a spouse, a child, or a parent who is dependent on your income, you should have life insurance. If you have a spouse and young children, you will need more insurance than someone with older children, because they will be dependent for a longer amount of time than older children. If you are in a position where you and your spouse both earn for the family, then you should both be insured in proportion to the incomes that you garner. If you have a spouse and older children or no children, you will still want to have life insurance, but you won’t need the same level of insurance as in the first example, just enough to ensure that your spouse will be provided for, to cover your burial expenses, and to settle the debts that you have accumulated. If you don’t have children or a spouse, you will only need enough insurance to make sure that your burial expenses are covered, unless you would like to have an insurance policy in order to help in the distribution of your estate.

What amount of life insurance should I have?

In order to figure out how much insurance you need, you will need to explore your current household expenses, debts, assets, and streams of income. If you need assistance in this, consult either your accountant or financial advisor. The amount of money that you want to leave behind for your dependents should allow them to use some of the money to maintain their current standard of living, then reinvest another lump sum to ensure that they will be well off in the future. When attempting to calculate the amount of money that you need to leave behind, be extremely meticulous. If you err low, your family may not receive the help that they need from the insurance company, and if you err the other way, you will be spending more than necessary on insurance premiums.

Which type of life insurance fits me best?

There are 7 major types of life insurance:
• Term
• Renewable
• Re-entry
• Level
• Decreasing
• Cash Value
• Whole Life
• Universal Life
• Variable Universal
• Variable Whole Life

Term

Term insurance is best described as a policy for which you pay over a specific amount of time. In the event that you die within that period of time, your beneficiaries will receive a payoff. People that are under the age of 40 will find this package less costly than a whole life policy. These policies generally do not build in cash value. However, they can convert over to a whole life policy without a mandatory physical.

Renewable

The policy which is bought most frequently is the Renewable Term Policy. This policy renews every year without you having to do anything, and there is no need to input any new information or take physicals. This can continue every year until you are in your 70s. The policy will increase incrementally every year, along with your age.

Re-entry

With this life insurance policy, you will have to periodically take physicals for the company to judge your rate of risk. If you don’t, you will be subject to paying an extra premium.

Level

In the Level Term policies, you will be locked into a given rate of premium and you will stay there during a certain period (although not necessarily during the entire period of coverage).

Decreasing

A Decreasing policy is one that decreases in face value with time while the premium remains the same.

Whole Life

Whole Life is the most traditional policy given; this has a cash-value build-up, sometimes offers dividends, and provides death benefits. This is not a policy that needs to be renewed constantly, as long as the payments are made, the policy will continue until death.

Universal Life

This policy is similar to the whole life policy. However, it offers more flexibility in many ways; you will have different options in cash value growth and the payment of premiums.

Variable Universal

Variable Universal policies will give you the option to choose the investments for your cash value. This is riskier, but simultaneously gives you more control over where this money is invested.

Variable Whole Life

This is the same as the previous in regards to control over the investments that are made. The difference between these two is the same as the difference between Whole Life and Variable.

Long-Term Care Insurance F.A.Q.

Is it worthwhile for me to purchase long term insurance?

There are good arguments for and against purchasing this type of insurance, and every person’s situation will differ. Even though Long-Term Care Insurance can be costly upfront, it could save you from paying much more in the long run. The home care coverage that is included in the policies could possibly allow you to live independently for more time before having to switch to assisted living. Since the price of this service increases with time, if you choose to purchase it, it is much better to do so earlier than later. If this policy is too expensive for you, it may be a better idea to apply for Medicaid. Some of these policies may not give you enough money to stay at home and will force you into assisted living if you don’t have sufficient funds to support yourself and your personal help.

What features should I look for in a Long-Term Care Insurance Policy?

