Learning Center for Individuals
Browse our latest or list by category:
Browse our latest or list by category:
Past Wars and Long-Term Market Performance Since the dawn of time, war and conflict have been with us throughout history, bringing with them their own horrors and uncertainty. Stock markets do not like uncertainty, and when war and conflict strike, stock markets will exhibit bouts of short-term volatility. Wars and conflict can and have led… Read More Read More
Are you prepared for a secure financial future? Discover some key aspects of a comprehensive risk management strategy. Disability Income Protection: Protect your income by obtaining disability income protection. Purchase it when you are young and healthy, considering factors like occupational specialty coverage, ensuring future income increases, and prioritizing individual plans over group coverage. Property… Read More Read More
Clear, achievable, and meaningful goals can lay the foundation for success. Vague aspirations may have limited worth without a well-defined plan. Depending solely on past performance or arbitrary investment rules may carry risks when striving to achieve your financial goals. Time is a critical factor in goal setting that can shape your financial objectives. With… Read More Read More
Andrew MacDougall, Director of Wealth management at Sapers & Wallack, and Bryce J. Helfer, Attorney at Nixon Peabody, answer questions about working together for estate planning needs of their clients. WE HAVE MOVED! You can find us at: 313 Washington Street, Suite 308, Newton, MA 02458 Read More
There are many formulas for figuring out how much money you need to retire. While thinking seriously about retirement finances is useful, for most people, these formulas may not come close to what your retirement actually looks like. Taking Stock To truly get comfortable with your retirement plan, the first thing you should do is… Read More Read More
The early bird really could get the worm! In the chart below you will find no secret tips or tricks to investing that cite prior market events: just plain old math. The amount of your total nest egg is exponentially influenced by the duration of time it has to compound. In other words, the earlier… Read More Read More
You may be eligible for a valuable incentive, which could reduce your federal income tax liability, for contributing to your company’s 401(k) or 403(b) plan. If you qualify, you may receive a Tax Saver’s Credit of up to $1,000 ($2,000 for married couples filing jointly) if you made eligible contributions to an employer sponsored retirement… Read More Read More
Sapers & Wallack has been named to the National Association of Plan Advisors’ list of the nation’s top defined contribution (DC) Advisor Teams with Assets under Advisement over $100 Million. Unlike other lists, this focuses on individual firms, or what may, in a wirehouse environment, be referred to as a team, or office, and the… Read More Read More
Do you spend more time planning your annual vacation than you do thinking about your personal finances? If so, you’re not alone. A lot of people put off financial planning or avoid it altogether. Personal financial planning is an ongoing, lifelong process. If we break it down into small, achievable tasks, it’s a lot less… Read More Read More
Do you know what will happen to your retirement savings if you were to pass away? Here are some things you should know about naming beneficiaries that could save your loved ones’ time, money and frustration. Facts about beneficiary designations 48% of people don’t have a named beneficiary.1 Generally, if you are married, your retirement… Read More Read More
By Aviva Sapers Many of our clients have voiced a concern of outliving their income. Given that much of today’s workforce have not saved enough to guarantee a financially secure retirement – a recent study found that the average median savings of millennials is only $8,000(1) —this is why we wanted to discuss what can… Read More Read More
Financial Impact Think back to your last DoorDash order. How much did it cost you? How much food did you actually get for the money you were paying? Did you feel like you got a good deal? To those of us who order out consistently, a $35 tab on a DoorDash order might seem normal.… Read More Read More
During the holidays, we think about spending time and reconnecting with family and friends, cozying up by the fireplace, enjoying each other’s company. We also tend to spend quite a bit of money this time of year, on everything from gifts to new year’s resolutions (think gym memberships). In a typical holiday season, we don’t… Read More Read More
The holidays are upon us! Staying healthy just might make you wealthy. With small lifestyle changes and healthy choices (especially with all the shared yummy foods), you may reduce your annual healthcare costs and increase your income. These lifestyle changes can be as simple as limiting your salt intake or taking your prescribed medication regularly.… Read More Read More
Aviva Sapers, CEO and Kim Bernabeo Landry, Director, Insurance Underwriting Advocacy at Sapers & Wallack answer questions about their blog “How a Fixed Annuity Can Fill a Gap in Your Retirement Savings Plan” You can read the blog: “How a Fixed Annuity Can Fill a Gap in Your Retirement Savings Plan)” here. Read More
