By Ben MessingerFor many of us, retirement funding is acentral fixture of our financial plan and one of the most importantconsiderations is determining the income necessary to sustain a desiredlifestyle. Knowing the true income need for yourlifestyle is the foundation of determining what capital resources must beacquired, which is then...
AARP Washington ischampioning a bill to require employers that do not offer retirement plans tomake an “automatic enrollment” Individual Retirement Account available to theirworkers.House Bill 2516, the“Secure Choice Retirement Savings Program,” was pending in the House ofRepresentatives in mid-February.AARP says the bill isa necessary antidote to a retirement crisis that...
By Shelley KennedyIt might not have made the headlines but a recently passed piece of legislation could affect the individual retirement accounts and 401(k)s of millions of Americans beginning in 2020. So, if you have either of these accounts or if you run a business, you’ll want to learn more.The...
Practitioner to retire, return to first career as welderWhen Bob Tollison, aTri-City chiropractor, wants a workout, he doesn’t head to the gym. Instead, hispreferred fitness routine is a visit to the Plumbers and Steamfitters LocalUnion 598 in Pasco, where he dons his gear and perfects his welding skills.The skills needed...
Forever Friends plan aids pets after their owners dieMany seniors’ wills include provisions for who gets their dog,cat, horse, guinea pig or other furry or feathered friend when they die.But what if the appointed guardian for the surviving pets can’t orwon’t take them? What if the pets unintentionally end up...
By Eileen L. GriffinA recent Wall StreetJournal column attempted to dispel the myth of an impending retirement crisisin the United States. It said most private sector employees are well preparedfor retirement, having saved and invested for many years with bothemployer-sponsored plans and Individual Retirement Accounts. Recent dataindicates 61 percent of...
Marie Duncan has been living alone for 45 years and she’dlike to continue to enjoy her “little view of the river” from her Kennewickhome for as long as she can.The 92-year-old credits the Tender Care Village for enablingher to remain independent at her own home.“It’s just wonderful. I just can’t...
By Beau RuffProperty owned by aspouse does not automatically transfer to the surviving spouse at death.Instead, something more is needed in the estate plan to accomplish this feat. In all the complexityof the estate plan, the community property agreement is one document inparticular that offers simplicity, and yet still is...
By Cathy MacCaulA new retirement savings initiative has launched in Washington. The Retirement Marketplace officially opened the nation’s first online savings portal in March, where businesses and individuals can comparison shop for low-cost, state-verified retirement savings plans. The Retirement Marketplace was created to help about 2 million Washingtonians who do not...
By Stephen PalmRetirement planning is the process to prepare for the phase of life after employment income ends. There are several lifestyle items to consider. However, the primary issue is will there be sufficient assets and income to provide the desired income and lifestyle for the remainder of the retiree’s...
