kitces.com | Nerd's Eye View - Retirement Planning

Is There Really Much Value to Suspending 2009 RMDs?

nospam@example.com (Michael Kitces) — Wed, 24 Dec 2008 12:18:55 -0500

Yesterday, President Bush signed into law H.R. 7327, the Worker, Retiree, and Employer Recovery Act of 2008 (WRERA), which included certain provisions designed to suspend so-called Required Minimum Distributions (RMDs) for the upcoming 2009 tax year. But will that really do much to help our clients? Probably not in most cases.
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Is the Safe Withdrawal Rate too safe? Or too aggressive!?

nospam@example.com (Michael Kitces) — Mon, 22 Sep 2008 11:36:57 -0400

As readers of my newsletter know, in May I published research that challenges the safe withdrawal rate as potentially being TOO safe in some environments, where market valuation is not at unfavorable extremes. However, in some feedback I've received from readers, another important point is being made - in some cases, the safe withdrawal rate may also still be too aggressive!
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Rigorous Analysis of Pension Options Done Right!

nospam@example.com (Michael Kitces) — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 10:19:13 -0400

Many financial planners are faced with the client question: "Which pension option should I choose?" Comparing various lump sum and annual pension payout choices based on client life expectancies has often been mathematically intensive and quite difficult - at least, up until now.
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Should you withdraw and reapply for Social Security benefits?

nospam@example.com (Michael Kitces) — Mon, 25 Feb 2008 21:19:42 -0500

An interesting article in the syndicated column of Scott Burns suggests that it may be a wise strategy for those at or around age 70 to withdraw from Social Security and reapply to increase their benefit. Is this a Social Security loophole, a great deal, a trap, or just another good arrow in the financial planner's quiver?
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Does extra retirement spending follow a consistent aging sequence?

nospam@example.com (Michael Kitces) — Thu, 14 Feb 2008 10:23:36 -0500

A new study from Sun Life Financial suggests that retirees may have a consistent sequence of extra spending goals throughout their retirement years. Of course, practicing financial planners have acknowledged for years that retirement spending isn't perfectly level from year to year, but Sun Life's new study suggests that there are some consistent patterns that can be gleaned.
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