Retirement planning

TOPICS / PERSONAL FINANCIAL PLANNING

May 12, 2022

Building a tax-efficient retirement income plan for clients

For retirees, effective tax planning requires taking a long view and spending down assets from a variety of sources each year.

April 22, 2022

Help clients achieve flexible spending in retirement

Does the 4% rule still make sense? A CPA financial planner discusses how advisers can help ensure their clients can spend with flexibility throughout retirement.

April 1, 2022

Helping retirement plan participants understand their net worth

Two easy mistakes seen in retirement planning involve valuation of pensions and improper net-worth comparisons.

March 31, 2022

The pros and cons of delaying Social Security

Make sure your decision about when to claim Social Security benefits is an informed one that takes into consideration your expected longevity along with various financial and other factors.

March 30, 2022

‘SECURE 2.0’ would further expand retirement savings options

Legislation augmenting the SECURE Act of 2019 now goes to the Senate after passing the House.

March 23, 2022

Roth IRAs: Are they right for your client?

The choice between a Roth IRA and a traditional IRA in saving for retirement depends on the person’s age, tax bracket, expected future earnings and other factors.

October 14, 2021

The long-term-care quandary: Helping clients prepare

Long-term care is a critical topic when discussing retirement plans with aging clients.

May 4, 2021

Tax returns are underrated financial planning tools

Tax time provides an excellent opportunity to create or update a financial strategy. By examining your tax returns, you can glean information that can help you build a financial plan.

November 1, 2020

COVID-19 and withdrawals from retirement plans

Taxpayers under financial duress caused by the pandemic can avoid penalties.

October 26, 2020

Inflation-adjusted income ranges for 2021 IRA and 401(k) plans

The IRS announced that the income ranges for employee participation in workplace 401(k) plans and IRA contributions will increase from 2020 to 2021. Most of the other retirement plan contribution limits stayed the same, however.

October 19, 2020

Unclaimed property distributions allowed as self-certified rollovers

The IRS issued guidance adding state unclaimed property fund distributions to the list of reasons that taxpayers may self-certify that they missed the 60-day deadline to roll over funds to a qualified retirement plan.

October 1, 2020

Time to consider a Roth conversion

A qualified rollover contribution to a Roth IRA or an in-plan rollover to a designated Roth account, known as a Roth conversion, can be attractive for CPA advisers’ clients because it provides a higher net present value of cash flow from their retirement savings, benefiting themselves or their beneficiaries.

September 1, 2020

One CPA financial planner’s approach to retirement

Mackey McNeill, CPA/PFS, founder of Mackey Advisors, based in Bellevue, Ky., developed a process for encouraging clients to discuss the nonfinancial aspects of retirement.

September 1, 2020

Talk about more than money when readying clients for retirement

Discussing the nonfinancial side of retirement with clients gives them a better idea of what to expect and gives CPA financial planners insight into how much they might spend.

August 3, 2020

How to help a client retiring abroad think about taxes

This article discusses how CPAs can help their clients navigate the tax and financial planning complications of retiring overseas.

July 1, 2020

The SECURE Act’s changes

Practitioners can advise on the most sweeping retirement reforms since 2006.

June 8, 2020

Why Roth conversions still make sense after the SECURE Act

Changes brought on by the SECURE act have added new wrinkles to the planning process that must be considered by IRA owners and CPA financial planners.

March 10, 2020

Calming clients’ fears during the coronavirus outbreak

How can CPAs deal with client anxieties during a time of uncertainty? The best steps include preparing them for unexpected events before they happen and acknowledging their concerns.

February 18, 2020

CPAs need to watch these health care pricing rules

New rules are designed to make health care pricing more transparent, and CPA financial planners could use that information to help clients make more informed decisions.

January 21, 2020

The financial and human cost of loneliness in retirement

Isolation and loneliness can have serious emotional, social, and financial consequences, and can contribute to declines in clients’ physical and mental health and quality of life.

FROM THIS MONTH'S ISSUE

How a CPA beat burnout after strokes, depression

Randy Crabtree, CPA, suffered two strokes in four days and struggled with his mental health for years before he learned to recognize, address, and prevent chronic stress. Learn from his insights on how CPAs can avoid professional burnout.