Private Companies

Keeping Your Financial New Year’s Resolutions

January 30, 2013

According to a study by Fidelity Investments, 62 percent of consumers said they stuck with their financial New Year’s resolutions in the past year, compared with only 40 percent who kept other resolutions. When you think about it, a financial resolution may be easier to keep than others regarding eating better or giving back to the community because for many people, taking control of their finances seems like a more pressing, dire need in their life.

Research shows that when people have a measurable goal, they are more likely to succeed with their resolution. Therefore, if your New Year’s Resolution is to take control of your finances, create a measurable goal for your financial health. If you don’t know where to start, consider these three main areas of financial health: zero consumer debt, adequate emergency reserve funds, and maximization of IRA contributions.

According to The Investment Company Institute (ICI), only 39% of US families even have an IRA. In addition, many people who have IRAs are only contributing up to the level at which their employer matches, which is often 6 percent. However, for most people, 6 percent will not be sufficient in the long term. Chances are, you will probably need to put away 15 percent (or more) of your salary to hit your financial goals.

A self-directed IRA is a great way to unlock your IRA and take control of your retirement plan. Self-direction significantly expands your investment options to a wide variety of investments including real estate, tax liens, stocks, bonds, mortgages, notes, precious metals, and other investments. There is a myth that you have to have a lot of money to get started with self-direction, but we debunked this myth in our blog entitled “How to Take Advantage of a Self-Directed IRA with Just $5,000”.

Consider these ideas as you work to improve your financial health in 2013. As always, NuView IRA is here to provide you with the professional service you deserve. Call our company of experienced self-directed IRA administrators in Florida at 407-367-3472 to discuss your investment choices within a self-directed IRA and to start building momentum toward your financial goals for this year.

To Whom Much Is Given, Shall Much Be Required

January 24, 2013

“Whatsoever your hand findeth to do, do it with thy might” (for there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in the grave, whither thou goest)”  Ecclesiastes 9:10.  Since your IRA is primarily to benefit you prior to the grave, it would make sense that your hand (or efforts) be trained on making your investments grow.

Why should we not be as diligent with our investments as we are with our labor?  After all, the Bible also says that for everyone to whom much is given, of him shall much be required.  If we have the talent to make and save money, shouldn’t there be an additional requirement to invest it wisely?

I know that I get particularly uncomfortable when I have funds that are not invested, or those that are under-performing their potential.  For example, while many may be comfortable in owning CDs that are paying a rate of 2%, I would be distraught knowing that better yielding choices were available of which I did not take advantage.  That is the beauty, and responsibility of a self-directed IRA – it is up to you to seek the best balance of risk and reward, not a money manager or a mutual fund.

Retirement, and the costs of doing it comfortably, let’s face it, can be expensive.  Make it a priority to surround yourself with advisors that can help you in your choices.  If you are interested in real estate, introduce yourself to local real estate investment clubs, Realtors,  property managers, and others who live in that world daily.  If you want to invest your IRA in emerging businesses, speak with entrepreneurial organizations, CPAs, and attorneys that may be aware of new opportunities.

Come to NuView IRA client events, and use the ideas and energy of others to help propel your dream of retirement forward.  After all, we all age at the same rate, at least chronologically, and sooner or later, we will stop working and depend on our savings.  Use self-direction as an important tool to get there – thousands of our clients are doing it “with all their might”.

All the best in your investments…

Glen

Required Minimum Distributions – You Can’t Afford to Miss This Deadline!

December 7, 2012

Don’t let the little issue of RMDs or required minimum distributions get lost in the blur of the holiday season.  The IRS makes it painfully clear that they are envious of those of you that are over the age of 70.5 and have an IRA or other retirement plans.  Interestingly, the Roth IRA holders are spared the indignity of the government telling them how to manage their finances, but more about that later.

If you hold a non-Roth IRA and had your 70th birthday before July 1 of 2012, you must take a minimum distribution from your plan.  In other words, make what was tax deferred, now taxable.  How much must you take out?  It is based on an IRS provided table that calculates your estimated life expectancy.  How much is it?  Well, if you turned 70.5 this year, you will be forced to take a distribution of a little over 3.6% of your holding.  My mother, age 92, is required to take out 9.8%. For those of you yearning to know more, consult IRS publication 590 for the rules and tables.

All non-Roth IRAs are added together to calculate the RMD, and distributions can be made out of any of the held IRAs to meet the distribution requirements.

IRA holders that are in or near their RMD years should plan for sufficient liquidity in their plans to permit the easy withdrawal of funds as required.  This withdrawal can take place anytime during the calendar year – but if not done by December 31st, a penalty of 50% of the undistributed amount will accrue to the IRA holder.

Those that have contributed or converted to a Roth IRA are not forced to take any distribution during their lifetime, as all taxes have already been paid.

So, two end-of year reminders:  If you are nearing or over seventy years of age and have pre-tax IRAs, get prepared, and take the distributions as required.  If you wish to convert to a Roth this year, you must do so before December 31st.  Talk to your tax professional before the end of the year so you make all the best moves.

