Financial Topics Newsletter

October 2008   Thursday, September 9, 2010
Many People Are Jumping Off Cliffs
Maybe I Should Jump Off?

The market decline this week (ending yesterday, Friday, October 10), was among the worst in history. The S&P 500 index is now down 42.5% in the last 12 months. Almost half of that loss came in the last week. It’s an extraordinary move. Fear is a natural response. People around you are selling, so maybe you should sell before it goes down more? Before I get to that, some context is helpful.
[FULL STORY]
 
Year-End Tax Planning Tips
As year-end rapidly approaches, it's a good time to take a look at your tax situation. You still have time to take action that could reduce your income tax liability for 2008. Once you have an idea of where you stand for 2008 with your income tax situation, you can evaluate some tax planning strategies that may reduce your income tax burden in 2008. Here are some tips to consider.
[FULL ARTICLE]
 
Accelerate Your Retirement Savings
Don't just give up on your retirement goals if you find you've entered middle age with little to no retirement savings. Sure, it may be harder to reach your retirement goals than if you had started in your 20s or 30s, but here are some strategies to consider.
[FULL ARTICLE]
 
You're Never Too Old for a Roth IRA
Even if you're retired, consider contributing to a Roth individual retirement account (IRA), provided you have some earned income. In 2008, single taxpayers with modified adjusted gross income (AGI) less than $101,000 and married taxpayers filing jointly with modified AGI less than $159,000 are eligible to make a nondeductible contribution to a Roth IRA.
[FULL ARTICLE]
 
Should You Defer Income Taxes?
Should you pay income taxes now, so you can withdraw funds after retirement tax free? Or are you better off delaying income taxes until after retirement? This is the basic decision when choosing between a traditional deductible individual retirement account (IRA) and a Roth IRA, or between a 401(k) plan and a Roth 401(k) plan.
[FULL ARTICLE]
 
Your Family's Finances
In many families, one spouse takes primary responsibility for the family's finances, doing everything from paying bills to making investment decisions to reviewing insurance policies. If that spouse dies first, the other spouse may have difficulty taking over these tasks. Thus, as the primary money matters person in your marriage, one of your most important financial duties is to prepare your spouse to handle the family's finances.
[FULL ARTICLE]
 

Greg Peterson holds a bachelor’s degree in Global Economy from BYU and an MBA in Finance & Entrepreneurship from the Marriott School of Management at BYU, where he was a Dean’s Scholar and 1st runner up in The Student Entrepreneur of The Year Award. He has started & managed several successful companies. After tenures at Merrill Lynch, Fisher Investments, & Smith Barney, he founded Peterson Wealth Management in 2007 to focus on high-quality, low-cost
401(k) plans as well as wealth management for households with over $100,000 to invest. He and his family reside in Orem, Utah and in Timberlakes Estates, Utah.

 
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Published by Greg Peterson, CFP®
Copyright © 2008 Integrated Concepts Group, Inc.. All rights reserved.

Securities offered through NEXT Financial Group, Inc., Member FINRA/SIPC. Peterson Wealth Management is not an affiliate of NEXT Financial Group, Inc.

Some information provided in this newsletter was prepared by Integrated Concepts. This newsletter intends to offer factual and up-to-date information on the subjects discussed, but should not be regarded as a complete analysis of these subjects. Professional advisers should be consulted before implementing any options presented. No party assumes liability for any loss or damage resulting from errors or omissions or reliance on or use of this material.

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