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Author: John Bearss

June 27, 2015 Author: John Bearss

Supreme Court Upholds Health Insurance Subsidies: Here’s What You Should Know

America’s high court just struck down the latest challenge to Obamacare. Here’s what you should know.

June 11, 2015 Author: John Bearss

Term vs Cash Value Life Insurance: Which Should I Buy?

Learn the difference between these two types of life insurance policies and discover which one may be right for you.

August 16, 2013 Author: John Bearss

Are Bonds a Good Investment in Retirement?

With interest rates inevitably heading higher in the future, are bonds a good investment in retirement?

July 11, 2013 Author: John Bearss

Reader Question: Do I Pay Taxes on Social Security Income?

If the only income you had during the year was Social Security income, then your benefit generally isn’t taxable.

June 24, 2013 Author: John Bearss

Social Security Death Benefits for Spouse and Children

Some people think Social Security is just a retirement program, but in fact there are other benefits, including disability and death payouts.

June 15, 2013 Author: John Bearss

Social Security Benefits May Not Provide Enough Income in Retirement

MYTH #1: Social Security benefits will provide most of the income you need in retirement.

April 25, 2013 Author: John Bearss

Will vs Living Trust: Which One is Right for Me?

Will vs living trust? It all depends on what you are trying to accomplish.

April 13, 2013 Author: John Bearss

Advance Directive vs. Living Will: Which One Do You Need?

This is the one legal document everyone over 18 should have.

March 30, 2013 Author: John Bearss

What is the 2013 Max 401k Contribution Limit?

We give you the facts from the IRS, PLUS 6 benefits of participating in your 401k plan at work.

March 23, 2013 Author: John Bearss

Should I Buy Whole Life Insurance or an Annuity For My Grandchildren?

If your goal is to accumulate money for a grandchild (or a child), both options are good, but let’s look at the pros and cons of each strategy.

March 16, 2013 Author: John Bearss

How to Save for College AND Retirement With Small Children

Is it possible to achieve both of these goals in today’s economic environment?

March 9, 2013 Author: John Bearss

Qualified vs Non Qualified Retirement Plans: What’s the Difference?

When it comes to your financial plan, it is important to understand the difference between “Qualified” money and “Non Qualified” money.

March 2, 2013 Author: John Bearss

How to Weather Stock Market Volatility

When dealing with a volatile market, sometimes the most difficult challenge is to manage your emotions.

February 23, 2013 Author: John Bearss

How Much Money Should I Save For Retirement?

Since people are living longer today, the greatest fear that most retirees have is the fear that they will outlive their assets.

February 16, 2013 Author: John Bearss

Why Did My Paycheck Go Down in 2013?

Despite media reports warning of the impending payroll tax increase, many Americans were caught off guard when they received their first paychecks in 2013.

February 2, 2013 Author: John Bearss

What You Should Know When Starting a ROTH IRA

Here are five key things you should know when starting a Roth IRA.

January 19, 2013 Author: John Bearss

Improve Credit Report: 3 Steps to Take Now

Improve Credit Report: 3 Steps to Take Now. First, how can I correct errors on my credit report? Under the Fair Credit Reporting Act, you have the right to have any incorrect or misleading information removed from your credit report.

January 12, 2013 Author: John Bearss

4 Steps to Begin Retirement Planning

Although most of us recognize the importance of sound retirement planning, few of us embrace the nitty-gritty work involved. With thousands of investment possibilities, complex rules governing retirement plans, and so on, most people don’t even know where to begin. Here are four suggestions to help you get started.

January 5, 2013 Author: John Bearss

What Are Required Minimum Distributions?

So exactly what are Required Minimum Distributions? Also known as RMDs, these are government imposed withdrawals that you are required to take at age 70 ½. Learn more here.

December 22, 2012 Author: John Bearss

How Much Should You Save For Emergencies?

If you lost your job, how much will you need to pay your regular monthly expenses?

December 15, 2012 Author: John Bearss

Is it Better to Save or Pay Off Debt?

Is it better to save your extra cash or pay off debt? To answer this question, you must decide how your money can work best for you.

December 8, 2012 Author: John Bearss

3 Steps to Cutting Expenses

The old financial adage is there are only two ways to make money. Either go out and earn more or cut your expenses so that you spend less. The best is if you can do both. So today, I thought I would share some thoughts on cutting expenses.