As always, all the best in your investments,

Glen

Thoughts at Thirty Thousand Feet

October 5, 2012

There is something therapeutic about flying.  No, not the shuffling through the TSA gauntlet, the detangling from the hordes of little ones returning home from Orlando with their skull caps adorned with plastic ears and clutching their furry souvenirs.

No, the respite comes once sufficient altitude is obtained, the drink order delivered, and the electronic device “all-clear” is sounded.  For the briefest of moments, sanity is restored and reasonable quiet is returned to the cabin.

Such is the case now, as I hurtle away to an industry conference in Phoenix, sponsored by the Retirement Industry Trust Association or RITA.  During the next few days, I will be learning about the latest governmental trends regarding self-directed (SD) IRAs and the likelihood of changes with the next Congress.  Rest assured that I will be sharing that information in future blogs over the next few weeks so that you will be able to anticipate any changes along with NuView IRA.

Regardless, all of us continue to move another day closer to our retirement – and I’m quite proud that on Friday, I took another step.  You might think that being a spokesperson for SD-IRAs and having  thousands of clients taking control of their IRAs, that my retirement would always be my first priority.  Not necessarily.

However, last week, I took the first step in investing my Health Savings Account (HSA) in a mortgage-backed loan.  Although some people have HSAs and can put up to $6,250 per year tax free into these accounts, most just keep them in non-interest bearing accounts.  They do not realize that they can invest these accounts just the same as an IRA, and with NuView, that includes private loans, mortgages, private companies and much more.

Join me in taking a look at your funds that are not working for your retirement future.  Don’t be up in the air about your investments.  Call our company of experienced IRA administrators in Florida at 407-367-3472 to discuss your choices and start building momentum toward the retirement you deserve.

As always, all the best with your investments.

Glen

Giving Our Clients Access (Online and Human)

September 21, 2012

My name is Radha Persaud and I am a founding member of NuView IRA, a Florida self-directed IRA administration company.  It’s flattering to be known as a founder I must say.  As I came on board, Entrust Administration Services was getting ready to change its name to NuView IRA.  With the change, came many welcomed improvements and many challenges along the way, but I am so thankful that I am part of a cohesive team that always rallies together.

One of our biggest challenges during the name change was the switch to a different platform for online access.  The system was new, very different and some our clients had a difficult time adapting to the new system online.  I can understand their frustrations, as many of our clients had been with us since we first opened our doors in 2003 and were used to the old online platform.  Our President and management team heard their frustrations and wanted to make the change a more positive experience.  To that end, they elevated my title to include “the queen of on-line access”.  They wanted to ensure our clients had a live person to connect with for help with online access, rather than be transferred to a call center.

So, if you are having difficulties with our new system, or just simply want to talk with someone, I’m here for you.  From log-ons to password updates, or historical statements, your account history is either a click or a phone call away. Just call 407-367-3472!

I’ll be standing by……

Radha (on-line queen)

Women vs. Men – The Retirement Savings Battle

Did you know that 60% of working Americans have less than $25,000 put aside for retirement?  Moreover, 30% of Americans have less than $1,000 saved for retirement!

Among the individuals who do save money for their retirement, men tend to have more in their retirement funds than women.  According to a recent study by The Vanguard Group, Inc., the median retirement savings for men was $33,547, which is 56% more than the $21,499 accumulated by women.

There are several speculations about why men tend to accumulate more for retirement than women, with some people thinking that women may not fully understand the value of saving for retirement.  However, statistics show that women do understand the value of retirement and even tend to contribute more (in terms of percentage of income) to their retirement accounts than men.  The following are three myths regarding how women invest and the realties behind these misconceptions:

  • Myth – Women are less likely to take advantage of workplace retirement programs.  The reality is that when women have access to workplace retirement plans, they often have higher participation rates than men.
  • Myth – Women contribute less to retirement plans.  Statistics actually show that in general, meaning at every income level, women tend to contribute more to their retirement plans than men.
  • Myth – Women are more risk-averse.  This is a common misconception, but the reality is that there is little difference between the sexes in exposure to stocks.

Therefore, as the above realities hold true, the real reason that men have more in their retirement accounts than women all comes back to earnings.  Men are more likely to work in higher-paying jobs, more likely to work full- time, and less likely to have gaps in their employment (for example: to care for children or elderly parents).

Saving consistently and investing wisely is a simple formula for success, but challenging to put into practice.  With NuView IRA, you have the opportunity to self-direct your IRA in real estate, notes, mortgages, private companies, and other ways that most financial advisors are unaware.  Give NuView a call today at (407) 367-3472 or visit them at staging-wwwnuviewtrustcom.kinsta.cloud to find out all the options available to you.

