Articles Categorized in: Blog

Are Equity-Indexed Annuities Riskier?

An equity-indexed annuity (also referred to as an indexed or fixed index annuity) is an insurance product that allows you to share in stock market gains without taking on direct risk. Unfortunately, however, these annuities contain complex structures with many moving parts that may be difficult to comprehend. Participation rates play an integral part of investing, as they determine how much of an increase in market indexes is credited back to your account. Guaranteed Minimum Returns Indexed annuities typically track...
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Who Holds the Gold in a Gold IRA?

Gold IRAs are self-directed individual retirement accounts that invest in physical precious metals like coins and bars, similar to traditional IRAs in terms of contributions, disbursements, taxes and much more. Investors use gold investments to diversify their retirement portfolios and protect themselves from inflation. But gold prices may fluctuate, so it is wise to consult financial, tax and legal professionals prior to investing. Custodians Gold IRAs are similar to regular IRA accounts in that investors can use them to invest...
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Are Self Directed IRAs Going Away?

Self-directed IRAs offer more investment flexibility and options than their standard IRA counterparts, enabling investors to invest in alternative assets like real estate, private placements, precious metals, single member LLCs and even startups tax free – and profits will grow tax-free! But these accounts come with their own set of risks: should you violate the regulations governing them, you could incur enormous taxes and penalties. They’re not going away Self-directed IRAs appeal to investors looking for diversification beyond stocks and...
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Why Does My Roth IRA Say Custodian?

Custodial Roth IRAs allow parents and legal guardians to save for the retirement of their child by contributing pre-tax money while earnings from investments remain tax free. When your child reaches 18 or 21 depending on state law, they will assume full control of the account and take full control. What is a custodian? Custodians hold assets for safekeeping, maintain records, manage cash flows and report account statements. Though less accountable than depositories, custodians remain vitally important to investors. Custodial...
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What Can You Withdraw From an IRA Without Penalty?

An IRA is a tax-deferred retirement savings account, but with certain withdrawal rules. Withdrawals made before age 59 1/2 can incur taxes and a 10% penalty fee. There are, however, exceptions. Here are a few instances in which withdrawing from an IRA without penalty may be appropriate: If unreimbursed medical expenses exceed 7.5% of adjusted gross income First-time homebuyer exception While the rule generally imposes a penalty on individuals who withdraw early retirement funds, there are circumstances in which this...
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