In This Issue:

• New Fed Hot line for Mortgage Help
• Qualified Charitable Distributions Qualify for RMDs
• How Much Do You Know about Social Security?
• The Problem with Do-It-Yourself Estate Planning
• Will my broker calculate my cost basis for DRP stocks?
• Are there exceptions to new cost basis reporting rules?

• Why does Europe affect your portfolio?
• Long-term care planning is important for women.
• Can you get to a million dollars?
• Does the federal financial aid formula count all parental assets?
• How are 529 plans treated for federal financial aid purposes?

Click here to read our newsletter:  Newsletter 2011.10.22

http://www.forbes.com/sites/work-in-progress/2011/10/03/four-questions-to-find-the-right-financial-advisor/

National Save for Retirement Week is the first congressionally endorsed, national event formally calling on all employees to take full advantage of employer-sponsored retirement plans.

Experts predict that retirees will need from 80 percent to 100 percent of their pre-retirement income to maintain their lifestyle after retirement. Yet, surveys show that most Americans remain unprepared for retirement.

Many workers already participate in company sponsored retirement plans, which provide a foundation for retirement saving. And many workers will also be eligible for Social Security benefits at retirement age.

But, for many, that won’t be enough. They will need to add additional retirement savings in order to live comfortably and securely during their retirement years – to fulfill their dreams.

For many Americans today it is important to begin saving for retirement – or increasing contributions to meet their goals. National Save for Retirement Week is dedicated to showing how important it is meet retirement objectives by contributing regularly and investing wisely for the long term.

Here are a few simple examples of what it takes to prepare for when it’s time to retire:

• Save just $10 per week in a deferred compensation plan for 40 years and earn an average rate of return of 7 percent, and you will have an account with over $100,000. That just shows the power of tax-deferred savings.
• If you start a little later, don’t be discouraged. You can still save more than $73,000, by setting aside $60 a month in a tax-deferred savings account for 30 years and at a 7 percent return.
• If you are saving now, and you increase your contributions, you can really make a difference in your final total. Over 30 years, adding $25 to your $100 biweekly contribution can increase your account from $264,327 to more than $330,409, assuming you earn 7 percent.
• Saver’s Credit. Sometimes saving seems really hard, especially if your income is limited. The government has a special Saver’s Credit just for you. If you are eligible, you can actually receive money back when you file your tax return.

There are many resources available on the Internet to provide you with the information you need to plan for retirement. Here are a few sites that will help you get started:

• www.ssa.gov – Social Security Administration – You will find calculators to determine what your benefit will be, information on how to apply for benefits and other information about the government retirement system.
•  www.asec.org –American Savings Education Council – A useful calculator helps you estimate how much you need to save to meet your retirement goals as well as a number of savings tips and useful brochures.

National Save for Retirement Week Goals
Help Americans understand how critical it is to save now for their financial future

• Promote the benefits of getting started saving for retirement today
• Encourage employees to take full advantage of their employer-sponsored plans by increasing their contributions

National Save for Retirement Week Key Messages

• National Save for Retirement Week is the first congressionally endorsed, national event formally calling on employers to promote the benefits of saving for retirement, and encourage their employees to take full advantage of employer-sponsored plans.
• This year National Save for Retirement Week is October 16th through 22nd.
• Statistics reflect that outside of employer-sponsored plans, employees save virtually nothing. Trends also reflect that over the last 30 years, tax deferred savings plans have largely replaced pension plans – placing the burden on employees to take the initiative to begin investing adequately within their employer-sponsored plans.

Brought to you by Money Tree Software
Money Tree Software is a Corvallis, Oregon company and member of the National Association of Government Defined Contribution Administrators. Money Tree supports the City of New York with educational websites and financial planning systems.

In this issue:

• Medicare AEP Dates Changed for 2011
• Making Benefit Decisions During Open Enrollment
• Factoring health-care costs into Retirement Planning
• Can my former state tax my retirement benefits?

NAPFA 2011.07 Planning Perspectives Newsletter

Newsletter 2011.08.18

In this issue:

• The Spousal IRA Rule
• All About Indices
• Health Flexible Spending Accounts
• What happens to my online accounts when I die?

In this issue:

• Talking to Your Child about College Expectations
• Medicare and Medicaid: Do You Know the Difference?
• Important Questions to Ask Aging Parents
• Can the IRS waive the 60-day IRA rollover deadline?

Follow the Planning Perspectives link to view the issue in its entirety.