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The Little Black Book of IRA Secrets: How to Make Sure Your Nest Egg Lasts the Rest of Your Life (and Then Some …)
What happens if you outlive your money? It's the number one question on the minds of Americans in or near retirement. And it's the most important one at that. Once you stop working, the only money you can depend on is the money you have worked hard to save in your IRA, 401 (k) and other retirement accounts. But economic forces outside your control are lining up to attack your nest egg. For example, Social Security benefits alone won't come close to providing you with a cushy retirement. The maximum monthly payout for 2008 was a measly $2,053 … no matter how much money the government has confiscated from your paycheck during your working years. With 77 million baby boomers set to retire over the next 20 years, serious changes to Social Security are on the horizon. They could include age increases, means-testing, benefit cuts-just to name a few. As a result, you could be cheated out of a good chunk of the Social Security income you may have counted on. With the government bailing on retirees, your savings and investments could very well be the only money you have to see you through your retirement years. But it's not just the greedy hands of the government you need to watch out for. The ongoing scourge of rising inflation will continue to eat away at your nest egg. One of the fastest rising costs for retirees is medical costs. According to the Employee Benefit Research Institute, healthcare costs could rise to as high as $300,000 in retirement on average for a couple age 65. Meanwhile, we've already seen prices for everything from gas to oil to food to clothing soar in the past decade. In 2007, the price of gas skyrocketed 30%, food prices shot up 5%, and other consumer prices climbed by 4%. In 2008, they rose even more before retreating later in the year. Imagine what these basics will cost 10, 20, 30 years from now when you are established in retirement and living on a "fixed" income?
Perhaps like many, you trust your investments will see you through and provide you with much needed "inflation protection." Yet the stock market has taken us on a wild ride in recent years. It's been impossible to count on steady profits. But if you were to try and sidestep this market volatility by moving your money into "safe" interest bearing accounts with 1% to 4% yields, you wouldn't even be able to tread water after inflation and taxes. You also have to plan on making your retirement savings last longer. More people are living longer, healthier lives thanks to new medical insights and breakthroughs. So if you're one of those hale and hearty folks, you'll need to stretch your portfolio even further - another 20, 30 years or more. That means the money you earn on your investments has to work harder than your father's ever had to. Fortunately, your IRA is still the most powerful - if not potentially the largest - tool in your retirement arsenal. A well-managed IRA can help you achieve every one of your much-deserved retirement dreams … and overcome every one of these potential hurdles and challenges you face. But one simple mistake in saving for, investing in, or taking distributions from your IRA could be the difference between a life of constant comfort and peace of mind … or a life of worry, sacrifice and increasing burden on your children. It's why I want to make sure you're maximizing your IRA's growth and profits to constantly outpace inflation. But I also want to help you protect your wealth from the greatest threat to your IRA nest egg after inflation: a cash-strapped Congress looking to plunder investors' life savings, and the IRS it sends out to do its bidding. It's why I wrote this report and why I have a valuable FREE Special Report I also want to send you, called 57 Secrets to a Richer, Worry-Free Retirement. I've packed 20 years worth of unbiased retirement answers, solutions, strategies and tactics into this must-have report. It gives you in-depth, step-by-step advice on putting the IRA secrets I tell you about here to work, so you can safely build and strengthen your retirement security. The secrets to a worry-free retirement are now in your hands! These little-known strategies you're about to discover can show you how to stop worrying about outliving your money and enjoy every moment of your retirement years. So prepare yourself for some eye-opening reading!
Why Breaking the So-called "Tried-and-True" IRA Rules IRAs seemed so simple when they started. Make the maximum contribution, invest the money until retirement, and then take the money out over time to pay for retirement. But managing your IRA in today's more complex world gets tricky. Things change. The law. The economy. The markets. The trends. And for too many years, we've been told the same old rules over and over again to prepare for retirement … rules that are no longer working. You can probably recite them as easily as the Pledge of Allegiance. For example
But I'm here to tell you that those rules just aren't written in stone anymore. In fact, in today's changing world, they might as well be written on beach sand. That's why your retirement planning may come up short if you continue to do things the "old" way. For one thing, Social Security and Medicare are in weak financial shape. Beginning in 2010, Medicare will pay out more than it's taking in. Social Security will begin doing so around 2014. Payments to beneficiaries of these two programs already take up 40% of the federal budget. This rate will only increase and these folks will get less and less. Meanwhile, very few employers today offer pension plans that guarantee a stream of payments for life. More employers are bailing on this benefit everyday. According to U.S. News and World Report, corporate America boasted 112,000 pension plans in 1985. By 2006 that number has plunged to 32,000-that's a 71% decrease! This number is likely to decline even further as companies look to reduce or eliminate their pension obligations.