The four main factors that you will want to take into consideration when looking for an LTCI policy are flexibility, eligibility, inflation, and duration. Check to make sure that the flexibility of your policy allows for personal help so you can stay in your home for as long as possible before assisted living is absolutely necessary. Some of the policies will allow you to be paid cash for you to distribute as you please. Make sure that your policy will pay for more than just what is medically necessary. These policies may not cover all of your needs. Make sure that you are protected against inflation; you can place a clause into the policy that your payout adjusts 5% annually to cover you against raising prices. Remember that a policy that lasts 5 years is probably more than you would need. A policy of two to three years will generally be enough.

Do I really need Long-Term Care Insurance?

Over 40% of the American population will eventually need to be in a nursing home or an assisted living facility. Your chances of needing this depend on a number of health factors.

What is the Elimination Period?

The elimination period is the time you will need to wait from the time you are ready to get the long-term insurance to the time in which you will actually receive it. This period of time is negotiable in the terms of the contract and the longer this time period is, the cheaper the premium. The elimination period is the time you will need to wait from the time you are ready to get the long-term insurance…

How are Long Term Insurance Companies Rated?

These companies are rated in the same manner in which stocks and bonds are rated, through Standard and Poor’s.

How Can I Ensure That I Have Adequate Coverage?

• Make sure that your policy can be renewed every year
• Know that if you are disabled, yet able to work part-time, you will still receive coverage
• Choose a waiting period (elimination period) of three to six months, to keep the premium down, and then set aside a nest egg for that time.
• Make sure you will be eligible to receive coverage until the age of 65 when your retirements will kick in.
• Make sure that the policy will pay if you cannot perform the work in your field.

Taxes

Being self-employed, what sort of deductions can I take?

To be deductible, a business expense must be both ordinary and necessary. An ordinary expense is one that is common and accepted in your trade or business. A necessary expense is one that is helpful and appropriate for your trade or business. An expense does not have to be indispensable to be considered necessary.

If I have a large capital gain this year, what can I do?

If you have a large capital gain this year from an investment, it may be advisable to hold onto the investment until next year to put the gain into next year’s taxes. You may also want to sell off any investments that you have that are losing value at the moment to claim your losses.

What retirement plans are available to aid in the deferral of taxes?

The interest gained from state and local bonds is usually exempt from federal income taxes. These investments generally pay back at a lower interest rate than commercial bonds of similar quality.

Since Treasury Bonds are similarly exempt from state and local income tax, they can be a particularly good investment for those who are in high tax brackets and live in high-income-tax states.

What investments can I make to help defer taxes?

You have the ability to invest some of the money that you would have paid in taxes to add to your retirement fund. Many employers will offer the opportunity to defer a portion of your earnings and contribute them directly to your retirement account. Some of them may even match a portion of your savings. If this is the case, it is always advisable to save at least the amount that your employer will match. This will give you an automatic 100% gain on your money.

If you are self-employed, look into getting a Keogh, SIMPLE or a SEP IRA.

What other ways can I defer this year’s income?

If you own your business you may want to postpone sending certain invoices to ensure that you will receive payment in the following tax year. This can help greatly if some of this income would push you into a higher tax bracket. You may want to accelerate paying for expenses to cover your taxes in the current year.

Record Keeping for Taxes

What do I need to keep for tax reasons?

It is a good idea to keep all of your receipts and any other records that you may have of your income and expenses. These will come in very handy if you are audited. It is best to hold on to these records for at least 7 years.
How should I separate and organize these?

It is advantageous to categorize your expenses:

• Income
• Exemptions
• Medical Expenses
• Taxes
• Business Expenses
• Education
• Travel
• Auto

How long should I hold onto these documents?

It is recommended that you keep these documents for three to four years. Check the Retention Guide on this site for additional details.

How long should I keep old tax returns?

If you are audited, it is very likely that the auditor will ask to see the last few tax returns. It is recommended to keep these tax returns forever.

An added benefit of keeping your tax returns is that you can see what you claimed last year, allowing you to adjust for the current year.

What other records should I keep?

If you purchased goods that you plan to sell later, you should keep the receipts to calculate your gain or loss on it correctly.

• Anything regarding the property you own and any fixes and repairs that you perform.
• Receipts for any jewelry or other valuable collector’s items
• Records for capital assets, stocks, bonds, and such

What recordkeeping system should I have?

