A charitable gift annuity (CGA) provides a structured way to give to charity while securing your own future. A gift annuity purchaser secures immediate tax relief, in addition to a tax free post retirement income stream. The way this works is that in return for a lump sum gift contribution, the charity guarantees you a steady income for the rest of your life, either immediate or deferred.
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One of the key issues facing every investor is to find the right balance of risk as opposed to gain. If you play it safe, you get back minimal returns, with some pre-specified interest. If you go for high profit margins, the risk factor is something that you learn to live with. Faced with these opposing current, the insurance industry has come up an innovative solution in the form of equity indexed annuities, which give an investor the best of both worlds – A percentage share in profits, if any, from investments in the stock market, coupled with the security of a guaranteed minimal amount.
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Most types of annuities are governed by a comprehensive state regulatory framework. The primary reason is that all life insurance companies, and all agents and brokers who sell annuities, must have a life insurance license issued by their state of residence. State laws govern the licensing of insurance companies, and state insurance departments oversee insurance company operations.
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In today’s economic climate with money market funds yielding next to nothing, constant fear of inflation and concern over government spending is making retirement planning even more complicated. This fear over dwindling returns with safe secure money should be a primary concern for any retiree or person with limited resources. This rings even truer if maintaining a current lifestyle is an important goal. In times like these, many planners are turning to the bond market but are there better alternatives?
In its simplest definition, an annuity is an amount payable annually. There are, however, many types of annuities, giving you the ability to choose an annuity that is tailored to your specific financial situation and/or retirement goals. While we strongly suggest you discuss your options with a financial professional, here is a basic overview of the options you have:
The short answer is YES; of course it takes money to make money. To make money in the stock market, you must have money to make the initial stock purchases. Starting a business requires money to buy inventory, marketing materials, office space and equipment. Even lottery winners had to have the seed money required to buy the ticket. The only exceptions that come to mind are inheriting, stealing or finding money.
Millennial! Another of those media driven buzzwords, used to label those between the ages of 18 and 34, while the term Gen Xers define those between 35 and 50 years of age. Boomers, the group to which I belong, are those 51 through 69. This post covers 8 key pieces of advice I proffer to this generation.
There is a common trait that shows up on the road to building your wealth. This trait shows up as you continue to add to your investment portfolio. You do have an investment portfolio don’t you? And don’t even start the blame game when this trait is revealed in just a moment.
Something most rags-to riches stories have in common is that a good budget is always needed to help anyone achieve financial security. If you want to significantly improve your credit, you have to learn how to pace your spending and increase your savings. No matter how much money you have, there will always be something you can spend it all on and become dead broke again.
Do you run out of money before you run out of month? Many do, but it doesn’t have to be that way! Wealth is the result of widening the gap between what you earn and what you spend. Most of us make the mistake of ramping up our spending as our disposable incomes rise. This is self-defeating. If you do not develop a respect for money, it will always elude you.