In 2007 only 20% of retirees could depend on getting a pension from their previous employers. And for those who can, that payout is shrinking. For example, a covered retiree in 2000 received about 44% of his retirement income from a pension. Compare that to a male worker retiring in 2026, who can only hope for his pension to provide 18% of his retirement income. In the past, retirees took a "3-legged stool" approach to putting together their retirement nest eggs: employer pensions, Social Security and Medicare, and their personal savings. Two of those three legs are now fatally cracked … and the only leg you have left to stand on is your own personal savings. That's why these days, in order to secure a prosperous retirement, you need to bend the "old" rules … if not break them entirely. Because the last thing you want is to get stuck listening to brokers, financial advisors or planners blathering on about rules they have memorized, but won't work for your life and your future anymore. You'll only end up losing most of your hard-earned money to taxes or worse, risk running out of retirement money altogether. But don't worry. With each of these old, outdated retirement rules, I'll show you a better way to use your IRA and other retirement accounts-so you can ensure you have plenty of money to last a lifetime. Let's begin by talking about how much money you should be saving in your IRA and other retirement accounts. In other words … How Much is Enough? To determine the answer to this common retirement question, I recommend you ignore the established "rule of thumb". This rule is what nearly every retirement planner tells you-that you need 65 to 85% of your pre-retirement income for your retirement income. But this cookie-cutter formula often leads to saving too much or too little for retirement. Rather than get stuck following an arbitrary number, it makes more sense to look at what you project to be your actual expenses in retirement. You may actually spend more or less than the "rule of thumb" percentage of 65 to 85%. Start by determining the kind of lifestyle you want in retirement. Will you travel, garden, take up a new hobby, work part-time, buy a boat or just spend lazy days in the hammock reading your favorite books? Or will you enjoy a mix of some or all of these activities? Next, estimate how much one year of your ideal retirement would cost in today's dollars. Then add an inflation factor to that-I recommend you assume an average of 3% inflation each year. That means after just 10 years in retirement at 3% annual inflation, you'll need almost $13,500 a year to buy what $10,000 buys today. Here's where you should probably "break" another rule. Don't assume you're going to spend less in retirement. In fact, most studies show retirees spend more in the first 10 years of retirement on activities they've put off doing, like travel and recreation. In fact, actual spending in the early "honeymoon" years of retirement often rises to twice as much as what many pre-retirees say they were planning to spend! This could spell trouble and cause many retirees to start draining their IRAs earlier than planned. My research shows retirees should plan for three different stages of spending in retirement. As I just mentioned, the first stage - between the ages of 65 and 74 - is when retirees often spend the most. In the next stage-between the ages of 75 and 84-retirees typically decrease their spending by 25%, according to the U.S. Department of Labor. By the third stage-age 85 and beyond-expenses decline even further as retirees often become less active. In your free copy of 57 Secrets to a Richer, Worry-Free Retirement, I show you how you can safely coast through all three stages of retirement with plenty of money at your disposal. Plus, I'll show you a smart, flexible plan to effectively spend your IRA and other retirement accounts throughout each stage. By knowing how to vary spending and withdrawals over the years, you'll enjoy worry-free financial security throughout retirement. In your FREE Special Report, I show you how to divide up your retirement portfolio so you can manage it more effectively and profitably. It's a clever way to make sure you don't outlive your money. With this one simple adjustment you'll have plenty of money to spend after 85. And best of all, you won't have to scrimp during your younger, more active retirement years. You'll also discover…
Imagine what kind of difference these ideas and strategies could make in how secure your retirement will be - and how well you'll live? Later I give you all the details you need to make your dream retirement a reality in your FREE Special Report, 57 Secrets to a Richer, Worry-Free Retirement. Next I'm going to show you how you can make your retirement even more secure: by avoiding spending a bundle on needless taxes! Why Paying Taxes NOW on your IRA Could Save
One of the oldest retirement rules ever written is this: defer taxes for as long as possible. This rule is strictly followed by most financial planners today. The classic thinking went as follows: why pay taxes today, when you can pay them tomorrow when you're supposedly in a lower tax bracket? That may have been true in the past, but today it's one of the biggest myths of retirement. Let me explain. These days, it's rare for someone's tax rate to decline after retiring. In many cases, the person's income tax rate actually increases in retirement. Here's how this happens… You see, today's retired Americans are the richest and largest generation in history. It's no wonder Congress and the IRS see their fat, juicy retirement accounts as ripe for the picking. According to the Retirement Income Industry Association, Americans today have close to $14 trillion in retirement assets. What's more, they already face some of the highest marginal tax rates in history. For example, not too long ago Social Security benefits used to be 100% tax-free. But the law was changed in the 1980s and the taxes increased in 1993. Now if a couple's income is greater than $44,000 ($34,000 for single taxpayers), up to 85% of Social Security benefits are taxed. So if you earn $1 more from your investments-or are forced to withdraw from an IRA at age 70 ½ $1 more than $44,000-not only is that extra dollar taxed, but 85 cents of Social Security benefits are now taxed along with every additional dollar above $44,000. And what's worse, this $44,000 income level threshold is NOT tied to inflation. So your marginal tax rate could skyrocket to as high as 90% if you live in states with high tax rates as well. This 90% tax rate is more than DOUBLE the top income tax rate for non-retirees. That's why you have to be on constant guard against politicians devising new and creative ways to get their hands