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Mobile Access To All Your Important Data In Secured Portal

Here are some examples of how iSteward web portal provides access to data that matters.  You matter and your money and resources matter as they allow you to do more and be more for others.

iSteward brings together important information in such a way that it breeds success.  Clarity in all of your financial life.  Why put yourself the pain of another year of gathering data for your CPA, Enrolled Agent or Attorney when iSteward does most of this for you.  The data you are access already is on the web only this is better.  Don’t trust some start up want to be online service rather go with proven reliable platform since 1999.  Visit You Tube and type in “iSteward” to access some of our videos as well.

 

 

 

Stock Market Chart Reveals Past Trends

PPINGOFR stands for “Past Performance Is No Guarantee Of Future Results.”

Others say the trend is your friend.  If that is true then pulling back some equity market exposure would be prudent.  The buy and hold groups say hold on and let it ride- great if your young but difficult if you plan on using some the the money for income in the next few years.

I do not know what with future holds for the markets, but I would be more cautious today with slowing of jobs over recent weeks.  Active money management may prove to be more prudent than passive indexes over the next few years.

 

What is a Self Directed Option or Brokerage Window Option Under a 401(k) Retirement Plan and What Does It Offer?

Finally a solution for the 401k dilemma, you can now add unlimited investment options and work with your own advisor besides the currently the named person on the plan.

The Brokerage Window or Self Directed Option is fast becoming the newest trend in 401(k) Retirement Plans.  Just because it is fast growing trend does not mean that it is right for everyone

It seems I get about one email a week with yet another large employer sponsored pension plan now offering a brokerage option or “Self-Directed” option to the employer sponsored plan.  More than half of the largest 500 companies currently offer this option of having an advisor help employees with a custom planning option.  A decade ago you would be hard pressed to find more than a handful with a brokerage option.

Things you should consider before choosing these plans:

1) Someone that knows you and your plans well.  You could ask if your advisor could be servicing your 401(k) as well.

2) The Registered Investment Advisors are compensated by the account’s Asset Under Management often 1% + managers costs if mutual funds or other platform options.

3) Compliance loves this option to be on the plan- Fiduciary Responsibility – shifts full fiduciary role & responsibility under ERISA 3(21) to another party and not the employer.

So what are the potential downsides of this option? Some may choose the option and not invest in actively managed portfolios and give up the fees without advice and the value of potential active management could bring to capitalize on market swings and reduce risk. While others may venture into highly risky investments not allowed in the plan and lose money designed to be there for retirement.   Also if you incline to invest the money and park it and ride the waves of the market then this option for brokerage window is likely not for you.

 

Older Americans in the Workforce 2013

More people are working beyond the age of 65, primarily motivated by choice, but also for financial reasons says research done by JP Morgan in 2013.  Some have told me they are working so they can defer and grow their Social Security Retirement Benefits by the delayed options.  It is not uncommon to find an extra $50,000 to $100,000 of retirement benefits in how you claim Social Security.

 

Consumer Price Index Feb 2013

While inflation for the past 20 years has been relatively low compared to the 50 year average it still matters.  Inflation matters in that it cost more and more each year for goods and services we buy and utilize.

Retirement planning that does not address some portion geared to address inflation will be painful for all in the future.  Did you know there are products designed to address inflation and target the CPI index on a guaranteed basis?  Currently there are only a few companies offering such inflation adjusted incomes.

Don’t Get Upset with Social Security Office

Social Security Retirement Planning Resource

Working for the Social Security Administration can be more complicated than you and I can imagine. I have learned there are over 2800 rules in Social Security, many of these rules are complex and contingent upon on if this answer is true then this should be next question or step, too many forks in the road to learn quickly.

I have only studied the Retirement Benefits sections and from what I hear the disability section is much more complex. One of the best resources for understanding the retirement section of Social Security comes from Boston College Center for Retirement Studies.  There are also a couple of think tanks I have joined in the past couple of years to help sort it all out. Understanding how Social Security works is not as simple as read a book or attending a weekend seminar.  It takes testing and digging and diligent application of the rules to get to the bottom of many of the Social Security applications.

According to Social Security Administration some 72% of Americans take retirement benefits before full retirement age which is currently age 66. A survey by Boston College Center on Retirement Studies found that with most Social Security benefits claiming, there are several billion dollars left on the table each year by people not knowing how to maximize their benefits.

Today very few in the financial services industry are addressing how to claim and how to optimize the benefits under the switch strategies.  File and Suspend, and the Restricted application are not well known.

You can be the exception because you now have access to tools to help you decide if another way than simply filing for benefits makes sense.

The follow is short video we produced last year to help those nearing retirement get informed.

 

 

Financial Planning 2013 Benefits to You

Our planning process can help you achieve your financial dreams.

1) Project Your Goals: Where you want to be.  Education, Retirement, Future Plans

2) Evaluate Assets: What you have. Investments, Accounts, Real Estate

3) Perform Gap Analysis: What you need. managing cash flow, insurance, assets allocation, savings plans, tax strategies, annuities options, risk tolerance, governmental plans, address personal values and their relation to investments

4) Provide Options: How to get there. detailed recommendations, comprehensive written reports, private financial web page iSteward

5) Implement Strategies: Activate the plan. asset allocation, tax strategies, estate planning, charitable planning, and Social Security claiming strategies

6) Monitor Plan: Optimize to achieve goals. performance thresholds, risk audit, automated alarms, periodic evaluations.

We start by helping you identify your goals and evaluate where you are relative to those goals.  We evaluate your options and recommend strategies to get you where you want to be. We don’t stop there. We help you implement the recommendations. Then, we continually monitor your financial situation to ensure you remain on track to achieve your financial dreams.  The ability to track and monitor and create alerts is the biggest difference than when I started doing this process in 1986.

Below is a short video that shares more on this process and what it looks like for you including a glimpse into iSteward.