Does Your Life Include a RIPE Plan—Planning Tips for Retirement, Investing, Protection, and Estate Planning – Part 1 (Retirement)

by: Janet L. Hall

No matter what your age or years of work, it’s almost never too late to start planning for your retirement. As a matter of fact, the younger you are, the less chance you will have of becoming destitute, or a * bag * person. I’m not trying to be funny, it can happen to you if you don’t watch what you are doing and PLAN for the future.

Ponder for a minute on the questions below:

~~ What kind of life do you want in your * golden years *?
~~ How will you use your retirement time, meaning, what activities, interests, or travel might you want to pursue?
~~ Will you need or want to change your housing and lifestyle completely or do you hope you can * stay where you are, doing the same things you’ve always done *?
~~ If you are planning on living in a different area, what are the standards of living in that area OR what are the chances of the standard of living increasing or decreasing where you are currently living?
~~ How might your health affect your retirement?
~~ Will you need to continue to work part-time after retirement to * make ends meet *? How will that affect your benefits?
~~ Do you want to start your own business, many people do after retirement, and how will that affect your benefits?
~~ What * support * systems do you have or need to have in place?

If a company employs you, you need to FIND OUT:

~~ if they have a retirement plan (benefits), such as a pension or 401(k)
~~ what your TOTAL monthly or lump sum disbursement will be
~~ how much you can contribute
~~ length of service required to be eligible to collect benefits
~~ age required to be eligible to collect benefits
~~ if the plan will meet your needs/lifestyle after retirement

Take the time and schedule an appointment with your employer’s * benefits person * and discuss YOUR retirement plan. Ask them about YOUR Statement Of Accrued Benefits (SAB). This is YOUR personal account and will tell you the benefits you can expect based on your salary and retirement time.

If you’re self-employed, as many of us are, you need to establish your own retirement plan. The easiest plan is an IRA at which you can only contribute $2,000 yearly. If you’re young (years away from retirement) check out a non-deductible Roth IRA. Other plans include SIMPLE, SEP-IRA, and Keogh Plan. If you want to learn more about these plans, check our Reviews section near the end of the newsletter.

Please don’t think you can live on Social Security (in the USA) alone! If you have no idea what you MIGHT have already accumulated into Social Security, FIND OUT! (Link for SSA in Reviews section)

WARNING and a TIP: Just when you thought you were covered! One thing that can zap you financially is a divorce (I hope this never happens to you) and your pension plan could be one of your largest assets to be DIVIDED up (I’ve seen this happen). SO, if you’re married, I sincerely hope you stay so happily and forever after!

Smiles, not Piles,
Janet L. Hall
Professional Organizer, Author, and Speaker
http://www.overhall.com
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Owning A Second Home Is Easier Than You Think

Buying a second home is a serious financial commitment, but it is can also lead to a feeling of complete freedom. It can provide you with a vacation home, a place to escape from your mundane routine and an investment in the future for when you retire. Aging and wealthier households, smaller families and new technologies that allow professionals to work from remote places are all significant demographic trends. These trends indicate that buying a second home is becoming a more reasonable option for many Americans. The recent changes in tax laws are also making second home purchases more affordable. Strategically planning your purchase, consulting a trusted professional and taking your time are the keys to making the perfect investment.

Strategies For Retirement Investments

Planning for retirement early is smart, especially now. Many experts believe that as the Baby Boomer generation gets closer to retirement property values will increase at a rapid rate. More people will be buying second homes in high demand locations so locking in a lower price now can save thousands. If you are buying a house you want to retire in later be certain to consider all the possible changes and growth for the area. Many times development and increased populations change the face of a seemingly perfect location within just a few years. Another alternative to consider is investing in a home and using it as rental property first. At retirement you can choose to improve and make the rental home your primary residence. You can then sell or exchange and buy the retirement home of your dreams.

Tax Advantages Can Be Found Everywhere

Regardless of the avenue you take to invest in your retirement, the IRS offers tax advantages in a wide variety of ways. Mortgage interest and local and state real estate taxes are all deductible if you live in your second home a portion of the year. Write offs are limited to two homes. If you rent the home for less than 15 days you do not have to claim the rental income or pay taxes on it. If you rent your second home more than 15 days you must report the rental income. However, now all of the expenses used to run the property are deductible. Property taxes, interest, insurance, repairs, utilities, supplies, cleaning and maintenance are all considered expenses. Equity in your first home can also help with the purchase of a second home as a retirement investment. A home equity loan or line of credit can be used to cover the down payment on a second home. Be aware however, that borrowing in this way only allows the first $100,000 of equity debt to be written off.

Get Creative About Your Investments

Another tax strategy is using the IRS Code, Section 1031. Section 1031 says no gain or loss will be recognized in the exchange of property held for use in an investment. This allows savvy investors to purchase a property and later exchange it for one of like kind. For those planning to retire this means you can purchase a second home as a rental property/vacation home and build your investment. At retirement you can then exchange the property for the dream home you have always hoped for and defer the capital gains tax. The savings is incredible. Of course, real estate deals like this can be tricky so always take advice from a real estate professional and be certain all the transactions are done legally.

On Your Way To The Retirement Plans You Hoped For

Retirement can be a stressful topic for many people. However, more and more middle aged Americans seem to be using forethought and common sense to build the life they know they want to have after 65. Education, creativity, clear thinking, asking questions and knowing the kind of future you want to invest in is the way to achieve success. Using the tax system strategically to reach your goals will lead to a retirement full of joy, comfort and quality time to do what truly matters. When you are ready to search for a second home, or a place to start your retirement, enlist the help of a seasoned REALTOR. One that knows the market of the area you have targeted for your purchase and an SRES or ABR designation after their name. The SRES designation is the most important qualification to help you find the assistance you need. Now that you are ready don’t wait, start making your dreams come true!