Our daily roundup of retirement news your clients may be thinking about.
Clients who prefer a simple retirement investing strategy should consider a dividend stock index fund, according to this article on Motley Fool. They may also want to include a good bond index fund, which provides a steady income stream. Once they have chosen their investments, clients should determine the asset allocation that reflects their risk tolerance and rebalance their portfolio at least once a year to stick to their original allocation.
Widows need professional help to handle their finances as they cope with the loss of their husbands, according to this article on Kiplinger. They should consult an estate-planning attorney if their deceased spouses designated them as executor of their estate. Finding a competent CPA is also recommended, as widows have to change their tax-filing status come tax time.
A working senior will need to file for Social Security for her husband to qualify for a spousal benefit on her record, according to this article on Forbes. If she opts to apply for her benefit while working before reaching full retirement age, she should expect a reduction in her benefit payout. She will also be subject to the earnings test, which could lead to withholding a portion of her benefits.
The U.S. is seeing the rise of the millennial generation - those who were born in the 80s and 90s, writes an expert on Marketwatch. This demographic shift is a boon for retirement investors with portfolios invested heavily in the stock market, says an expert. "According to a number of academic studies, the stock market tends to perform better when the [ratio of the middle-aged population to the younger-aged population] is rising than when it is declining."
Although GOP lawmakers are looking at changes to Social Security, a reform to revamp the program could be unlikely, according to this article on Yahoo Finance. Lawmakers are less inclined to reduce the benefits for future retirees, and they are in an election year. "The sensitivity of entitlements is such that you almost have to have bipartisan agreement in order to achieve a result," says a lawmaker.