/// By Aviva Sapers and Kim Bernabeo Landry Amid the economic uncertainty and volatile stock market of recent years, many are looking for ways to ensure a steady income stream throughout retirement. With the diminishing existence of employer pensions and uncertainty about Social Security programs, people are looking for new approaches to share in some… Read More Read More
With Americans living, on average, longer than before and the strength of Social Security and pension programs on the decline—securing enough income to maintain quality of life throughout retirement can be complicated. With tax rates likely to increase for certain groups in the future, now may be a good time to consider a Roth IRA… Read More Read More
ARLINGTON, VA — Sapers & Wallack has been named to the National Association of Plan Advisors’ list of the nation’s top defined contribution (DC) Advisor Teams with Assets under Advisement of $100 Million . Unlike other lists, this focuses on individual firms, or what may, in a wirehouse environment, be referred to as a team,… Read More Read More
Scott Tuxbury, Vice President, Retirement & Wealth Management of Sapers & Wallack, answers questions about his blog “Department of Labor is Focusing on the Rollout of a Lifetime Income Product for Retirement-What Does that Mean for You?” You can read the blog: “Department of Labor is Focusing on the Rollout of a Lifetime Income… Read More Read More
In 2007, I worked at a large multi-national asset management firm and was asked to attend an annual retirement industry event with the executives of every major retirement company in the United States. Held at the Harvard Club, the theme of the meeting was “idea day,” where retirement focused asset management firms shared thought leadership… Read More Read More
Andrew MacDougall, Director, Wealth Management at Sapers & Wallack, answers questions about his blog “Getting Your Financial House in Order – Part 2 (Middle Age)” You can read the blog “Getting Your Financial House in Order – Part 2 (Middle Age)” here. Read More
In June of 2020, my colleague, Evan Macedo, wrote about taking a practical and proactive approach to taking control of personal finances for individuals at the start of their careers. That piece, linked below, was primarily geared toward people in their 20s and 30s who are starting out with savings, budgeting, and paying down debts.… Read More Read More
Regardless of your financial situation, for most of us, saving the right amount of money for retirement can be difficult. Establishing sources of replacement income that will allow you to consistently maintain your expected lifestyle after your working years often requires careful planning, financial discipline, and if those are not attainable, some creative solutions. Read More
Scott Tuxbury, Vice President and Leader for the Retirement and Wealth Management Practices at Sapers & Wallack answers questions about our January blog, Using Life Insurance to Offer Diversified, Tax-Advantaged Retirement Savings Read More
How Can you Prepare for Healthcare Expenses in Retirement? Rising healthcare costs are on everyone’s mind, even for affluent people. In fact, 69 percent of affluent pre-retirees cite rising healthcare costs as one of their top fears in retirement, according to a survey from the Nationwide Retirement Institute. In fact, 63 percent of these affluent… Read More Read More
Background There is growing interest in a design strategy known as the Mega Backdoor Roth Conversion (the Conversion). The Conversion allows 401(k) or 403(b) Plan participants who are already deferring the maximum allowed to contribute After-Tax funds to the plan. The participant may then convert the money from After-Tax funds to Designated Roth funds. This… Read More Read More
/// Posted byAviva Sapers & Peter Stoner Whether your 65th birthday is fast approaching or decades away, it pays to understand the basics of how Medicare works and what it does and does not cover—and then plan accordingly for any additional coverage that you may need in retirement. Enrolling in Medicare can be more complicated… Read More Read More
Aviva Sapers, President and CEO of Sapers & Wallack, and Peter Stoner, President and CEO of Stoner & Company, answer questions about our October blog ‘Medicare Coverage: What to expect, how to enroll, and will you need supplemental plans for retirement’. Read More
For most Americans in 2019, the idea of retirement is associated more with a sense of anxiety than the promise of relaxation it once inspired. Have I saved enough? When should I stop working? Will I have a guaranteed source of income? And more than ever before, how can I plan for the rising costs… Read More Read More
Scott Tuxbury, Vice President and Leader for the Retirement and Wealth Management Practices at Sapers & Wallack answers questions about our September blog, “Why Retirement Planning Must Account for the Rising Cost of Healthcare” Read More
On average, Americans are living longer than ever before. This reality has complicated the planning and saving stage of retirement as we struggle to secure enough income to cover our needs for the duration of our lifetime. One increasingly critical tool of financial planners for retirees is the use of Roth IRA conversions. A Roth… Read More Read More