on your nest egg. It's only going to get worse as today's generation of retirees are eclipsed by the huge onslaught of "Baby Boomers," those adults born between 1946 and 1964. In 2008, the first of 77 million boomers began retiring … and they'll keep on retiring for the next 20 years-or longer, due to a growing trend towards delayed retirement. Today, anyone over age 45 has to think seriously about paying taxes on their IRA now, instead of risking their portfolios to higher tax rates in the future. In some cases, it just doesn't make sense to pay taxes later …not when your IRA will be slapped with the largest jaw-dropping tax bill you'll ever pay at some point in the future. You'd think that would be a no-brainer. Yet many planners stubbornly cling to the tax deferral rule even if it's not in your best interest! As I've been telling subscribers to Retirement Watch you may want to consider paying your IRA tax bill now rather than later. That's because you could substantially lower your tax bill in retirement by doing so. In fact, you could avoid paying tens of thousands of dollars in needless taxes! Here's what you must consider in order to carry out this strategy… One of the most powerful tax-saving retirement weapons that should be in every retiree's arsenal is the Roth IRA. Their unique benefits are tremendous! No age limit on contributions. No required minimum distributions after age 70½. And the best reason ever to open a Roth IRA: not one dime you withdraw from it in retirement is ever taxed. No matter how much your money has grown over the years! Let's say you contribute $25,000 to a Roth IRA. After 20 years of wise investing, your Roth IRA has grown to $125,000. You start withdrawing the money to take a once-in-a-lifetime vacation…indulge in a new set of golf clubs…buy your dream convertible... or just pay the bills. Not one dime of your withdrawal is taxed! Now maybe you're grumbling that your original contributions to a Roth IRA aren't deductible. It's true, they're not. Yet if your taxable income is too high, your contribution to a regular IRA is also non-deductible. But while your withdrawals from a regular IRA can be taxed at the highest marginal income tax rate when you take the money out, your withdrawals from a Roth IRA aren't taxed at all! That can make the difference between forking over as much as $35,000 in taxes to the government on a regular IRA that's racked up $100,000 in capital gains-and paying ZERO taxes on a Roth IRA that gained the same amount. And here's really exciting news about Roth IRAs that will overcome a barrier that may have kept you from investing in them before. Currently Roth IRAs are unavailable to higher income tax payers. This means anyone with adjusted gross income of $160,000 or more ($110,000 for singles) is not allowed to make a contribution and those with adjusted gross incomes over $100,000 cannot convert their regular IRA to the more tax-advantaged Roth IRA. But that's about to change. In 2010 the income ceiling on converting to a Roth IRA expires. That means taxpayers at any income level will be able to take advantage of the significant tax savings Roth IRAs offer by converting their regular IRAs. Unfortunately, the income limit on regular Roth IRA annual contributions will still apply. Starting in 2010, anyone can convert a regular IRA-or even a 401(k) in some cases-and not pay a single dime in taxes on your accumulated profits when you withdraw the money. That could mean tens of thousands of extra dollars for you to spend in retirement-instead of forking it over to "Uncle Sam." So why not start preparing for 2010 today? It's easy. Simply build up your traditional IRA and other tax-deferred accounts as much as possible in the next two years by making the maximum contributions. Plus, by maximizing your contributions to your 401(k), for example, you'll get the added benefit of reducing your taxable income right now, saving you money today. Then in 2010, convert your regular IRA to a Roth IRA (and consider doing the same with your 401(k) as well if you can roll it over to an IRA). You will pay taxes on the conversion, but it could be considerably less in taxes then you'd be forced to shell out in the future. Now, if you're worried about a facing a hefty tax bill in the next few years by making this conversion, I've got some strategies to help you around that as well. In your FREE Special Report, 57 Secrets to a Richer, Worry-Free Retirement, I show you how to slash to the bare minimum the taxes on your IRA conversion. Your accountant or broker may not know these simple, 100% legal secrets that can cut your conversion tax bill to the bone, but you'll find it all right here-in easy-to-understand language. I also reveal one little-known strategy that lets you get back every dime of taxes you may end up paying on your IRA conversion. This one secret alone makes converting your traditional IRA to a Roth IRA practically a no-brainer! Details in your FREE report. Plus you'll also discover:
Remember, every dollar you withdraw from a Roth IRA is tax-free when you retire. And shielding your retirement nest egg from rising taxes will be an increasingly important strategy in the years ahead. With Congress in complete Democratic control and the White House up for grabs this year, higher taxes loom on the horizon for all of us. And retirees' hard-won portfolios are just too attractive a target for cash-hungry Washington to ignore much longer. That's why it can make sense to pay LESS taxes today … rather than MORE taxes tomorrow…plus pay NO taxes at all on future capital gains and interest! Remember, by 2010, everyone can enjoy the money-saving advantages of a Roth IRA regardless of their income level. You'll get step-by-step details on making this tax-saving strategy work for you in your FREE copy of 57 Secrets to a Richer, Worry-Free Retirement. With no minimum required distributions in a Roth IRA, you can take your money out when you need it-or not at all, instead of being forced to withdraw at age 70½. That means you have control over the timing of your money withdrawals to best meet your spending needs, NOT the IRS. That's the kind of money freedom 57 Secrets to a Richer, Worry-Free Retirement will show you. Now, let me explain the best order in which to spend your IRA and other retirement accounts. By doing it the right way, you can make sure you NEVER run out of money! Why Spending your IRA FIRST - Even Emptying It - Saving in your IRA and other retirement accounts is your first step in building an impenetrable fortress of retirement wealth. It means you can enjoy the rest of your life free from money worries. To grow your wealth, you can open multiple types of accounts in addition to a traditional IRA. For example, most retirees