Ginnie Mae Funds for Your Retirement – September 2017
Many people prefer to have some conservative holdings in their IRA’s and other retirement accounts. This century has already produced two nasty bear markets (in 2000-2002 and 2007-2009). If a third downturn occurs, investors will be glad they held some defensive positions, which might minimize losses and possibly offer gains.
What’s Inside
- Ginnie Mae Funds for Your Retirement
- Tax Credits Beat Tax Deductions
- R&D Tax Credits for Small Companies
- Tax Calendar
The College Board reports that the average published charges for tuition, fees, room, and board at private, nonprofit, four-year schools were over $45,000 in the 2016-17 academic year. At public universities, the average charge was around $20,000 for state residents. Both numbers are the highest on record.
A staple in retirement planning is the search for “your number.” That is, how much money do you need to accumulate in savings and investment accounts so you can afford to stop working? Life expectancy is increasing, so the amount you have when you retire might have t last for decades.
The second-best investment you can make is paying off high interest rate debt (see CPA Client Bulletin, August 2016). That could come after you’ve contributed enough to your 401(k) to get a full match from your employer. What should come next? If you have no expensive debt to pay down and you’re getting the full employer match, where should you direct your money? Here are some suggestions.
Studies indicate that savvy asset allocation may lead to long-term investment success. Individuals can find a desired mix of riskier asset classes, such as stocks, and relatively lower risk asset classes, such as bonds. Sticking with a chosen strategy might deliver acceptable returns from the volatile assets, as well as fewer fluctuations along the way from the stable assets.
IRS data indicate that fewer than 1% of all individual income tax returns are audited each year. That’s true, but some taxpayers are more vulnerable than others. For starters, the IRS is more likely to audit taxpayers who report high incomes because that’s where larger amounts of underpaid taxes might be found.