By Joel Dresang
In our 30 years as homeowners, my wife and I have had occasional conversations about the urgency of retiring our mortgage. Math always settles it: At a fixed rate below 4%, our home loan is costing us less than the average 6%-7% a year that balanced investments have returned historically. […]
As part of the $2 trillion initiative to stimulate the economy during the COVID-19 pandemic, Congress has suspended required minimum distributions for calendar year 2020. That means retirees in their 70s who were supposed to withdraw money from tax-advantaged retirement accounts such as IRAs can skip a year, thus avoiding the income tax they’d have to pay on such withdrawals. […]
Most of the Landaas & Company staff have been able to work from home during the COVID-19 pandemic, but a core of 11 employees continues going to the office to answer phones, process mail, prepare reports and administer documents. Their efforts are crucial to enabling the remote work of the rest of the firm. […]
By Joel Dresang
Like news editors, investors can plan and prepare with the best information available at the time, but they cannot foresee every possible cataclysm. […]
The $2 trillion emergency spending bill passed by Congress and signed by President Trump at the end of March includes several provisions of interest to investors and retirees. Chris Evers and Patrick Weyer compiled some highlights, based on what was known at the time the bill was signed into law. To learn how any of the provisions apply to you individually, please consult with your investment advisor as well as a tax professional, if appropriate. […]
By Joel Dresang
It’s only human to want to do something, so here are actions I have taken, specifically on investments. […]
By Joel Dresang
Each year, Social Security emails me a reminder to review my individualized online statement to check for possible errors and to consider the progress I’m making toward funding my retirement. This year, I am extra motivated to give my statement more than a casual once-over. […]
By Joel Dresang
Each year, I weigh whether we’re better off staying stuck on paper or giving in to all-digital documents. […]
You should keep track of the progress of your investments and also watch for unexpected changes. (As our financial lives evolve, we often wonder at what point or how frequently to take certain actions toward our long-term goals. In an ongoing feature, investment professionals from Landaas & Company provide answers.) […]
Dave Sandstrom explains new legislation affecting older workers, retirees in their 70s and IRA beneficiaries. […]
In a Money Talk Podcast, Bob Landaas leads a discussion about wise ways to be charitable. […]
By Joel Dresang
The point of talking about the long term is to prompt us to plan, allocate and adjust so that we don’t outlive our resources. Whether we want to consume as much as we can while we’re able or to leave a legacy to our heirs, we don’t want to run out of money before we run out of time. Of course, how much time we have is both unknown and peculiar. […]