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If you are a Minnesotan age 65 or older and have what is known as a Medicare Cost Plan, you may experience changes to your insurance that will go into effect in 2019.
The State of MN estimates that up to 200,000 Minnesotans will be required to take action during the current enrollment period to obtain replacement coverage for 2019. Another 125,000 or so may be “auto-enrolled” into new Medicare Advantage Plans with their current insurer.
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Adding money to your IRA or retirement account is the relatively easy part of accumulating assets in tax-deferred retirement plans. The hard part comes later in life when money comes out of those accounts.
Get it right and you will enjoy (figuratively speaking anyway) the lowest possible tax bill. Get it wrong and the taxes and penalties can be hefty.
According to the IRS all IRA owners, and many 401k owners as well, must begin taking Required Minimum Distributions (or RMDs) by April 1 of the year afterthe year they turn 70 ½.
Failing to do so could result in a penalty of 50% of the RMD amount. This is in addition to any tax you may owe on that distribution and any interest you might have incurred by not taking your RMD when you should have.
Here is how it works:
About this time of year my family starts to put together their Christmas list. It’s not just the kids. Adults, too, are encouraged (even expected) to produce a list of the stuff they’d like to receive for Christmas.
Instead, I propose we do a Gratitude List. A list of the things we are most grateful for and, frankly, could probably not live without.
Not in any particular order are just a few of the things I am grateful for this Thanksgiving.
After every election about half of my clients want to sell everything and move to cash. The problem with elections and markets is that they rarely move together.
Guessing which way an election will fall and how markets will respond is difficult at best.
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IRAs are the cornerstone of most people’s long-term retirement plans. In the best of circumstances, they offer tax-deferred growth and either tax-free distributions at retirement or a major tax-deduction when contributions are made.
Savvy investors fund their IRAs to the maximum amount allowed by the IRS. However, if you are not careful, it’s actually possible to OVER fund your IRA.
Known as an “excess contribution”, adding too much to your IRA could result in significant penalties and quite a mess to untangle.
Below are 5 ways you can end up with an excess IRA contribution.