There’s a lot to like about investing in a Roth IRA, Roth 401(k) or Roth 403(b), especially if you’re young or expect to be in the same (or higher) income tax bracket when you retire. Any money you invest in a Roth grows tax-free—even when you cash out in retirement—and it can be invested in… Read More Read More
Scott Tuxbury, Vice President and Leader for the Retirement and Wealth Management Practices at Sapers & Wallack answers 3 questions about our March blog, “What is a Roth IRA and Why Do I need One?” Listen to our podcast here: Read More
Retirement distribution planning is not what it used to be. People are living longer, cost of living expenses are on the rise, and healthcare costs are easily outpacing wage increases and the market. Now, more than ever, creating and sticking to a thorough retirement savings plan is necessary to ensure that your latter years and… Read More Read More
Scott Tuxbury, Vice President and Leader for the Retirement and Wealth Management Practices at Sapers & Wallack answers 3 questions about our February blog, “Reimagining Retirement Distribution Planning”. Listen to our podcast here: Read More
The Sapers & Wallack Retirement Team has developed an IRS Contribution Limits one pager to assist with any questions you might have. This is a great resource tool for you to keep on file in the event you or someone from your firm has questions about not only what the limits are in 2019 but… Read More Read More
Most people make a concerted effort to plan and save for retirement, but many fail to account for the projected toll that health care costs will take on their mandatory expenses throughout their retirement. There is a common misconception that savings will be enough to cover living expenses while Medicare can cover health care related… Read More Read More
Unclaimed Retirement Benefits: Do you have money lost in old 401(k)s and pensions? There has been a wave of reporting over the last few years around the vast sums of money in unclaimed accounts in the US. Millions of Americans have forgotten or are completely unaware of money in their name from government payouts, bank… Read More Read More
With the end of the year approaching, now is the time for high income earners to assess whether a defined benefit plan makes sense. A defined benefit plan allows the highest deductible contributions of any retirement plan. This plan allows you to save for retirement on a tax-deductible basis. Investments made within the plan grow… Read More Read More
In this issue of the Retirement Report you will find: Active Managers Can Add Value Women: Financially Stressed but Open to Solutions But He's My Brother-in-Law! Socially Responsible Funds - Think Green? No. Think Red! Read More
In this issue of our Retirement Report you will find: Is the Oil Price Decline Beneficial to the U.S. Economy? The Hopes, Fears and Reality of Retirement Preparing for a Partial Plan Termination Employee Communication Strategies for All Seasons Read More
In this issue of our Retirement Report you will find: Qualified Plan Governance: Is Your Fiduciary House in Order? Top Five New Year's Resolutions for Retirement Plan Fiduciaries Solutions for a Stressed-Out Nation Improper Handling of Hardship Distributions May Result in Significant Problems Read More
In this issue of our Retirement Report you will find: Case Study: Automatic Enrollment Revisited Pension Protection Act of 2006 Restatements Despite Noise, Macro Factors Will Drive Fixed Income Markets Common Misconceptions Read More
In this issue of our Retirement Report you find: The Fed Steps Back - Will Active Equity Funds Step Up? Ten Years Later: Scorecard Retrospective Allowable Plan Expenses: Can the Plan Pay? ERISA Fidelity Bonds Versus Fiduciary Liability Insurance Read More
In this issue of our Retirement Report you find: Index Funds - More Than Meets the Eye Enter the Dragon Fiduciary Training Are Your Written QDRO Procedures in Place? Communication Corner: Are You on Track to Enjoy Life Post-employment? Read More
As life expectancies continue to rise, coupled with historically low interest rates, the prospect that retirees face of running out of retirement funds is very real. Given the average life expectancy of a 65 year old female is age 90 and with conservative investment portfolios earning less than 3%, the paradox retiree’s face is daunting.… Read More Read More
In this issue of our Retirement Report you find: What to Expect When Transitioning Providers The Future of Retirement Plans ERISA 3(21) vs. 3(38) Fiduciary A Quick Look at Gap Analysis Communication Corner: Save Early, Reach Your Goal Visit our website at sapers-wallack.com/retirement to learn more about our offers for plan sponsors and individuals and connect with us on our "Team" page. Read More
In this issue of our Retirement Report you find: Determining Fee Reasonableness of a Retirement Plan Record Keeper Why Advisors Are Taking a New Look at Collective Investment Trusts Locating Missing Participants Establishing Your Retirement Plan Committee Charter Communication Corner: How Long Will Your Money Last? Visit our website at sapers-wallack.com/retirement to learn more about our offers for… Read More Read More
