The 8 Biggest Mistakes People Make with Their Finances Before and after Retirement Book

	Foreword	vii
	Preface	ix
	Acknowledgments	xi
1.	Not Investing for the Long Term	1
	Past Investment Advice	3
	What to Use for Your Fixed Investments	5
	The Dividend-and-Interest Method	9
	Systematic Withdrawal	11
	Failure to Accumulate	14
	Stretching Her Resources	15
2.	Taking on Financial Risk	21
	Financial Risk	21
	Diversification Matters	22
	Put It in Writing Please	23
	Political Risk	23
	Look at Risk before You Invest	23
	Key Points on Financial Risk	29
	Key Points on Market Risk	30
	Key Points on Inflation Risk	30
	Key Points on Interest Rate Risk	31
3.	Failure to Do Dignity Planning	33
	Our Sense of Self	33
	Dignity Planning	34
	Your Medical Decisions	35
	Your Financial Affairs	37
	Durable Power of Attorney	44
	Disability Insurance	53
	Plan for the Best, Prepare for the Worst	53
	Important Policy Benefits	54
4.	Not Having Good Long-Term Care Coverage	55
	A Case in Point: Without Resources	55
	If Medicare Doesn't Pay, Who Does?	57
	Long-Term Care Insurance	59
	Indemnity Plans	61
	Don't Overinsure	62
	Would You Like Your Policy Tax Qualified or Nonqualified?	64
	Who Should Consider Purchasing Long-Term Care Insurance or Home Care Coverage?	66
	Another Way to Reduce Premium Costs	73
	How to Check on the Financial Status of an Insurance Company	74
5.	Not Planning Properly for the Transfer of Your Estate	75
	Put It in Writing	75
	A Matter of Will	77
	Loss of Some Tax Advantages	83
	Typically Married Couples	84
	Gift to Minors	85
	Using Living Trusts	86
	A Brief History of Certain Tax Laws	91
	How Much Is a Tax Credit Worth?	93
	Key Points to Remember about the Federal Estate Tax	95
	A Case in Point: Harry and Sharon Make a Mistake	96
	How to Preserve Your Unified Credit Amount	98
	Other Major Mistakes People Make	100
	Skipping Generations	101
	Gifting Assets at the Wrong Time	102
	Owning Life Insurance in Your Own Name	103
	Other Irrevocable Trusts That Can Dramatically Reduce Taxes or Replace Wealth	106
	Charitable Remainder Trusts	107
	Using the Wrong Beneficiary on Your IRA	109
	Common Disasters and IRA Plans	110
	Naming Children as Beneficiaries	111
	Seven Key Points to Keep in Mind	115
6.	Paying Too Much in Taxes	117
	Tax Awareness	118
	The Power of Deferring Capital Gains	122
	Mutual Funds--The Hidden Tax	125
	Tax-Free Investments	127
	Tax-Deferred Annuities	131
	Taxation of Social Security Benefits	135
	What Is So Wrong with Congress Taxing Our Social Security Benefits?	136
	Eight Major Tax Traps That You Should Be Aware Of	138
7.	Using the Wrong Investment Strategies	147
	Accumulation versus Investment	147
	Taking the Next Step	148
	An Investment Is	148
	Mutual Funds	148
	Unit Investment Trusts	157
	Individual Stocks	164
	Individual Bonds	169
	Variable Annuities	173
	Rules for Being a Successful Investor	182
	Other Books to Assist You in Becoming a Better Investor	195
8.	Having the Wrong Type of Life Insurance	197
	There Are Many Choices	199
	Financial Leverage	201
	Newer Types of Coverage	203
	The Benefits of Having a Tax-Free Spigot	204
	The Purpose of Life Insurance	206
	How to Pay Estate Taxes Economically	207
	Collecting before Your Time	210
	Viatical Settlements	211
	Insurance Company Rating Systems	212
	Glossary	215
	Index	221