S May 24, 2013
If you are in your twenties or thirties, I have a tip for you: Learn about IRA accounts. They are the retirement vehicles for your future.
Few have figured this out. Individual Retirement Accounts get little attention because our personal and media focus is on 401(k) and 403(b) accounts sponsored by employers. Worse, IRA accounts have much lower contribution limits. This year the maximum contribution to an IRA account is $5,500 if you are under age 50; $6,500 if you are over age 50. The maximum contribution to a 401(k) or 403(b) plan is $17,500. This doesn’t count any matching funds contributed by your employer. read more…
S May 22, 2013
Q.I have two questions about bond investments. First, with individual bonds, would a personbe better off keeping the bonds to maturity when rates went up and receiving the full value at maturity? Or should he sell and reinvest in higher interest rate bonds? Second, does this work with bond funds? Do fund managers hold bonds to maturity, or do they generally sell and reinvest when interest rates are going up? —J.T., Austin, Texas read more…
A May 20, 2013
A friend of mine lived in Tokyo for many years. He demonstrated Japanese culture for his many visitors by dropping his wallet on a pedestrian clogged street. Then he walked briskly away from it, much to the amazement of his visiting friends. In each case (and yes, I do think he was lucky) a breathless man or woman caught up to him, wallet in hand.
Japan has one of the world’s lowest crime rates. So while many Americans brave Mexican and Ecuadorean retiree destinations, it’s worth considering where the Japanese flee for a setting sunset of their own. One such place is Malaysia. read more…