The Financial Reader

Education, Inspiration, & Commentary for Your Personal Finances

0 notes &

Traditional IRA and Roth IRA: which is to choose?

 

Many people really don’t understand the difference between the most popular IRAs and they don’t know which is to choose. Both Traditional IRA and Roth IRA have their own advantages, and it’s up to you which will be better. I will try to differentiate them to make the question clear.

First of all, I would like to mention that contribution limits are the same, so this factor is not to pay attention for.  As for age limitations, you should keep in mind, that if you want to contribute to your IRA as long as possible, I would recommend you to choose Roth Ira, because there are no age limitations, and to Traditional IRA you can make contribution only up to age of 70,5. What is more, you should remember about some income limitations. You can’t contribute to Roth IRA if your income goes beyond certain limit. One of the most important things you should know, that Roth IRA is never deductible. What about the Traditional IRA, you can deduct your contributions only if you meet certain requirements.

What is more, Traditional IRA becomes tax-deffered, which means that you won’t pay taxes if you don’t withdraw your contributions. If you withdraw them, you’ll pay for your contributions and earnings. On the other hand, there are no such taxes in Roth IRA, which makes it the winner in this battle. In addition to this, bear in memory some distribution rules. In traditional IRA distributions are treated as common earnings and have its taxes. At the same time such distributions are tax free in Roth IRA.

So, summing everything up, we can see that Roth IRA has more advantages and if you want to achieve the safe retirement it would be better to use this one. You can also contribute to both IRAs, but you should still remember, that your total contribution mustn’t go beyond the tax year. What is more, you should think about additional fees and consider all the benefits. The other way out is to convert from Traditional IRA to Roth IRA, but my advice is to consult your tax adviser before making your decision, because it can cost you too much if you do it the wrong way.

We must think about the future and to know definitely which one we want. If you use the Traditional IRA you will stay at the same tax bracket or even at a lower one, while Roth Ira guarantee you higher tax bracket and better retirement. So, take all the factors into consideration and I am sure you will make the right choice.

About the Author:

Paul Smith works at http://essaywritingservice.co/ as an essay writer.

He likes everything absolutely new for him and he would like to write more interesting articles. Read his essays and have pleasure!

 

 

0 notes &

Check out: Best Options to Invest in Fixed Income for 2013

 

A lot of retired people live on a fixed income. When a retired person lives on a fixed income, he or she must watch expenses closely. A pensioner must also invest their existing funds wisely. Here are the five best options to invest in fixed income for 2013.

A lot of investors love bonds. There are plenty of tax free bonds that are perfect for people on a fixed income. When investing in bonds, most investors do not have to worry about market fluctuations. Of course, bond rates and risk amounts can vary depending on the company.

Of course, some people who are on fixed incomes do not have a large tax bill. For this reason, a corporate bond may be the answer. In reality, a corporate bond will pay a higher rate than a tax-free bond and the tax implications may not make a difference if the investor has a low tax liability.

The rates for certificates of deposit are not high, but they have improved. In reality, an investor who wants no risk should consider investing in a CD. Sometimes, an investor can get a decent rate on a five year certificate of deposit. Of course, a person on a fixed income must realise that the money will be tied up for a long term. In fact, most banks will charge a steep penalty for withdrawing money early.

A lot of investors do not like the stock market. With the markets, an investor can invest safely if he or she chooses the right stocks. There are plenty of dividend paying equities that would be perfect for an older person on a fixed income. Dividend paying stocks are great as an investor can make money off the dividends while also making money with a rising share price.

Finally, a smart investor on a fixed income can look into rental properties. In reality, becoming a landlord is not the dream of everyone, but it can be a great way to make money. With property, an investor will have a solid asset that makes them money on a monthly basis. Not only that, it is often easy to write off many expenses associated with owning an investment property

When on a fixed income, an investor must be careful to protect their assets. Ideally, when investing, one will make smart choices and protect their assets. In reality, there are number of excellent ways to make money investing whilst still protecting ones assets.

