How fit is your retirement plan? Personal finance guru Christine Benz takes us through a financial wellness checkup.
Christine Benz
BENZ: MANAGING THE BUCKETS
Investing for retirement and the years in retirement is one of the biggest challenges any of us face. After extensive research on the topic, Morningstar’s Director of Personal Finance, Christine Benz has decided taking the “bucket approach” is a sound strategy.
BENZ & KINNEL: MUTUAL FUND SHAKEUPS!
The mutual fund industry is being buffeted by two enormous shifts: investors are deserting actively managed funds for passive ones and they are fleeing bond funds for other sources of income. What do these changes mean for investors? In their first joint television appearance, two Morningstar all-stars give us their perspective and advice.
AMODEO & BENZ: MINIMIZING YOUR TAX PAIN
Regardless of what happens with the “fiscal cliff”, the economy, markets or the deficit, you name it, you are looking at climbing tax rate over the next few years. Our guests this week are two pros who can help you plan ahead with a tax-efficiency plan. Christine Benz is Director of Personal Finance and Senior Columnist for Morningstar.com, where she gives sound advice on just about everything having to do with managing your finances. Our other guest is Robert Amodeo, Head of Municipals at Western Asset Management, who was named Municipal Manager of the Year by Institutional Investor Magazine in 2011. The taxman cometh, so you’d better be ready.
IDENTIFY SOME TAX AVOIDANCE STRATEGIES TO BOOST YOUR INVESTMENT RETURNS
Tax avoidance strategies include: Re-visit municipal bonds Put higher tax investments in tax deferred accounts Emphasize tax efficient strategies including: index funds, ETFs, and individual stocks Watch This Episode