also have taxable accounts, including a savings account, money market account, or a portfolio of stocks and/or mutual funds. Plus, retirees often have tax-deferred accounts such as a regular IRA (deductible or non-deductible), Rollover IRA, 401 (k) or 403 (b), or SEP-IRA, just to name a few. Then there are tax-free retirement accounts such as a Roth IRA. It's wonderful to have so many retirement vehicles from which to choose. But the question always remains … will all your careful planning and saving see you through retirement? The answer is YES! That is, as long as you use the right order in which to spend the money you've saved in your various retirement accounts. Draining the wrong account first could leave you cash-strapped down the road. Here's an example of what I mean. The classic, tried and true advice is to draw down your taxable accounts first. You then leave your tax-deferred accounts as long as possible to let the magic of tax-deferred compounding go to work. In many cases, this strategy will work the way you want it to. In other cases it won't. Take a look at the following example …
At first glance it does look as if a retiree's wealth will last longer if the tax- deferred compounding is allowed to work for as long as possible. But as we all know, looks can be deceiving. That's because the results shown above depend on certain assumptions. And these assumptions do not apply to everyone. For some people, retirement savings will last longer if the tax-deferred accounts are tapped first. That's because the picture changes depending on the types of investments you're holding in each type of account. So how do you know if you're one of those people who should tap their tax-deferred accounts first? You could be … IF you fit one of two scenarios that I've uncovered after years of extensive research. Let's talk about the first scenario where spending your IRA first makes sense. In this first scenario, let's assume your rates of return for your taxable and tax-deferred accounts are different … not the same as in the model chart above. Most models that calculate how long your money will last in retirement assume the same rates of return for both types of accounts. That can be a costly mistake. That's because you may be holding the wrong type of investment assets in the wrong type of account. Some assets are best held in taxable accounts and others in tax-deferred accounts. For example, you might want to consider placing high return assets that are not traded frequently-such as stocks and equity mutual funds-into taxable accounts. Here they qualify for the long-term capital-gains tax rate, currently at 15%. In a tax-deferred account, these same capital gains would be taxed at an ordinary income tax rate of 35% when you withdraw them. (If the tax laws change, I will update this analysis and make it available to Retirement Watch members.) Bonds, real estate investment trusts, and other income instruments are best held in tax-deferred accounts. That way earnings can compound as high as possible before you're forced to begin withdrawals at age 70 ½. Just by making these two simple changes to your tax-deferred and taxable accounts, you should see your rate of return in your taxable accounts increase. However, if your annual return in your taxable account is at least 4% higher than the return in your tax-deferred account (i.e. IRA), you should drain your tax-deferred accounts first. Why? Because the higher return in your taxable account makes up for the lack of tax deferral. This money is likely earning more for you than the money in your tax-deferred account. What's more, your wealth will last even longer if you manage your retirement accounts to maximize your after-tax retirement income. You should consider every retirement withdrawal in light of the future taxes you'll have to pay. That's because the wealth you have left to spend after taxes can differ by thousands of dollars in your retirement. It all depends on the decisions you make to place the right investments in tax-advantaged or in taxable accounts. This practice is known as asset allocation. Let's face it, taxes clearly matter. The tax man is waiting for you, like a spider waits for a fly. He wants to devour as much of your hard-earned money as he can. This tax bite can easily eat up as much as one-third or more of every retirement distribution you take. In your FREE Special Report, 57 Secrets to a Richer, Worry-Free Retirement, I share with you savvy, 100% legal strategies you can use to keep more of your money out of the hands of the IRS, so you can spend it as you wish. Plus, I explain smart asset allocation strategies that can keep you cash-rich throughout your entire retirement. Here's just a glimpse of what you'll discover…
You can see how making a few smart asset allocation decisions to your taxable and non-taxable accounts could save you thousands of dollars in needless taxes. These dollars could add up to lots of EXTRA dough for you to enjoy in retirement! That's why I give you all the details on these savvy ways to manage your IRA and other retirement accounts in your FREE Special Report, 57 Secrets to a Richer, Worry-Free Retirement. I've shared with you several reasons why spending your IRA or other tax-deferred account first may make sense for you. But there's another scenario in which this strategy could also save you thousands of dollars in taxes. You see, the law requires you to start taking distributions from your IRA when you turn age 70½, even if you don't need the money. Even worse, the IRS makes sure your distribution amounts increase as you age-practically guaranteeing they get their hands on as much of your hard-earned money as possible. But in your FREE Special Report, 57 Secrets to a Richer, Worry-Free Retirement, I reveal a little-known, yet perfectly legal loophole, that lets you get around this pesky minimum distribution requirement. You'll discover how to tell if you're a good candidate to use this strategy. I also give you simple, step-by-step instructions on putting this loophole to work for you. All the details are in your FREE report! Thanks to the eye-opening information in your FREE Special Report, 57 Secrets to a Richer, Worry-Free Retirement, you'll know the best way-and the best order-in which to spend your hard-earned money from all your retirement accounts. You may find emptying your IRA first-once an unthinkable idea-may be your secret to having enough money to last the rest of your life and then some. Everything you need to know is in the pages of your FREE copy of 57 Secrets to a Richer, Worry-Free Retirement. Since we've been talking so much about capital gains, you don't want to miss the next insight where I show you some safe ways to profit from your IRA-beyond the more traditional stock and bond portfolio. How Your Typical Stock and Bond IRA May Take You to the