September 8, 2012 Author: John Bearss

Using Medicare and Medicaid For Your Long Term Care Needs

If you were to go to the Nursing Home, do you believe that Medicare will pay for your long term care needs?

September 1, 2012 Author: John Bearss

The Case for Long Term Care Insurance

Have you ever known any one that has become impoverished as a result of going to the Nursing Home?

August 25, 2012 Author: John Bearss

6 Reasons To Review Your Life Insurance Policy

If it’s been more than five years since your last life insurance checkup, you may be missing opportunities to take advantage of newer life insurance policies that are more cost-effective and competitive.

August 18, 2012 Author: John Bearss

Protecting Your Greatest Asset

What is your greatest asset? If asked, most people would say their home, their 401(k), or their IRA. But your greatest asset is your income producing ability.

August 11, 2012 Author: John Bearss

One “Tax-Free” Strategy The IRS Hopes You Never Discover

So by using the combination of a guaranteed income investment, life insurance, and a trust, we were able to give not just part, but ALL of the inheritance to the family and the charity. And the best part: Not a dime went to Uncle Sam!

April 14, 2012 Author: John Bearss

Why a Single Person Needs Life Insurance

Single people with no children often don’t need life insurance because no one is relying on their income. But there are some reasons why you might need life insurance if you’re single.

April 7, 2012 Author: John Bearss

The Help You Need to Retire Early

An all too common retirement planning mistake is going it alone. This usually results in missed investment opportunities, sloppy planning, and lax savings schedules. Enlisting the help of a financial planner is a smart move at any age to avoid retirement planning pitfalls.

March 24, 2012 Author: John Bearss

How to Combat Inflation for Early Retirement

Inflation is the biggest risk to any retirement savings plan, and woe to any retiree who underestimates its effects. Inflation is the increase in the money supply, which results in a sustained increase in the price of goods and services over time. Most experts agree that retirees need to assume an annual inflation rate of 3-4%, but a good retirement plan should account for periods of high inflation as well.

March 17, 2012 Author: John Bearss

Avoid the Roadblocks that Prevent Early Retirement

One of the biggest mistakes people make is waiting until their 50s or 60s to start planning for retirement. Waiting this long typically means that more sacrifices will have to be made and sometimes these sacrifices can be hard to bear.

March 10, 2012 Author: John Bearss

A Diversification Strategy that Leads to Early Retirement

A common investment pitfall is spending far too much time trying to pick individual stocks that will increase in value. It’s much more important to understand proper diversification.

March 3, 2012 Author: John Bearss

A 401k Strategy that Leads to Early Retirement

This week, John Bearss shows you a 401k strategy that leads to early retirement. Many investors fail to take full advantage of their employer’s contribution matching, which is just about the same as throwing away money.

February 25, 2012 Author: John Bearss

A Savings Strategy that Leads to Early Retirement

Do you desire an early retirement? Today, I want to share with you a savings strategy that leads to early retirement. This strategy is simple to say, but can be harder to follow.

February 18, 2012 Author: John Bearss

Do I Need Life Insurance in Retirement?

Should you go out and buy life insurance as you near retirement? The answers depend largely on your particular circumstances.

February 11, 2012 Author: John Bearss

Make Smart Decisions with Your Pension Plan

“Should I choose a single life annuity payout from my pension or a joint and survivor annuity payout, which will make payments to my spouse when I die?”

January 21, 2012 Author: John Bearss

How to Reduce (or Eliminate) the Taxes on your Social Security Income

To reduce or eliminate the taxes on your social security income, you first need to understand the term “Reportable Income”. This is the total of all your incomes that is required to be reported to the IRS on your tax form.

January 14, 2012 Author: John Bearss

Is it Too Late to Make an IRA Contribution for 2011?

We recently got this question from an FTMWeekly radio listener: “I forgot to make my IRA Contribution for tax year 2011. Is it too late to make the contribution now?” NO. Here’s why…

October 15, 2011 Author: John Bearss

Retirement Minute: Four Questions That Current Medicare Enrollees Should Be Asking Now

The Medicare open enrollment period is now here and this is the time during which people with Medicare can make new choices and pick plans that work best for them. Here’s four questions to be asking now.

March 26, 2011 Author: John Bearss

How to Borrow Money From Your Cash-Value Life Insurance Policy

One of the main benefits of borrowing from your cash value life insurance policy is that the loan proceeds are generally not subject to income tax. But there are some caveats…