Archive for posts by Kent Irwin

I’m a car guy, and since I like to keep my car nice it has always driven me crazy that the xenon headlight lense covers were no longer crystal clear, but yellow and brown. They didn’t shine as bright either, since the aged plastic filtered the light. I drive a 1999 Toyota vehicle with over 285,000… Read More »

If you didn’t catch the article in Saturday’s Wall Street Journal “The Myths and Facts About the Gold Standard” and the intermingling of politics and economics interests you then you might want to. The Gold Standard is a monetary policy that basis the value of currency a country issues on the value of gold that… Read More »

Radio and Television is awash with silly advertisements aimed at anyone in their 40’s or older, to get you to buy supplements to counter the affect of lower hormones as we age.  The ads ask if you are fatigued, depressed, low sex drive, gaining weight or generally have a feeling of malaise. These ads appeal to… Read More »

Traditional IRAs which I wrote about a few days ago are good for supplementing ones retirement, providing current tax deductions, and growing tax-deferred until retirement. However, when someone wants to use the money for retirement or other needs they should be conscious of the rules and limitations to avoid tax penalties. Let me say at the… Read More »

Investing in physical fitness is smart, being in better health not only means feeling better, and having less stress, it saves money on doctors bills. Healthier people not only get fewer colds and flu, they have less disease and falling accidents. They spend less on prescriptions, and save time going to the doctor and pharmacy…. Read More »

The old or traditional Individual Retirement Accounts or IRAs came on the investment scene with the enactment of the Employee Retirement Security Act (ERISA) in 1974. These individual retirement plans provided a reduction in taxable income, the IRS doesn’t tax the growth on the monies while they are accumulating, however upon withdrawal, all amounts disbursed… Read More »

Individual Retirement Accounts or IRAs came on the investment scene with the enactment of the Employee Retirement Security Act (ERISA) in 1974. These individual retirement plans provided a reduction in taxable income, but contribution maximums were only $1,500 per year then. To further enhance IRAs, the IRS doesn’t tax the growth on the monies while… Read More »

The credit card industry, within the last few years, has come under closer oversight and regulation. Dave Ramsey in his Financial Peace University class lessons of Dumping Debt and Credit Sharks in Suits has been particularly critical of the bad behavior and sometimes illegal practices of credit card companies. Just last week Capital One Financial… Read More »

Interest rates continue to plummet for borrowers, with mortgage rates dropping below 4% for 30 year fixed, and less than 3% for shorter term mortgages like 15 year plans. Conversely investors continue to see interest rates drop for their investments and savings accounts. For conservative investors and those wanting to put emergency savings in a… Read More »

The Federal Estate Tax is the tax paid on assets that transfer at death. The current top rate is 35%, but it could increase to 55%, reverting to the 2001 tax rules if Congress doesn’t continue the lowering of tax of the Bush Administration. The current tax only applies to estates of $5,000,000 or larger, but… Read More »