Most investors' retirement portfolios consist primarily of stocks and bonds (or mutual funds comprised of these investments). Often they're slightly more weighted to bonds and other income investments. The reasoning behind this is to grow your IRA and other retirement accounts so you can retain buying power in the face of inflation. It's no surprise then that this typical retirement portfolio is highly dependent on the performance of the major stock and bond indexes. And when the bulls are running, that's a great thing. But the prospect of a bear market hitting in or near retirement fills many retirees with dread. A prolonged bear market can devastate a portfolio-especially if it hits just before or right at retirement. Retirement begins and you're already in a tough spot! It doesn't have to be that way. As you're about to discover, you can bear-proof your nest egg with just a few simple adjustments to your investment strategy. Instead of losing money, you can actually enjoy higher returns or, at the very least, avoid losing money. That's because there's a new type of IRA that gives you greater control over your investments so you can safely ride out any bear market, especially if it hits in the first few years of retirement. But first, let me show you why starting your retirement by losing money in your portfolio is so dangerous in the first place. As you're about to see, some retirees never recover. Let's look back on a 30-year stretch from 1968 to 1998 as an example. The average annual return for the S&P 500 during this period was 11.7%. According to standard withdrawal formulas, a retiree could safely withdraw 8.5% of his portfolio every year if he was getting this kind of return. What's more, he could safely increase these withdrawals by 3% a year without running out of money. So back in 1968, a retiree with a $250,000 retirement portfolio - equivalent to about $1.5 million in today's dollars-would think he's looking at a pretty rosy retirement picture. But let's look at what really happened. This 11.7% average return was the result of above average stock market returns from 1981 to 1986 and from 1993 to 1998. Meanwhile, the market suffered a sharp decline and lost nearly 50% of its value during a two-year stretch from 1973 to 1974. As a result, this retiree-who thought he was sitting pretty-got blindsided by steep stock market losses early in his retirement years. He ran out of money by 1981. Sadly, he didn't have any money left to invest so he could reap the high stock market that returned over the next 15 years. That's why if you want to safely ride out any upcoming bear market that may come your way during 30 or more years of retirement, you need to move away from the traditional stock and bond portfolio. Instead, think about investing in assets that earn equity-like returns over the long haul, but aren't closely tied to the major stock and bond indexes. This one simple move can protect against the often irreparable damage a long-lasting bear market can wreak on your portfolio. It's a smart strategy many of my Retirement Watch readers are using to make sure they never outlive their money. They're enjoying healthy returns in their retirement nest eggs. It's all thanks to the safe investment recommendations they're seeing each month in Retirement Watch. Now let me show you some exciting ways to increase the earning power of your IRA so your money keeps growing strong, even as you're taking distributions in retirement. All you have to do is add a few often overlooked-but highly lucrative-investment vehicles to your IRA. It's an easy way to turn your IRA into a perpetual money machine you can count on to last the rest of your life! How a "Secret" IRA can Make You Rich A common mistake most retirees make is to only invest their IRAs in traditional assets like stocks, bonds and mutual funds. But as I explained earlier, all of these investments can become vulnerable to a market downturn that wipes out a big chunk of your life savings. Fortunately, there's a loophole in the tax law that allows you to hold other types of assets in an IRA. For example, you can hold real estate, privately-issued company stock, hedge funds, separately managed accounts and a host of other assets in your IRA. These investment vehicles may be better able to withstand a sudden stock market decline -or even be immune to one. It's a valuable tool for diversification that's not used often enough-because most people aren't even aware it's an option. As you can see, this makes IRAs truly the most flexible investment vehicle for growing your wealth. But there's just one problem-and for once, it's not the IRS standing in your way of profits. It's the IRA custodian who limits IRAs to publicly-traded assets. The reason they do this is to keep their administrative costs down. After all, it's the IRA custodian who buys and sells the assets, ensures title to them, and puts a value on them. These tasks are more easily done with only publicly-traded assets, like stocks and bonds or mutual funds, in your traditional IRA. Therefore, many financial institutions and advisors will say that you cannot invest in these "non-traditional" assets in an IRA. What they actually mean is: You cannot make these investments through IRAs with traditional custodians. Because they don't want to do it! But you can do it - and if you want to protect your retirement savings from a bear market, you must do it. Let's take a look at how you can add flexibility, a broad range of assets, and the potential for greater profits to your IRA. The first step is to set up a new kind of IRA. Some people call it the Super IRA. Others call it the "Secret" IRA. Its more common name is the Self-Directed IRA. To do this, you may need a different IRA custodian who's willing to allow you the flexibility to set up a Self-Directed IRA. Only a small number of IRA custodians offer these types of IRAs. In your FREE Special Report, 57 Secrets to a Richer, Worry-Free Retirement-available to you now along with up to 7 other reports with your no-risk trial membership to Retirement Watch, I tell you where you can find a custodian who offers you the option of a Self-Directed IRA. I give you a complete list of companies that offer true self-directed IRAs, including their website addresses and phone numbers. Plus, you'll get a step-by-step checklist to use when transferring your current IRA assets to the custodian you've selected. That way you'll enjoy a smoother, more worry-free transition. All the details are in your FREE report! You can use this IRA strategy whether you choose to consolidate all your IRAs with the new custodian or move only one IRA. Simply direct the custodian to buy the assets you want to own and then sell when you're ready. By using this strategy, you'll enjoy complete control over your IRA assets. You can uncover a wide range of profit-making opportunities that most investors never consider for their IRAs. And you can better protect your nest egg from the ravages of a long-term bear market by moving away from a traditional stock and bond portfolio. All the details are in your FREE copy of 57 Secrets to a Richer, Worry-Free Retirement. In your FREE Special Report, I also show you how you can easily protect your IRA from getting wiped out by a bear market even if you don't want to open a Self-Directed IRA. You'll probably never hear about these alternative IRA investment opportunities from your current IRA custodian, even though they allow most or all of them. Here are some other strategies you can use to bullet-proof your IRA that you'll discover in your FREE report …
