Monterey Herald

December is upon us and that means 2019 is almost in the history books. Can you believe it? It seems like I just put the Christmas decorations away and here I am hauling the boxes out of storage again. However, even with year-end

Q: I am 64 years old and recently retired. My 401(k) plan is worth about $1 million and I have about $500,000 in taxable investments. I have been thinking about converting a portion of my retirement savings into a Roth IRA

As a financial planner, I constantly look for ways to explain important economic ideas that are accurate and easy to understand. I recently came across the following gem in a piece written by Brian Wesbury

Q: I’m thinking about getting a new car. I have always paid cash for my cars, but the car dealer is trying to talk me into a lease

Q: My wife and I have been married for two years and we just had our first child. A friend of mine sells life insurance and says I should buy a life insurance

Q: I am thinking about applying for a home equity line of credit. I don’t think I will draw on it frequently, but I may use it to help my daughter buy a home or do some work around the house

How honest is your financial advisor? It is a question worth asking. While most advisors are honest and ethical, a bad one can turn financial dreams into nightmares.

Q: My wife and I would like to give some money to our children to help them prepare to inherit our wealth, but we aren’t sure how to best do that

Q: My daughter recently started her first year at the university. This is turning out to cost a lot more than we expected

Last May, the House of Representatives passed the Setting Every Community Up for Retirement Enhancement Act of 2019, otherwise known as the SECURE Act, by a remarkable 417-3 majority.