Policy Update – Social Security Benefits
Recently Congress announced that it is making changes to the Social Security filing strategies that many couples have used for years to add thousands of dollars to their retirement incomes. Before you read any further, please note that if you are already receiving...
Opportunity in a Changing Market (Roth IRAs)
Convert, De-convert, Re-convert…The stock market's recent drop has no immediate tax impact on traditional or Roth IRAs invested in stocks and ETFs. That's because neither losses nor gains are recognized within IRAs. However, in today’s market, if there is a silver...
Continued Mutual Fund Underperformance
Most of our clients know we are big believers in low cost investing with passive investment vehicles. Although it is easy to grasp the concept of paying lower costs, it is harder to grasp that you can pay lower costs and also outperform most other investments. The...
IRS “Throws in the Towel” on 401(k) Roth Conversions
For years the IRS held strong: When rolling over 401(k) funds, after-tax and pre-tax funds are distributed pro-rata. However, with the recent issuance of IRS Notice 2014-54, the rules have changed. Historically, for those who maxed out their tax-deferred growth...
Legal Double Dipping
For the most part, there is a reason as to why a Bank or Brokerage firm puts a mutual fund in your account – FEES. Whether it’s through being paid directly by offering up a propriety product or through revenue sharing by allowing another fund family to participate on...
Saving ≥ Investing
It’s always a version of the same question: “How much do I need to have saved in order to retire?” As planners, we are able to run calculations ad nauseam of amounts currently saved, future savings and annual return assumptions to project retirement needs. Investors...
Thoughts from the TD Ameritrade Conference
Noah and I flew down to Orlando last week for the annual TD Ameritrade Institutional Conference. In addition to industry professionals and experts, there was quite a lineup of speakers and entertainment, including Mitt Romney, Sugar Ray Leonard and Huey Lewis &...
A Comment on the Government Shutdown
“No Man’s life, liberty, or property are safe while the legislature is in session” -Mark Twain Over the past week, Neil and I have received many questions about the government shutdown and impending debt ceiling and how they might affect the markets. So we thought we...
Not All ETFs are Created Equal
We at Canal Capital Management are big believers in ETFs, otherwise known as Exchange Traded Funds, because of their salient characteristics: cheap, tax efficient, intra-day trading, index replicating, etc., But just like with any investment product, they are not...
The Retirement Gamble
(via Flickr jetglo) Over the past week, I have had several clients mention the recent PBS Frontline special, “The Retirement Gamble” (Retirement Gamble). I have also read several negative comments from my industry regarding the piece. After finally finding the time to...