Author Bio: Hello readers, I am Maria Benson, a blogger working for ppi claims. I am into health and finance. You can catch me on @financeport.

0 notes &

Aspiring Blogger – Personal Finance Carnival – March 1, 2013

 

My article, “Why I Don’t Enjoy My Money Just Because I Work Hard for It ” has been featured on AspiringBlogger.com blog carnival for March 1, 2013. Alongside this article, you will find many others to to help you manage your finances better and to help you put money in perspective. Topics covered in the carnival are Career Advice, Contentment, Frugality, Making money online, and more. Check out both the AspiringBlogger blog and it’s carnival!

0 notes &

Credit Scores, GAP, and Financial Planning Foundations

 

TGIF! Here’s a wrap-up of the week.

On Monday, we discussed credit scores and the bottom line your credit score has on your wallet in “How Your Credit Score Affects Your Money.” Understanding how credit scores work will put you at an advantage when you do have to borrow money.

Tuesday was about “GAP Insurance.” Typically, I run from added insurances and warranties. However, for myself, I have seen value in purchasing GAP insurance, especially given the relatively low cost of it. GAP insurance isn’t necessary in every situation though. If you haven’t already, read the article to help you to evaluate if GAP insurance is wise or unwise for your situation.

Paul Smith, contributed an article on Thursday called “Foundations of Financial Planning.” I really liked Paul’s straight forward approach to managing your money. Paul discussed the three broad categories that you should be funding in order to achieve financial independence.

I’ll leave you with this thought for the weekend… When dealing with money, try to keep things balanced and in perspective. Creating wealth and reducing debt is the prudent thing to do. However, as cliche as it has become to say…… You can’t take any of it with you. Many people have gained a lot of wealth, but all the while lost everything else in the pursuit of it.

“Wealth is a tool of freedom. But the pursuit of wealth is the way to slavery.”
- Frank Herbert

Have a great weekend!

Benjamin James

Upromise 120x60

Read more …

2 notes &

Foundations of Financial Planning

 

Spending money wisely is a valuable aspect of financial planning. The more literally you equip the sections of your accounting, the easier it will be to analyze, plan, and to maintain control over your personal finances.

I have been experimenting with this issue for a long time until finally a particular mode has been found. The first difficulty was that I did not know what I would like to see in the end. I found a suitable structure that I will be sharing with you in this article.

I’ll start with the most global sections. Probably, this approach would be quite unexpected, new, and unusual for some individuals. However, you will need to pay careful attention to the management of your personal finances. According to this structure, I suggest you to divide all of your money into three main categories:

  • Disposable Capital
  • Working Expense
  • Reserve Capital

I’ll explain the meaning of every category.

1.  Everyone is familiar with the Disposable Capital. This is the money we spend to maintain our life needs, pleasure, and recreation. This is the money that goes away completely.

2.  Working Capital. This is the money you invest in order to increase revenue. The following can be attributed to Working Capital:

  • Purchasing of image attributes especially if it can significantly affect the increase of income
  • Training courses, workshops, seminars.
  •   Business Investment

3.  Reserve Capital. This category will allow you to survive a financial crisis or any unforeseen circumstances. It is called financial security. The absence of this provision often leads people to a financial hole which is difficult to get out off. After all, nobody guarantees us that life will always flow smoothly.

In general, our financial life is full of different pleasant surprises. I think that you may have a question – how to properly allocate the money into the three categories and in what proportions? In fact, there is a proposal on the distribution of the money for these three categories:

Disposable Capital – 30%

Working Capital – 50%

Reserving Capital - 20%

This distribution is suitable for all those who are determined to quickly achieve financial independence. Good luck with your planning!

About the Author: Paul Smith prepared this educational article for you to learn how to plan and control your personal finances. Paul works at http://www.researchessay.org/ . Visit this website to read more.