You don't want to let the prospect of a bear market destroy your joy and peace of mind in retirement. Not when you can use a Self-Directed IRA and other non-traditional investments to provide crucial diversification and bear market protection! These savvy investment strategies you'll read about in your FREE Special Report, 57 Secrets to a Richer, Worry-Free Retirement, are the best way I know to guarantee your retirement brings you the most money, satisfaction and happiness you ever imagined. And to help you rack up even more profits in your IRAs and other retirement accounts, I have a 2nd FREE Special Report I want to send you. It's called 5 Easy Chair Portfolios to Fund Your Retirement Dreams. In this in-depth Special Report, I lay out in detail the best investments to give you high diversification and the greatest margin of safety. These portfolios have historically outperformed the S&P 500 since 2002, leaving its paltry market return of 18% in the dust. For example, since 2002 one of my Easy Chair Portfolios is up 57% with another portfolio up 45%. Once you put my tried and true "easy chair" portfolios to work for you, you'll be able to spend your free time relaxing in your easy chair, instead of worrying about your retirement investments. Plus, you'll be growing your money much faster and more safely than you can in today's rollercoaster stock market. Get started today by requesting your FREE copy of 5 Easy Chair Portfolios to Fund Your Retirement Dreams. It's yours along with up to 7 other FREE reports with your no-risk trial subscription to Retirement Watch. We've already covered the best ways to save, invest and spend your IRA. Now I'm going to show you how to use your IRA to create a legacy for yourself that will last for generations. Why Making Your IRA the Cornerstone of Your Estate Plan
For many retirees, the goal of a successful retirement is to have plenty of money to last the rest of your life … and "then some." But what do you do with the "then some?" One of the best ways to leave a legacy for your heirs is by passing on an IRA. But how do you leave your IRA to your heirs and make sure the IRS doesn't steal the bulk of it in estate taxes? In my research, I've discovered some of the biggest IRA mistakes are made in passing an IRA on to the second generation. Heirs routinely lose a large percentage of their IRAs to unnecessary taxes or unknowingly trigger income taxes prematurely. The rules are simple. But they aren't obvious. Most heirs don't know about them or know how to ask about them. For example, the #1 mistake heirs often make is to change the name of an inherited IRA into their own name. But if you're hoping to continue the tax deferral, this simple name change triggers a rapid distribution of all the IRA's assets. This means your heirs could get whacked with an enormous tax bill … and have to fork over as much as 35% of their inherited IRA in income taxes to the IRS! To prevent this tax tsunami from swallowing up your wealth, it's very important to tell your heirs this: An inherited IRA needs 3 things in its title to keep it safe from the greedy clutches of the IRS … 1) The name of the owner who passed away 2) The word 'IRA' 3) The statement that it is "for the benefit of" the heir. So an appropriate title for an inherited IRA would be, "John Sample IRA (deceased), F/B/O Bob Sample, beneficiary." These three simple title changes can provide ironclad protection and the ultimate flexibility for your heirs. Now they can take distributions when they want to, NOT when the IRS decides. That means your heirs can stretch out their IRA distributions over a longer time horizon, minimizing their tax impact. In your FREE Special Report, 57 Secrets to a Richer, Worry-Free Retirement, I explain more ways your heirs can avoid paying needless taxes on an inherited IRA, so your legacy lasts a lifetime. For example, I warn you about a common trap that could force your heirs to pay even higher taxes-and penalties. This common trap is an often overlooked deadline you'll want to make sure your intended heirs know about now-not after it's too late! Making sure your heirs know what to do should they inherit your IRA is an important first step to protecting your wealth. But it's also vital you make sure your IRA custodian doesn't make any mistakes that end up costing your heirs money and aggravation. One of the easiest things you can do to ensure your IRA custodian follows your wishes is to scrap their standard beneficiary forms. Most of the mistakes made by IRA custodians are tied to this beneficiary form, which IRA owners often spend a minute or less filling out. But a little bit more of careful planning can save a large portion of your wealth for your heirs and keep it out of the greedy hands of the IRS. That's why I recommend you submit your own customized beneficiary forms with detailed instructions. This simple step can prevent a lot of headaches and needless taxes. It can also help you take advantage of opportunities you might not be able to otherwise. For example, in a rare burst of generosity, the IRS recently issued regulations that provide opportunities for IRA beneficiaries to extend tax deferral. A customized beneficiary form can help your heirs take advantage of this opportunity to defer taxes and keep your IRA custodian from screwing up. Here's another common mistake IRA custodians make. Most IRA custodians assume that multiple beneficiaries to your IRA own equal shares of it. But that may not be your plan. You may want one beneficiary to inherit a larger share than another. Most standard beneficiary forms don't even consider your wishes in this. That's why customized forms are so important in order to make your intentions clear. In fact, to help make sure all of your intentions for your estate are crystal clear to your IRA