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Your Spouse Dies – What Do You Do Now?
Articles

Your Spouse Dies – What Do You Do Now?

April 1, 2021

“What will happen to me if my spouse passes away?” It’s a question we get a lot; and it’s one we also don’t get often enough. The death of a spouse is hard enough emotionally, but when financial issues are added to that, it can quickly become overwhelming.   This, again, is why it’s so important to have a strategy already in place. Sometimes just knowing that so many things are already taken care of can lessen the long-term burden of losing a spouse.
Why We Spend the Way We Do in Retirement- Season 5: Episode 4
Managing Your Financial Future

Why We Spend the Way We Do in Retirement- Season 5: Episode 4

March 23, 2021

All marriages end in one of two ways: divorce or death. If you live long enough with someone, eventually one of you will mourn the other. And whether a spouse’s passing comes as a surprise or not, there will always be a list of tasks that the survivor must deal with at some point.  But what are those tasks, and when do you have to perform them? Good questions. And while everyone’s situation is unique, there are a few things that most everyone who is in that situation should be sure to get done.
Does it make sense to diversify? Interview with Michael Edesess -Season 1: Episode 7
Capitalize

Does it make sense to diversify? Interview with Michael Edesess -Season 1: Episode 7

March 22, 2021

Is asset allocation as a strategy a good idea, or is it an exercise in futility? What about annuities? Christopher Panagiotu, CFP®, CRPS®, continues his interview with Michael Edesess, Chief Investment Strategist with Compendium Finance. This section gets even deeper into the topic of diversification, as well as Warren Buffett’s style of investing, and Michael’s opinions on both asset allocation and whether annuities could be a good idea to include in someone’s portfolio.
3 Important Issues With Later-in-Life Divorce
Articles

3 Important Issues With Later-in-Life Divorce

March 19, 2021

Most marriages are designed to last forever, or at least that’s usually the intention.  But when divorce happens, it can often create unforeseen financial issues for one or both parties — especially if they’re older, and have a lot of assets. Divorce in or near retirement can destroy years of careful planning if you’re not aware of your options.  There are pension considerations, Social Security issues, and you sometimes have to figure out what to do with your home.
Your Spouse Dies – What Do You Do Now?- Season 5: Episode 3
Managing Your Financial Future

Your Spouse Dies – What Do You Do Now?- Season 5: Episode 3

March 16, 2021

All marriages end in one of two ways: divorce or death. If you live long enough with someone, eventually one of you will mourn the other. And whether a spouse’s passing comes as a surprise or not, there will always be a list of tasks that the survivor must deal with at some point.  But what are those tasks, and when do you have to perform them? Good questions. And while everyone’s situation is unique, there are a few things that most everyone who is in that situation should be sure to get done.
The Unintended Consequences of Social Security’s Survivor Benefits- Season 5: Episode 2
Managing Your Financial Future

The Unintended Consequences of Social Security’s Survivor Benefits- Season 5: Episode 2

March 9, 2021

You may have heard that Social Security provides a “survivor benefit,” which allows a surviving spouse to continue to receive their deceased spouse’s benefits. The original intention (back in 1940) was to ensure that widows would not be left without a Social Security payment. Today, though,  with many dual-working households (and thus two Social Security benefits), those same survivor benefit rules may actually cause the survivor to take a cut in benefits — in some cases, by nearly 50%. How is that possible? And, even more importantly,  how can you strategize to keep this from happening?
Are Stocks Risky? Interview with Michael Edesess- Season 1: Episode 6
Capitalize

Are Stocks Risky? Interview with Michael Edesess- Season 1: Episode 6

March 8, 2021

Does rebalancing one’s portfolio actually reduce risk?  Is there any value in benchmarking investments? Financial advisor Christopher Panagiotu, CFP®, CRPS®,  speaks with Michael Edesess, Chief Investment Strategist of Compendium Finance about the idea of rebalancing, and why it may not be everything that people in the financial services industry often say it is. They also discuss Michael’s views on buy-and-hold investing, passive investing, whether diversification makes sense these days, as well as his opinion on just how risky stocks actually are.
Three Hidden Benefits of the Roth IRA
Articles

Three Hidden Benefits of the Roth IRA

March 5, 2021

Individual Retirement Accounts (IRAs) are designed to be used as savings vehicles for your retirement.  As an added incentive to save, they often come with distinct tax advantages, such as deductions, deferrals, or tax-free withdrawals.  There are also, in most cases, penalty taxes for removing your money from the account too early. With the Roth IRA, though, there are exceptions to this “penalty tax,” potentially allowing you to access your money before you would normally be allowed to do so.  How might you be able to benefit from that? 

The 3 Biggest Risks Facing Your Portfolio Today- Season 5: Episode 1
Managing Your Financial Future

The 3 Biggest Risks Facing Your Portfolio Today- Season 5: Episode 1

March 2, 2021

It’s a fact that retirees in general dislike spending down their savings.  In today’s low interest rate environment, and given declining dividend yields, how should one remove money from a portfolio for income without damaging the portfolio’s integrity and longevity? There are several possible routes to take, and unfortunately, many people may be tempted to reach for yield with either low-quality bond purchases or stocks with higher dividend yields.  But doing so almost certainly will raise the risk within a portfolio without any guarantee of higher returns.