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• Burns at Large
• Financial Planning
• Q&A (from print)
• Retirement
• Social Security

• Meet the Diabolical Tax, the Alternative Minimum Tax for the Retired

  By Scott Burns Q. What triggers taxation of Social Security benefits and what does not? Can the tax be avoided? ---L.M, by email A. The only proven way to avoid the tax is to have little or no income beyond Social Security benefits. I call this the Diabolical... Posted Aug 06 2008, 03:00 PM by admin with | with 1 comment(s) Filed under: Q&A (from print), Taxes & Other Disasters, Government

• The Rush for Safety Has Reduced Yields

  By Scott Burns Q. Would you give us retirees your view as to the safest place for our hard-earned savings while we are having bank failures? ---H.V., by email (one of many asking the same question) A. For most people, the $100,000 FDIC insurance limit... Posted Jul 30 2008, 03:00 PM by admin with | with no comments Filed under: Retirement, Taxes & Other Disasters, Government

• Ending Insider Rating and the Credit Crisis

  By Scott Burns and Laurence J. Kotlikoff "... let me assert my firm belief that the only thing we have to fear is fear itself -- nameless, unreasoning, unjustified terror which paralyzes needed efforts to convert retreat into advance." -- President... Posted Mar 28 2008, 03:00 PM by admin with | with 3 comment(s) Filed under: Burns at Large, Taxes & Other Disasters, Government

• Magic in Finance, Part 4: Government, The Big Magician

  by Scott Burns When it comes to financial magic, the government of the United States takes the prize. Sleights of hand and clever distractions by purveyors of line-of-credit mortgages, living-benefit variable annuities and equity-indexed life insurance... Posted Nov 16 2007, 03:00 PM by admin with | with 3 comment(s) Filed under: Taxes & Other Disasters, Government

• The Darkest Horse

  MANCHESTER, N.H. -- The road to Saint Anselm College is marked with long Burma Shave strands of political placards. The name I see most is Biden. But all the Democratic Party candidates for president will be there. A two-hour debate between candidates... Posted Jun 09 2007, 11:00 PM by scottb with | with 2 comment(s) Filed under: Taxes & Other Disasters, Government

• Who Will Get Your Employer's 401(K) Contributions?

  Today's Rude Opinion Poll: Which description best characterizes our elected representatives in Washington, regardless of party affiliation? They are hapless boobs, constantly passing laws that contradict each other. They are scheming miscreants, relentlessly... Posted May 27 2007, 12:00 AM by scottb with | with 26 comment(s) Filed under: Retirement, Social Security, Taxes & Other Disasters, Government

• April 15th and the Rising Price Of Civilization

  Thanks to a good accountant, the Burns family tax return was ready a week before deadline this year. Proud of ourselves, my wife and I signed it. Then we contemplated its enormity. While far shorter than "War and Peace," the heft of our 40-page return... Posted Apr 21 2007, 06:00 PM by scottb with | with 9 comment(s) Filed under: Taxes & Other Disasters, Government

• A Flat Tax, with bumps and potholes

  We already have a flat tax. It just has bumps and potholes. The fact that neither political party will acknowledge this is one of the reasons both parties are a useless disservice to the voting public. Instead, both parties have a vested interest in the... Posted Jan 27 2007, 06:00 PM by scottb with | with 24 comment(s) Filed under: Taxes & Other Disasters, Government

• It's All about What We Spend

  Q. I have often heard that a couple should plan on replacing 70 to 85 percent of pre-retirement income in retirement. I have questioned that guidance because I believe it is more important to replace expenses than it is to replace income. Of my current... Posted Oct 25 2006, 06:00 PM by scottb with | with 1 comment(s) Filed under: Taxes & Other Disasters, Government

• Why Do You Favor the Fair Tax?

  C.C. in Houston writes to say there is nothing fair about the Fair Tax plan for a single flat sales tax. He quotes a letter from another concerned citizen to the editor of the Houston Chronicle. "The so-called Fair Tax scheme is a blatant attempt by the... Posted Oct 18 2006, 06:00 PM by scottb with | with 29 comment(s) Filed under: Taxes & Other Disasters, Government

• Taxes: Government's Way of Telling You not to Work

  Q. I am in the top tax bracket and contribute the max to my 401k. The phase out rules and limitations of Roth IRAs close that option. I am trying to decide whether a low-cost Fidelity annuity is better than investing in a tax efficient mutual fund. Is... Posted Aug 17 2006, 03:38 PM by scottb with | with 1 comment(s) Filed under: Q&A (from print), Taxes & Other Disasters, Government

• Should You Save, or Spend, in your 50's?

  Q. Would you please write about empty-nesters who put their retirement in jeopardy or delay it by moving up to more expensive homes, buying boats, vacation homes, etc.? Many people (including my husband) have a golden opportunity to catch up with their... Posted Aug 10 2006, 03:46 PM by scottb with | with no comments Filed under: Q&A (from print), Retirement, Taxes & Other Disasters, Government

• Learn How To Avoid "Taxable Events"

  Q. Most retirement investment advice assumes a person's savings are in taxable accounts or a combination of tax deferred and taxable accounts. What is the advice for a retiree when all of their savings are in tax deferred accounts? Is it wise to convert... Posted Jun 15 2006, 10:34 AM by scottb with | with no comments Filed under: Q&A (from print), Retirement, Taxes & Other Disasters, Government

• No, It isn't OK to lie on your tax return

  Q. I have a question regarding my tax return. A co-worker heard from a friend of his about a tax consultant who has helped his clients receive "more than normal" refunds. He said that the consultant can claim up to 10 percent of the total income as a... Posted May 11 2006, 11:32 AM by scottb with | with no comments Filed under: Burns at Large, Q&A (from print), Taxes & Other Disasters, Government

• Net Unrealized Appreciation…And Other Tax Pitfalls

  David Foltz was polite about it, but the message remained. There was an error in my column on net unrealized appreciation for company stock in 401(k) plans. While I had said that such stock received a step-up in cost basis at death, escaping taxation... Posted Jan 31 2006, 02:39 PM by scottb with | with no comments Filed under: Taxes & Other Disasters, Government