Retiring – Then Living with your Kids: The New Reality

September 19, 2012

My household situation is not as rare as it may seem.  My wonderful 91 year-old mother lives with me,  a very patient daughter-in-law, and four grandchildren.  While God has blessed her with great health and vitality, I’m not sure that living with her son would have been her dream several decades ago when she was in the workforce.

According to the MetLife Mature Market Institute, there are over 10 million adult children taking care of their aging parents.  Still others are contributing to assisted living care, which averages about $3,500 per month.

While having my mother with us is an incredible blessing, many senior parents would choose, if financially able, to be on their own.  Indeed, the financial fall-out of the past five years has robbed many seniors of a healthy retirement nest egg and resulted in very limited choices for the years that were to have been “golden”.

At NuView IRA, our clients think every day about their view of retirement and what choices they need to make to achieve their dream of retirement.  Unlike others, they not only think and dream, they act.  We have clients that lend their IRA to investors secured by recorded mortgages, with note rates ranging from 6-15% and more.  These types of investments are particularly attractive to seniors who may need to live on the interest earned.

Through joint ventures, a rollover IRA holder can partner with a real-estate rehabber to purchase a wholesale property, fix it up, and put a renter in the home, with all the net proceeds due to the IRA deposited tax-free.

Fact is, the choices with a self-directed IRA are considerable, and the potential returns may be far more attractive than what is offered by the stock market.  So do your homework, make good choices, and plan for a retirement that will allow plenty of visits to your relatives – but not force you to move in!

The Power of IRAs

August 29, 2012

According to the Investment Company Institute, there are 46 Million US households with IRAs. What is remarkable is the difference in those households that have an IRA, and those that do not.

Assets of an IRA household were 8 times larger than those households that did not have an IRA. Eight times! While the IRA may not be the holder of all the wealth, there is little doubt that the discipline involved in saving and contributing to an IRA is likely illustrated by other choices made by the members of the IRA household.

Your ability to achieve your retirement dream is dependent on two variables: saving and contributing consistently, and investing wisely. For many, investing wisely is the most difficult challenge. The super investor Warren Buffet is often quoted as saying, “Never invest in a business you cannot understand.” Most of us that are invested in mutual funds and selected stocks seldom have any idea on what our investment dollars are doing.

If you are a bit frustrated with not being in charge, the answer may be to self-direct your IRA. We have thousands of clients who feel much more confident in their own choices that those brokered by others. Private placements, real estate, tax liens, and joint ventures are just some of the ways you can seize control of your retirement plan through NuView IRA, while earning tax deferred or tax free profits.

If you would like to learn more about your investment options with a self-directed IRA, contact our Florida self-directed IRA administration company by calling 407-367-3472.

Mitt Romney and the Mystery Behind His IRA

August 17, 2012

During Romney’s time at Bain Capital LLC, the company used a SEP-IRA that had a maximum contribution limit of about $30,000 per year. Assuming Romney maxed out these tax-deferred contributions, he would have invested approximately $450,000 in his individual retirement account during his tenure at Bain. BUT, he may have up to 227 times that amount in his IRA! The baffling mystery about Mitt Romney’s significant wealth is how he was able to build up between $21 million and $102 million in his IRA during the 15 years he was at Bain Capital.

So how did he do it? Of course, we don’t know, but there are several theories out there that attempt to make sense of it all.

One theory is that Romney contributed to his IRA using the low-basis, low-value stock he received as a partner at Bain Capital in the different buyouts the company did while he was there. Another theory is that Romney contributed limited-partnership interests to his IRA in Bain’s buyouts, and quite possibly only at a fraction of their market value.

While there are limitations concerning the amount of money that can be contributed tax-deferred to an IRA, there are no restrictions on the amount that the contributed funds can earn, and can continue to earn, on a tax-deferred basis, even after the contributions have stopped. Therefore, in the future when Romney withdraws funds from his IRA, the IRS will get a hefty sum of money in taxes. Too bad his money isn’t invested in a Roth IRA!

Diversify!

August 13, 2012

Diversification is a strategy that should be deployed by anyone who cannot accurately predict the future – which is just about everyone. While the stock market provides an ability to spread investment risks over geography, company size, market sectors, and other categories, the fact remains that public exchanges cannot provide full diversification.

You cannot own titled real estate purchased from your broker in your IRA – instead, he will likely offer a choice of publically traded Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITS). You cannot own gold bullion in your IRA if you rely on the stock market – rather, the market will proffer equity interests in mining companies instead. Most business startups have no access to public markets at all, with investors unaware of the potential attractive returns to the early equity participants.

Without a self-directed IRA from our Florida self-directed IRA administration company, it is unlikely that full diversification can be achieved in a retirement account. Whether you are looking for cash flow from property rentals, private lending and investing in tax liens, or instead investing for future appreciation in precious metals, limited partnerships or new business ventures, the choice is yours with a self-directed IRA. Call us at 407-367-3472 to learn more!

True diversification lies with understanding you choices, taking time to know the market, and executing your purchases with confidence, then staying involved in your investments.

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