custodian, attorney, executor, family members or anyone else, I'd like to send you a 3rd FREE Special Report. It's called Your 20-Minute Estate Plan: Building a Lasting Legacy. I wrote it to help you thwart the IRS's scheme to grab as much as 45% of your assets in death taxes. If you don't take steps now, the bulk of your life's work and savings could go to the government instead of your children, grandchildren, or other chosen heirs. But now you can outwit them with the 100% legal strategies I'll tell you about in your FREE Special Report. This easy-to-understand report strips away any confusion you may have about estate planning. I've made it so simple, you could put together an airtight estate plan in just 20 minutes-without spending hundreds of dollars on attorney fees! In your FREE copy of Your 20-Minute Estate Plan: Building a Lasting Legacy, I also warn you about other ways an IRA custodian can screw up your heirs' inheritance-and how you can prevent these mistakes from happening to your estate. Here's just a sampling of what you'll discover …
With this valuable FREE Special Report at your fingertips, you won't have to be at the mercy of IRA custodians, the IRS, or anyone else who wants control over your money. Instead, you'll be in charge-thanks to the reliable, unbiased estate-planning advice you'll have at your fingertips. But I want to do even more to help you enjoy the retirement of your dreams. There are so many more solutions, ideas and strategies beyond what I can put into the three FREE Special Reports I've told you about so far that will help you confidently address every challenge you may face. I wrote The Little Black Book of IRA Secrets and put it on this web site so you could get a keen sense of the type of unbiased, honest information I offer my Retirement Watch members. Each month I provide the expert answers and simple solutions you need to make sure you never run out of money in your retirement. It's a powerful, unbiased retirement planning tool to help you eliminate the worry and guesswork. That's why upon your request, I'd like to rush you your FREE copies of 57 Secrets to a Richer, Worry-Free Retirement, 5 Easy Chair Portfolios to Fund Your Retirement Dreams, and Your 20-Minute Estate Plan: Building a Lasting Legacy without cost or obligation, just for giving Retirement Watch a try. Why Retirement Watch Will Help Keep You Retirement Watch offers you the kind of help you can use right now to effectively plan a worry-free retirement. Here's what you can expect as a new subscriber: Promise # 1: I'll simplify EVERYTHING about retirement planning and living. You'll appreciate the easy-to-understand, step-by-step guidance you'll receive in each issue. If you're confused about something, I'll make it clear to you. I'll help you break through whatever is standing in your way to a richer, worry-free retirement! Promise # 2: I'll tell you the TRUTH about every new law and regulation that affects your wealth, your financial security and your future happiness. I'm beholden to no one but you. Since I take no advertisements from anyone, I'm FREE to show you the shortcuts, strategies and legal maneuvers you can take to outfox greedy Washington bureaucrats and IRS agents. Promise # 3: I'll help you create the retirement of your dreams, even better than the one you've already imagined. You'll discover practical, new ideas for living richly in retirement. Plus, I'll show you the safest, easiest investments for making your retirement nest egg last a lifetime. These wealth-building secrets mean you'll have plenty of money to live the life you want! Promise # 4: I'll be with you on every step of your journey to a rich, successful retirement. You won't be alone. With daily access to my members-only website, you can research nearly any retirement topic, read the latest issue online, download my exclusive, easy-to-use planning spreadsheets and more. Plus my monthly financial advisory will keep you informed on every issue affecting your retirement. Promise # 5: I'll help you save money on taxes, insurance premiums, investment fees, and more. With me by your side, you'll no longer have to spend hours with a financial planner figuring out what to do. This benefit alone could save you hundreds, if not thousands of dollars in fees and commissions. Plus I'll share with you little-known ways to cut your taxes to the bone, slash your insurance premiums to the bare minimum, and avoid hidden investment fees. That means more money in your pocket for you to enjoy in retirement! 
SAVE 42% Today and Get 3 Valuable FREE Gifts! I invite you to try a no-risk trial subscription to Retirement Watch. A full year of service is normally bargain-priced at just $99. However, right now you can take advantage of a special introductory offer that saves you $42. That's a 42% savings right off the top! You pay only $57! But that's not all. On top of your 42% savings, you also get 3 valuable FREE Special Reports: FREE Special Report #1: 57 Secrets to a Richer, Worry-Free Retirement You'd be hard pressed to find more profitable advice to ensure you have plenty of money to enjoy the rest of your life and then some. So why not take Retirement Watch on a risk-free test-drive? Put Retirement Watch to the Test for 90 Days Without Risking a Penny Try Retirement Watch for a full 90 days on my dime, not yours. As soon as I hear from you, I'll rush you your three FREE Special Reports. Each month you'll receive a 16-page financial advisory packed with up-to-the-minute retirement planning and investment advice. Plus you'll enjoy free unlimited access to my private "members only" website. If for any reason you decide you're not 100% satisfied, simply cancel before you receive your fourth issue. I'll return every penny you paid-no questions asked! You can keep all your FREE reports and any issues you've received with my compliments. I know you're going to find every issue of Retirement Watch jam-packed with whatever you need to make your best retirement decisions. I'm so sure, that I'll show you how you can get 5 more valuable Special Reports-absolutely FREE! 
A Total of 8 FREE BONUS Gifts For You! Why not lock in the maximum savings right now? It's easy with a two-year no-risk trial subscription. What's more, you'll enjoy the biggest savings we offer-a full 50% off the regular rate! It's like getting your second year absolutely free! And of course my 100% Money-Back Guarantee remains in full force, so you can cancel anytime before the fourth issue is mailed without risking a dime. Plus I'll send you four more FREE Special Reports in addition to your FREE copies of 57 Secrets to a Richer, Worry-Free Retirement, 5 Easy Chair Portfolios to Fund Your Retirement Dreams, and Your 20-Minute Estate Plan: Building a Lasting Legacy.
