Mutual fund Archives - 2011 Tax to 2019 Tax

Knowing Where to Find the Best Rates for Your IRA

A lot of people talk about IRA and the types of investments. However, a lot of people tend to be confused when IRA rates are talked about. This is due to the fact that these rates do not really pertain to the rate of IRAs but to the rate of returns from the investment it holds. IRA accounts is not a single investment where you can specify it’s rate. It is an investment account that can hold different types of investments such as stocks, mutual funds, real, estate certificate of deposits and a lot more.

When you talk about IRA rates for stocks, it pertains to the rate of returns that you will get from stock trading. Usually, people will not be able to know these rates until they make the trade and the fees are subtracted and no one knows for sure if they will gain or lose in a particular stock. It is risky but can be very rewarding.

If you invest in certificate of deposits IRA rates pertains to the rate of interest that you will get from your deposit. Investing in CDs is probably one of the safest ways to invest your IRA funds. You will be given a fixed interest rate and a predetermined time when you will be receiving your earnings. The IRA interest rates would usually vary depending on the type of CD that you plan to invest in. those CDs that requires a larger amount of minimum deposit and those having longer terms usually have higher IRA interest rates.

For you to find the best IRA rates for your account, it is important that you do an intensive research on the place where you will open your investments. Find out the rate of returns and the fees involved. This way you will be able to make the most out of your investments.

Understanding the IRA Tax Rule (2010taxes.org)
A Quick Look At Stretch IRA Guidelines (2009tax.org)

Free 401k Advice for Plan Participants.

This article will focus on the latest trend in the 401k space ~ “free” 401k advice!

To begin with, the Pension Protection Act of 2006 which came into effect in January of 2008, includes a provision for plan providers (the vendor that provides you company with your 401k plan platform) to offer plan sponsors (your company) the option for plan participants (you) to pay for independent third party investment advice with pre-tax money from your plan assets. Granted this is not free but it gives the plan participant the choice to use pretax dollars vs. writing a check for the investment advice.

Know that even though you do not currently get a bill for the service, you are already paying manager fees if you own any type of mutual fund in your plan. You just do not see the money deducted from inside the fund. It is not transparent.

Furthermore, at least one plan provider, Charles Schwab, has begun offering some of their plan sponsor clients the option for plan participants to use, without charge, an unrelated investment advisory firm, GuidedChoice Asset Management, Inc.. There is a catch however; their investment advice is limited to the core lineup of mutual funds offered in the plan. In other words, if the plan also has a self directed 401k GuidedChoice will not advise the plan participant on those possible investment choices. Neither will they provide any advice on assets held outside the plan whereas an independent advisor would, if asked.

Yet, Schwab has taken the concept a step further. They are introducing an indexing-only 401k plan using exchange traded funds… along with customized 401k advice. The indication so far is not clear if the client plan sponsor or the plan participant is billed for the advice; however, it is clear that participants are in dire need of this service.

If you think that 401k advice is a good idea and you want to know if your company has adopted any of these provisions, call your human resources department and ask. If no one can give you a verbal answer, ask for a document called The Summary Plan Description. This document will spell it out for you. Just know that there are 401k advisors ready and willing to help.

401K Rollover To Roth IRA: You Better Make A Move Now (2010taxes.org)
Are Annuities a Good or Bad Investment? (2011tax.org)

Are Annuities a Good or Bad Investment?

The truth is that annuities can be a very good investment for the average person. The advantages to investing in annuities definitely outweigh the risks.

Many people think that annuities are a bad investment because they think that annuities only pay a fixed return. This is only true if a person buys a fixed annuity. There are a wide variety of annuity products that offer a variable return comparable that on mutual funds. These include variable annuities and indexed annuities.

Others think that annuities are a bad investment for average people because they have to be purchased immediately in one lump sum. That is not true because there are many deferred annuities that can be purchased gradually like other investments. A person can make payments into an annuity just like any other retirement investment. If you decide to go with a fixed annuity, lock in your fixed annuity rates early as rates tend to fluctuate.

Another common mistake is the idea that annuities are insurance policies. Annuities are not insurance policies, annuities are an insured investment. This makes annuities a really good investment for a working person because the funds placed in the annuity are insured. A person who purchases an annuity will get the funds placed in it back. Almost no other investment available today will guarantee that.

Others think annuities are bad because the insurance companies that issue them can go out of business. There is some truth to this but most people don’t realize that annuities are guaranteed by state governments. Most state governments insure annuities for up to $100,000 and some states insure annuities for up to $500,000. That means the average investor should be reimbursed even if the annuity company goes out of business.

It should also be pointed out that when AIG, a huge company that issued a lot of annuities; got into trouble it was bailed out by the federal government. This means that there is little possibility that funds in annuities can be completely lost the way funds in some investments can be.

Annuities and Taxes

From a tax point of view annuities are not a bad form of investment. Any funds that are placed in an annuity are tax deferred this means that they are not taxed.

Annuities that are used as retirement savings vehicles are subject to the same IRS regulations as other retirement plans. This means that a person will probably pay a 10% tax penalty if he or she takes the funds out before age 59½. As long as the funds are left in the annuity until retirement there should be tax complications.

Annuity Fees

Many people think that annuities are bad investments because of the fees. Any investment can come with high fees attached. The reason investors end up paying high fees is that they don’t read the paperwork before buying an investment.

Annuities are just like any other investment they come with a contract. The fees charged on the annuity will be laid out in the contract. A person should read the contract and pay close attention to any provision about fees.

It is also a good idea to take the contract and read it away from the person who is trying to sell the investment. Ask if you can take the contract home and read it there. Also try reading the contract over more than once. In many cases a reader can spot hidden provisions in a second or even third reading. A person can even get somebody else that they trust and respect to take a look at the contract. An honest salesperson should have no problem if a customer wants to look over an agreement before you sign it.

Never sign an annuity contract if the fees in it are excessive. Instead ask to see some other annuity products so you can compare the fees.

Annuities are not a bad investment for the average person. There are some annuities that are a bad deal but these can be easily avoided by careful and informed investors.

Annuities Explained and How to Find Them (2009taxes.org)
Guidelines on Where to Invest Your Retirement Funds (2011tax.org)

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