Finding the best Financial Planning services are very difficult and we provide you with information and a portal to making that decision easy. We at InfoFAQ have asked the experts some frequently asked questions about finding Financial Planning services online.
Frequently Asked Questions About Financial and Retirement Planning
Is there any way to eliminate the federal and state penalty for withdrawing from your IRA prior to age 59 ½?
Many employees are terminated from employment and need this emergency cash flow. The answer is yes! The IRS makes this possible under Section 72-T. It is called “substantially equal periodic payments”. You agree to take regular payments of the exact same amount for at least 5 years or until age 59 ½, whichever is longer. While you pay tax on the IRA withdrawal, the withdrawal penalties are waived.
Is a shorter term bond safer than a long term bond?
Yes. With an 8% coupon, if interest rates fall by one percentage point, the 5 year bond loses 4% in market value. However, the 20 year bond loses 9.2%. With a fall of two percentage points in interest rates, the 5 year bond falls 7.7% while the 20 year bond drops 17.2% in market value.
Are the purchase of Class “B” mutual fund shares ever appropriate for an investor?
No, never! Class “B” mutual funds are often marketed with the feature of “no load” to the investor. What is not disclosed is that the Mutual Fund company advances the commission to the stockbroker and is paid back by DOUBLING the annual management fee in Class “B” mutual funds compared to Class “A” funds. Then the investor is prevented from circumventing this higher annual charge by an ongoing back-end load with the product. Liquidity is decimated with a 5 to 6 year declining surrender charge with Class “B” shares. Depending upon the time horizon of the investor, Class “A” or Class “C” shares are always superior to Class “B” shares.
Are Junk Bonds ever appropriate for an investor?
After all, they were up over 28% for 2003. Perhaps, but consider “Junk” not “Trash”! Trash bonds are those that have been downgraded by Standard & Poors and Moody’s below investment grade status due to credit problems. Junk bonds also include non-rated bonds whereby the issuing company prefers to pay the investor an extra ¼ to ½ point per year rather than secure a rating at a cost of between $400,000 and $500,000 from the above-named agencies. Literally, Sears & Roebuck, Dr. Pepper and 7-Up Bottling Co. have issued un-rated bonds in the past and offer a good bang-for-the-buck to the investor. Having said this, limit “junk” bond purchases to no more than 15% of your investment portfolio.
Is there any stock market index that mirrors the entire stock market?
No, not entirely. However, the Wilshire 5000 Index includes 99% of the stock market and is widely accepted as the most inclusive stock market index. Then, the Russell 3000 includes approximately 98% of the U.S. equity market.
Provides tips on what a consumer should do after a motor accident.
Recommended Financial Planning Websites
Principal
Financial Group - The Principal Financial Group is a nationally known provider of 401k plans, mutual funds, retirement plans, investments, life insurance, health insurance, and on-line banking. Online customer service, education.
BenefitsLink
- BenefitsLink.com is for people and companies involved in providing employer-sponsored employee benefit plans, including for-profit, non-profit and governmental plan sponsors, whether or not regulated by ERISA.
Reviewed Financial Planning Sites on the Internet
Brentmark
Software
- www.brentmark.com/ Brentmark Software develops software for estate, retirement and financial planning professionals. Products include Pension &
Roth IRA Analyzer, RetireNow, Estate Planning Tools, Estate Planning QuickView, PFP Notebook, Stock Options Risk Analyzer, College Planning Tools, Investment Scenario Generator, Charitable Financial Planner, IRS Factors Calculator, Savings Bond Toolkit, Pension Distributions Planner, Pension Distributions Calculator and Minimum Distributions Calculator.
Clarity Software, LLC
-www.pendcalc.com/ PenD'Calc is Retirement, Distribution & Estate Planning Software.
Since 1987 PenD'Calc R&EP™ Software has been performing retirement accumulation, pension distribution and estate planning calculations for advanced planners. (R&EP™ stands for Retirement and Estate Planning.) PenD’Calc Software is a scalable integrated retirement distribution and estate planning software system which focuses on modeling the singular and/or combined impact of various planning options unique to qualified dollar assets on retirement income, estate taxes, and beneficiary income streams.
Drum Hardware - Exclusive interview with Gibraltar Hardware the drum set hardware leader.
Challenge Coins - You are advised to keep your unit coin within arm's length at all times. QA with Unit Coins.
Modest Swimwear - This company designs and creates modest swimwear that women love.
Gretsch Drums - Exclusive interview with Gretsch Drums, known for their "beautiful sound like no other."
FAQs with Doctors
Optometry - Exclusive interview with Dr. Summy To Portland's Neighborhood Optometrist.
Cosmetic Dentistry - Exclusive interview with Dr. Moller of New Image Cosmetic and Family Dentistry.
FAQs with Merchants
Southern California Wedding -
Prestine country club setting in Southern California with spectacular views. Exclusive interview
with Sherwood Country Club.
Church Banners - Exclusive interview with Amplify Designs, the leading manufacturer of Church banners.
Counterfeit
Handbags - "The World Customs Organization estimates the trade in
fakes at about 7 percent of world trade."
Carpet
Cleaning Tips - "Always ask about referrals and if they have a list of
what they do to prepare your carpets for cleaning, and what type of system
do they use..." QA with Sunset Carpet Cleaning
Shopping for
Purses "Whats happening now at a great speed is manufacturers overseas
will see the latest it bag and then duplicate the bag... Price is
primarily why people would buy a knock-off purse as opposed to the real
thing.." Kitsch Purses Q & A
Workers'
Compensation Info "The huge benefit of the Internet is time and
expense savings. The only other way to get all of this information other
than the Internet is at your local law library." FAQ with
WorkCompCentral
Eating
Disorder Treatment - In this FAQ Monte Nido explains how you can find
the right treatment center online.
Planes
Without Pilots Imagine a 3 1/2 foot remote controlled plane that flies
straight up for miles.
Eating
Disorder Help For those dealing with eating disorders, hope is never
too far behind.
Mass
CD Duplication. All of the sudden record labels began relying heavily
on CD manufacturers for the mass production of their clients' albums.
Corporate
Entertainment Corporate meetings are becoming more common in spas than
conference rooms, with room service cuisine rather than with fast food
from drive-thrus.
ML Properties Michelle Manley Orange County based realtor launches new site for prospective home buyers
Shopping Online
About Our Editors...
The InfoFAQ editorial staff are qualified professionals who are experienced at researching the Internet for relevant information about merchants, their products, their services, and their industries. The staff is trained to be objective, concise, and informative, helping consumers understand the importance of merchant compliance, consumer safety, privacy, security, fraud protection, and truthful information when shopping on the Internet.