If you want to live retirement on your terms - with plenty of money and no worries of running out of cash, then I urge you to send for your No-risk Trial Membership in Retirement Watch. I'm so confident you'll decide you never want to be without Retirement Watch again that you can try it risk-free for 90 days. If you're not convinced this monthly advisory can guide you to your dream retirement, then cancel before you receive your fourth issue. I'll refund every penny! That's why upon your request, I'd like to rush you your FREE copies of Yikes! 9 New Strategies to Hedge Against the Coming Tax Hikes, How to Protect Your Nest Egg Against Bear Markets, Inflation and Other Unnatural Disasters, and Your 20-Minute Estate Plan: Building a Lasting Legacy without cost or obligation, just for giving Retirement Watch a try. Why Retirement Watch Will Help Keep You Retirement Watch offers you the kind of help you can use right now to effectively plan a worry-free retirement. Here's what you can expect as a new subscriber: Promise # 1: I'll simplify EVERYTHING about retirement planning and living. You'll appreciate the easy-to-understand, step-by-step guidance you'll receive in each issue. If you're confused about something, I'll make it clear to you. I'll help you break through whatever is standing in your way to a richer, worry-free retirement! Promise # 2: I'll tell you the TRUTH about every new law and regulation that affects your wealth, your financial security and your future happiness. I'm beholden to no one but you. Since I take no advertisements from anyone, I'm FREE to show you the shortcuts, strategies and legal maneuvers you can take to outfox greedy Washington bureaucrats and IRS agents. Promise # 3: I'll help you create the retirement of your dreams, even better than the one you've already imagined. You'll discover practical, new ideas for living richly in retirement. Plus, I'll show you the safest, easiest investments for making your retirement nest egg last a lifetime. These wealth-building secrets mean you'll have plenty of money to live the life you want! Promise # 4: I'll be with you on every step of your journey to a rich, successful retirement. You won't be alone. With daily access to my members-only website, you can research nearly any retirement topic, read the latest issue online, and download my exclusive, easy-to-use planning spreadsheets and more. Plus my monthly financial advisory will keep you informed on every issue affecting your retirement. Promise # 5: I'll help you save money on taxes, insurance premiums, investment fees, and more. With me by your side, you'll no longer have to spend hours with a financial planner figuring out what to do. This benefit alone could save you hundreds, if not thousands of dollars in fees and commissions. Plus I'll share with you little-known ways to cut your taxes to the bone, slash your insurance premiums to the bare minimum, and avoid hidden investment fees. That means more money in your pocket for you to enjoy in retirement! 
SAVE 42% and Get 3 Valuable FREE Reports! I invite you to try a no-risk trial subscription to Retirement Watch. A full year of service is normally bargain-priced at just $99. However, right now you can take advantage of a special introductory offer that saves you $42. That's a 42% savings right off the top! You pay only $57! But that's not all. On top of your 42% savings, you also get 3 valuable FREE Special Reports:
FREE Special Report #1: Yikes! 9 New Strategies to Hedge Against the Coming Tax Hikes
You'd be hard pressed to find more profitable advice to ensure you have plenty of money to enjoy the rest of your life and then some. So why not take Retirement Watch on a risk-free test-drive? Put Retirement Watch to the Test for 90 Days Without Risking a Penny Try Retirement Watch for a full 90 days on my dime, not yours. As soon as I hear from you, I'll rush you your three FREE Special Reports. Each month you'll receive a 16-page financial advisory packed with up-to-the-minute retirement planning and investment advice. Plus you'll enjoy free unlimited access to my private "members only" website. If for any reason you decide you're not 100% satisfied, simply cancel before you receive your fourth issue. I'll return every penny you paid-no questions asked! You can keep all your FREE reports and any issues you've received with my compliments. I know you're going to find every issue of Retirement Watch jam-packed with whatever you need to make your best retirement decisions. I'm so sure, that I'll show you how you can get 6 more valuable Special Reports-absolutely FREE! A Total of 9 FREE BONUS Gifts For You! Why not lock in the maximum savings right now? It's easy with a two-year no-risk trial subscription. What's more, you'll enjoy the biggest savings we offer-a full 50% off the regular rate! It's like getting your second year absolutely free! And of course my 100% Money-Back Guarantee remains in full force, so you can cancel anytime before the fourth issue is mailed without risking a dime. 
Plus I'll send you six more FREE Special Reports in addition to your FREE copies of Yikes! 9 New Strategies to Hedge Against the Coming Tax Hikes, How to Protect Your Nest Egg Against Bear Markets, Inflation and Other Unnatural Disasters, and Your 20-Minute Estate Plan: Building a Lasting Legacy. FREE SPECIAL REPORT #4 (Two-Year Subscribers Only): Inflation can eat away at your income yields pretty quickly in the years ahead. It can be especially difficult for folks living on a fixed income. A smart step to stay ahead of inflation is to consider placing a portion of your nest egg into more growth-oriented Exchange Traded Funds or ETFs. ETFs offer several advantages over mutual funds and closed-end funds, such as greater flexibility, low expense ratios and better tax treatments, to name a few. In this brand new Special Report, I tell you everything you need to know about ETFs. Here’s just a glimpse of the highly profitable ETF secrets you’ll discover:
FREE SPECIAL REPORT #5 (Two-Year Subscribers Only):
Each month you can follow these portfolios in Retirement Watch and follow my clear concise buy and sell recommendations, just like my thousands of readers who are investing for safety and double-digit growth! FREE SPECIAL REPORT #6 (Two-Year Subscribers Only):
FREE SPECIAL REPORT #7 (Two-Year Subscribers Only):
FREE SPECIAL REPORT #8 (Two-Year Subscribers Only):
FREE SPECIAL REPORT #9 (Two-Year Subscribers Only):
If you want to live retirement on your terms - with plenty of money and no worries of running out of cash, then I urge you to send for your No-risk Trial Membership in Retirement Watch. I'm so confident you'll decide you never want to be without Retirement Watch again that you can try it risk-free for 90 days. If you're not convinced this monthly advisory can guide you to your dream retirement, then cancel before you receive your fourth issue. I'll refund every penny! Now is the time to put your worries aside and enjoy the years ahead knowing your retirement is secure. With Retirement Watch at your side-plus your 9 FREE Special Reports I want to send you-you'll be free to live a better life now and in the future. Please let me hear from you soon. Simply call our helpful representatives toll free at 1-800-552-1152 today. | ||||||||||||||||||
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Now is the time to put your worries aside and enjoy the years ahead knowing your retirement is secure.
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