If you are an employee of a company, your system needn’t be complex – you can keep your records separated in folders.

If you are a business owner, you may want to consider hiring a bookkeeper or accountant.

Education Expenses

Are there available tax breaks for my children’s education?

There are many different ways to use tax breaks for the higher education of your children. Be aware that you can only receive one type of relief for one item. It is best to consult with a professional to determine which would be the most advantageous.

What is the education tax credit?

You must make a choice between two types of tax education credit.

• The Hope credit will work for the first 2 years of college for at least half-time study.
• The Lifetime Learning Credit applies for as long as the student studies, but the percentage of savings per year decreases drastically.

What is a Coverdell (Section 530)?

An education IRA is different than a standard IRA in these ways:

• Withdrawals aren’t taxed if used for qualified education expenses.
• Contributions can be made only up until the point that the client reaches 18, and all funds must be distributed by the time that they are 30.
• Contributions are not tax-deductible

How can I best use the Coverdell (section 530)?

It is possible to have various 530 accounts for the same student, each opened by different family members or friends. There is no limit to the number of people that can open an account like this for a child.

The account can be transferred to another family member at any time. If the original child decides against going to college or is granted a scholarship, another family member can still utilize the money that has been saved.

What is a qualified tuition program?

Section 529 is a college savings program available in most states. Money is invested to cover the costs of future education. These investments grow tax-free and the distributions may also be tax-free.

What differentiates the Coverdell Section 530 and the Section 529?

• Section 529 allows for much larger yearly investments, whereas Section 530 currently only allows for $2000 annually.
• The choice of investments in Section 529 is extremely conservative and limited while Section 530 allows for many different options.
• Section 530 is a nationwide program while the 529 varies from state to state.
• Section 530 will let you use its funds for primary and secondary education, while Section 529 can only be used for secondary.

Can I take money from my traditional or Roth IRA to fund my child’s education?

Yes, you can take distributions from your IRAs for qualifying education expenses without having to pay the 10% additional tax penalty. You may owe income tax on at least part of the amount distributed, but not the additional penalty. The amount of the distribution that is more than the education expense does not qualify for the 10% tax exception.

What tax deductions can be used for college education?

There is a limited deduction allowed for higher education and related expenses. In addition, business expense deductions are allowed, without a dollar limit, for education related to the taxpayer’s business, employment included.

Is student loan interest tax deductible?
In certain instances, yes, although deductions need to adhere to a few guidelines. The deduction is also subject to income phaseouts.

• The deduction ceiling is $2,500.
• If you are a dependant, you may not claim the interest deduction.
• You need to be the person liable for the debt and the loan must be purely for education

Can I deduct for education that helps at the workplace?

If you are receiving this education to maintain or improve skills at your current job, yes, but not if it is to meet the minimum requirements.

l fund is an investment company that manages a portfolio of individual bonds. The investors buy ownership in the company, and each share represents ownership in all of the company’s holdings. Managers will use these investments to buy and sell bonds that align with the objective of the fund.

Because a bond fund manager has more resources to deal with, they can invest in a vast array of bonds – many more than could any individual investor. There are also certain investments that cost tens of thousands of dollars a share – a bond fund costs far less.

Liquidity plays a major role in bond buying. If you purchase a bond individually and wish to sell it, you must find a buyer for your bond, but if you are invested in a bond fund, that fund has to buy your shares back at any time you wish.

What are the different issuing organizations?

• Municipal bonds are offered by local governments, states, and cities. The interest of these bonds is not subject to federal income tax, and if the bondholder lives in the jurisdiction of the governing authority, the interest is exempt from state and local tax. Because of all of these tax advantages, the interest rates paid on these bonds are usually lower than others.
• Like municipal bonds, the U.S. government also issues these securities. Since they are issued by the U.S. Government, they are considered to have the best safety of all bonds.
• Treasury bills can be bought through a broker or directly from the Federal Reserve.