Information to Act On – “Susan On Money” for Week of March 18, 2015

by | Mar 18, 2015 | Blog

Hi Everyone,

 The Fed meeting today certainly made for one of the more interesting days to market watch. I enjoyed it but hope you didn’t even feel a need to look.
We have positioned for this.
This week’ update is dedicated to information worth knowing and acting on. It comes from Kiplinger.
Have a great week,
Susan

Consumer Info

 

Business technology concept as two hands holding a group of machine gears shaped as a human head as a symbol and metaphor for the transfer of industry information or corporate training.
Interest rates – “expect a federal funds rate of about 0.75% and a bank prime rate of 4%” later this year. “Long rates are likely to move less.”

Hospital charges – NerdWallet.com has created “a friendly tool to search hospital charges. The tool will pull up each local hospital’s average charge or that service and the average Medicare payment.” Useful to see the variance.

Social Security

family-male-couple.jpg
Online statements – “The Social Security Administration reports that more than 13 million “My Social Security” accounts have been created. With an account, you can see your Social Security benefits statement online; it provides estimates for retirement.” Go to www.socialsecurity.gov/mystatement.

 

Taxes and Planning

Hand holding a magnifying glass with tax form 1040 in background
  1. “You can deduct more of your long-term care premiums as a medical expense in 2015.
  2. You can get a tax break when paying extra for a license plate that advocates a charitable cause.
  3. Kiplinger.com’s retiree tax map can help determine the most tax-friendly states for you and your assets in retirement. You can sort the map by such categories as states that don’t tax social security benefits.” Go to www.kiplinger.com/tools/retiree_map

 

Let me know if you have any questions or need any additional resources.

 

Until next week,

 

Susan R. Linkous

The Linkous Group, Ltd.

A Registered Investment Advisor