10 Biggest Retirement Mistakes: #4. Mishandling Company Stock

Rolling your 401(k) into an IRA is generally a good idea, but it may not be the right decision when you own highly appreciated company stock inside your plan.

A special rule for what is called “net unrealized appreciation” allows you to move your employer’s stock out of your 401(k) when you retire or leave your job.

You must follow the rules precisely to take advantage of lower capital gains rates, rather than ordinary income taxes, when you sell the stock.

10 Biggest Retirement Mistakes: #5. Not Coordinating Benefits With Your Spouse

For most married couples, the main goal should be to 
maximize Social Security benefits for the surviving spouse, who is likely to be the wife.

That means the main breadwinner, typically the husband, should delay collecting Social Security retirement benefits until age 70 when they will be worth the most and will pass to the wife as a survivor benefit if he dies first.

Oops! Newest Social Security Retirees Will Outlive Official Trust Fund...

Vantage Point UPDATE: Intermediate-Term and Long-Term Trend Analysis

On Friday, January 25, the S&P 500 closed @ 1503, and that was...
  
    +7.4% ABOVE its 12-Month moving average which stood @ 1399.
    +7.4% ABOVE its 40-Week moving average which stood @ 1400.
    +4.2% ABOVE its 10-Week moving average which stood @ 1442.


Therefore, the INTERMEDIATE-Term trend IS BULLISH 
and the LONG-Term trend is UP.

Dow Industrials Heading for A Test of 2007 High...

It's The Spending, Not The Taxation...

Greece Plunges Into A Deep Recession...

Bullish Omen!: Housing Starts On The Upswing...

Vantage Point UPDATE: Intermediate-Term and Long-Term Trend Analysis

On Friday, January 18, the S&P 500 closed @ 1486, and that was...
  
    +6.4% ABOVE its 12-Month moving average which stood @ 1396.
    +6.4% ABOVE its 40-Week moving average which stood @ 1397.
    +4.1% ABOVE its 10-Week moving average which stood @ 1427.


Therefore, the INTERMEDIATE-Term trend IS BULLISH 
and the LONG-Term trend is UP.

Cartoon of The Day: Who Are Les Miserables? Our Children and Grandchildren...

10 Ways To Increase Your Social Security Income: #1. Delay Claiming

#1. Delay Claiming

Workers can begin receiving payments at age 62. But payouts are reduced unless you wait until your full retirement age, typically age 66 or 67. Benefits further increase for each year you delay claiming up until age 70.

10 Ways To Increase Your Social Security Income: #2. Utilize Spousal Payments

 #2. Utilize Spousal Payments 

Spouses are entitled to a Social Security benefit of up to 50% of the higher earning spouse’s check if that amount is higher than the payout based on his or her own working record. Spousal payments are reduced for early claiming.

10 Ways To Increase Your Social Security Income: #3. Don't Earn Too Much

#3. Don't Earn Too Much 

If you collect Social Security before your full retirement age and earn more than $14,160 (or $37,680 the year you reach your full retirement age) in 2013, a portion or all of your benefit may be temporarily withheld.

There is no penalty for working after your full retirement age.

Vantage Point UPDATE: Intermediate-Term and Long-Term Trend Analysis

On Friday, January 11, the S&P 500 closed @ 1472, and that was...
  
    +5.6% ABOVE its 12-Month moving average which stood @ 1394.
    +5.6% ABOVE its 40-Week moving average which stood @ 1394.
    +3.9% ABOVE its 10-Week moving average which stood @ 1417.


Therefore, the INTERMEDIATE-Term trend IS BULLISH 
and the LONG-Term trend is UP.

10 Ways To Increase Your Social Security Income: #4. Claim Twice!

#4. Claim Twice!

Dual-earner couples who have reached their full retirement age can claim spousal payments and file again later based on their own work record, which will then be higher because they accrued additional delayed retirement credits.

10 Ways To Increase Your Social Security Income: #5. Minimize Social Security Income Taxes

#5. Minimize Social Security Income Taxes 

About 33% of Social Security recipients pay income taxes on up to 85% of their benefit because the sum of their adjusted gross income, nontaxable interest, and half of their Social Security benefit is more than $25,000 ($32,000 for couples).

10 Ways To Increase Your Social Security Income: #6. Sign Up for Direct Deposit

 #6. Sign Up for Direct Deposit 

Get your payments directly deposited into a bank or credit union account to get your money faster and avoid the fees associated with the Direct Express Debit MasterCard.

Paper checks are no longer an option for new retirees as of May 1, 2011.

10 Ways To Increase Your Social Security Income: #7. Include Family

#7. Include Family

Social Security recipients who have children under age 18 or who are disabled may be eligible for higher Social Security payments for the child or a spouse caring for the child, up to certain annual limits.

Vantage Point UPDATE: Intermediate-Term and Long-Term Trend Analysis

 On Friday, January 4, the S&P 500 closed @ 1466, and that was...
  
    +5.3% ABOVE its 12-Month moving average which stood @ 1393.
    +5.3% ABOVE its 40-Week moving average which stood @ 1392.
    +3.9% ABOVE its 10-Week moving average which stood @ 1411.


Therefore, the INTERMEDIATE-Term trend IS Moderately BULLISH 
and the LONG-Term trend is UP.

10 Ways To Increase Your Social Security Income: #8. Claim On An Ex-Spouse's Record

 

#8. Claim On An Ex-Spouse's Record

A former spouse may be eligible for Social Security payments if the marriage lasted at least 10 years.

The divorced spouse must be age 62 or older and unmarried. An ex-spouse claiming has no impact on the worker’s payout.

10 Ways To Increase Your Social Security Income: #9. Boost The Survivor's Benefit

#9. Boost The Survivor's Benefit

Widows and widowers are entitled to the higher earner’s full retirement benefit.

A worker can increase the monthly survivor’s benefit his or her surviving spouse will receive by waiting to sign up for Social Security until age 70.

10 Ways To Increase Your Social Security Income: #10. Maximize Paychecks Now

#10. Maximize Paychecks Now 

Social Security benefits are calculated based on your 35 highest earning years in the workforce.

Boosting your income now by negotiating for a raise or taking a second job will generally result in a higher payout in retirement.