In this issue of our Retirement Report you find: Weathering All Market Conditions One Size Does Not Fit All Understanding Multiemployer Plans Complying with ERISA 404(c) Communication Corner: Your Perfect Match Visit our website at sapers-wallack.com/retirement to learn more about our offers for plan sponsors and individuals and connect with us on our “Team” page. Read More
Because if you are nearing retirement and are looking for a vehicle that could give you the opportunity to receive steady income, immediate annuities ought to be considered. If you are looking to turn some of your investment portfolio from accumulation to distribution, annuities might be used as a vehicle to deliver to your bank… Read More Read More
In this issue of our Retirement Report you find: 3(16) ERISA Fiduciary Definition Power of Peer Influence: From Inertia to Action Pass or Fail? Corrective Actions to Remedy Your Test Results Going the Extra Mile: A Deeper Look at the Scorecard Communication Corner: Explore Your Options Visit our website at sapers-wallack.com/retirement to learn more about our offers for… Read More Read More
Given the results of a recent study by the Employee Benefit Research Institute that show only 13% of Americans feel confident that they will have enough money in retirement to live comfortably, the time has come for employers to take a more aggressive approach with the plans they are offering. When we were growing up,… Read More Read More
In this issue of our Retirement Report you find: Information about 3 recommended index funds and the importance to offer fewer funds to drive better participation A comment about the benefits of a qualitative mutual fund review A list of advantages for plan sponsors who consider adopting a safe-harbor design for their retirement plan Explanation about the… Read More Read More
Roth IRA Mirror Plan – A Tax Advantaged Asset Accumulation Strategy Are you paying too much in Federal Income Taxes? Do you want to minimize the impact of higher taxes? Are you looking to accumulate wealth on a tax-advantaged basis? The changes enacted by the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) affect many types of… Read More Read More
In this edition of the RRC, we expand upon our recent post on retirement insights from J.P. Morgan and a few of the key findings of interest from their study. We will also give a glimpse of retirement readiness through the lens of a leader in the retirement services market. Let’s begin by asking a… Read More Read More
In this issue of our Retirement Report you find: Information about retirement income solutions with Guaranteed Minimum Withdrawal Benefits (GMWB) Insights into Specialty Asset Classes as part of a retirement plan menu An overview of different fee methods and A comment about revenue sharing Read More
In this issue of our Retirement Report you find: A look back at 2013, highlighting excerpts from previous issues Discussion around your plan eligibility and match An answer to what is “float” An employee memo about the “retirement crisis”. Read More
In this issue of our Retirement Report you find: Thoughts on fixed income investing in a rising rate environment A birthday letter to the Target Date Fund Detailed information about the benefits of stable value products Answers to the question “Do I need an independent ERISA audit?”. Read More
Retirement Insights from JP Morgan’s 2013 Plan Participant Survey In the outcome driven world of retirement planning and services, stewards are needed now more than ever before. Our goal at Sapers & Wallack is to provide guidance to all of our clients in the form of best practices. By beginning with the end in mind,… Read More Read More
In his most recent article for Financial Executives International, Victor Kwitkiwski, Vice President, Retirement Plan Services and Fiduciary at Sapers & Wallack, elaborates on the roles and responsibilities of different types of fiduciaries that exist. Many Plan Sponsors don’t know if they’re working with a Fiduciary; many are confused about the role of a Financial Advisor… Read More Read More
In this issue of our Retirement Report you find: Interesting results of the EBRI Annual Retirement Confidence survey Detailed information about the exchange of traded funds in retirement plans An overview of prohibited transactions fiduciaries must be aware of Answers to the often asked question: What records should I keep, for how long and how should… Read More Read More
You Are Probably Not Going Into A Nursing Home, But Don’t Confuse That With Not Planning For Extended Care When people consider the subject of elder care (often referred to as long term care), they often think about nursing homes. However, elder care has little to do with nursing homes. Understanding the difference can help… Read More Read More
In this issue of our Retirement Report you find: The pros and cons of allowing participants to take loans from their retirement accounts Detailed information about plan eligibility An overview of the Health Care reform and its implications on retirement plans A discussion about the exclusion of part-timers from the 401(k) plan Read More
As a plan sponsor and fiduciary to your company’s retirement plan, you have certain responsibilities to ensure optimal investments, reasonable fees, and informed participants. With an Advisor at your side, you can navigate these waters smoothly and with confidence to create a best practices retirement plan which strives to help protect you from liability and… Read More Read More