Retirement planning and estate planning

[ad_1]

Retirement plans (i.e. retirement plans, 401 (k) plans, employer-established IRA plans, etc.) make up the bulk of the assets held by most Americans. Plans that meet certain legal requirements under ERISA federal law are tax-privileged to encourage growth and provide the account holder with a comfortable retirement. For example, the account holder is allowed to defer payments from his retirement account until the calendar year in which he turns 70-1 / 2 years old, so that the account can grow tax-free during this period. Once the account holder is 70-1 / 2 years old, he / she must begin making minimum distributions (MRDs) and those distributions are subject to income tax.

However, with one exception, the tax advantages of pension accounts should not benefit the heirs or beneficiaries after the death of the account holder. If the account holder has designated his spouse as the beneficiary of the retirement account, the surviving spouse may after the death of the account holder either roll the deceased’s account to their own account or remain beneficiaries of the deceased’s account and postpone the acceptance of distributions until the calendar year in which the deceased spouse turned 70.-1/2. Would have completed the year of life.

However, estate planning becomes more complex when the beneficiaries of the retirement plan are other than the surviving spouse. In this case, the beneficiary must take MRDs for a period of five years or for the life expectancy of the beneficiary, sometimes referred to as the “stretch period”. If a trust is the designated beneficiary of the deceased’s retirement account and all beneficiaries of the trust are individuals, then the MRDs are calculated based on the beneficiary with the shortest life expectancy (i.e. the oldest beneficiary).

The whole subject of retirement planning is extremely technical given the requirements of ERISA and the regulations issued by the Internal Revenue Service. Likewise, incorporating an individual’s retirement assets into their estate plan can be a complex task. Topics to consider include the following:

1. How to maximize the extension period so that the balance on the retirement account can grow tax-free for as long as possible;

2. Ensure that the assets are shielded from the beneficiary’s creditors; and,

3. Providing a structure for the distribution of old-age funds (e.g. limiting disbursements to prevent a wasteful beneficiary from wasting their share of the funds in one fell swoop).

Before proceeding with your estate plan, keep the above points in mind.

© 06/12/2017 Hunt & Associates, PC All rights reserved.

[ad_2]

Source by Charles A. Ford

What is an ICO in cryptocurrency?

[ad_1]

ICO stands for Initial Coin Offering. When introducing a new cryptocurrency or crypto token, the developers offer investors a limited number of units in exchange for other large crypto-coins such as Bitcoin or Ethereum.

ICOs are amazing tools for quickly raining development funds to support new cryptocurrencies. The tokens offered during an ICO can be sold and traded on cryptocurrency exchanges if there is sufficient demand.

The Ethereum ICO is one of its most notable achievements, and Initial Coin Offerings’ popularity is growing as we speak.

A brief history of the ICOs

Ripple is likely the first cryptocurrency to be distributed through an ICO. In early 2013, Ripple Labs began developing the Ripple payment system and generated around 100 billion XRP tokens. These were sold through an ICO to fund Ripple’s platform development.

Mastercoin is another cryptocurrency that sold several million tokens for Bitcoin during an ICO, also in 2013. Mastercoin aimed to tokenize bitcoin transactions and execute smart contracts by creating a new layer on top of the existing bitcoin code.

Of course, there are also other cryptocurrencies that have been successfully financed through ICOs. In 2016, Lisk raised approximately $ 5 million during their Initial Coin Offering.

Nevertheless, the Ethereum ICO that took place in 2014 is probably the most prominent so far. During their ICO, the Ethereum Foundation sold ETH for 0.0005 bitcoin each and raised nearly $ 20 million. As Ethereum harnesses the power of smart contracts, it paves the way for the next generation of initial coin offerings.

Ethereum’s ICO, a recipe for success

Ethereum’s smart contracts system has implemented the ERC20 protocol standard, which sets the core rules for creating other compliant tokens that can be processed on Ethereum’s blockchain. This allowed others to create their own tokens that correspond to the ERC20 standard and can be traded directly on the Ethereum network for ETH.

The DAO is a notable example of the successful use of Ethereum’s smart contracts. The investment company raised ETH worth $ 100 million and investors received DAO tokens in exchange, which allowed them to participate in the governance of the platform. Unfortunately the DAO failed after being hacked.

Ethereum’s ICO and its ERC20 protocol have outlined the latest generation of crowdfunding blockchain-based projects via Initial Coin Offerings.

It also made it very easy to invest in other ERC20 tokens. You simply transfer ETH, paste the contract into your wallet and the new tokens will appear in your account so you can use them however you want.

Obviously, not all cryptocurrencies have ERC20 tokens that live on the Ethereum network, but pretty much any new blockchain-based project can start an initial coin offering.

The legal status of ICOs

When it comes to the legality of ICOs, it’s a bit of a jungle out there. In theory, tokens are sold as digital goods, not financial assets. Most jurisdictions have not yet regulated ICOs. Provided the founders have an experienced lawyer on their team, the entire process should be paperless.

Nonetheless, some jurisdictions have become aware of ICOs and are already working on regulating them in a manner similar to the sale of stocks and securities.

As early as December 2017, the US Securities and Exchange Commission classified ICO tokens as securities. In other words, the SEC was preparing to stop ICOs they consider misleading investors.

There are some cases where the token is just a utility token. This means that the owner can use it to easily access a specific network or protocol. In this case, they may not be able to be defined as financial security. Still, share tokens, the purpose of which is to increase value, come pretty close to the concept of security. To be honest, most token purchases are made specifically for investment purposes.

Despite the efforts of regulators, ICOs are still lingering in a gray area of ​​law and until clearer regulations are enforced, entrepreneurs will try to take advantage of Initial Coin Offerings.

It’s also worth noting that the cost and hassle of compliance could make ICOs less attractive compared to traditional funding options once the regulations are in a final form.

last words

Right now, ICOs remain an amazing way to fund new crypto-related projects, and there have been several successful projects with more to follow.

Remember, however, that everyone is launching ICOs these days and many of these projects are scams or lack the solid foundation they need to thrive and make the investment worthwhile. Because of this, you should definitely do a thorough research and examine the team and background of any crypto project that you might want to invest in. There are several websites that list ICOs. Just do a search on google and you will find some options.

[ad_2]

Source by Alexandra Vasiliu

Day trading: using stock breakouts to your advantage

[ad_1]

AN OUTBREAK is a technical analysis term used to describe the movement of a stock out of a set trading range as it moves away from that trading range as the pace increases – once either support or resistance is broken. Breakouts can happen in any time frame, and catching and riding one is one of the most fun and profitable trading styles out there.

Indeed, our day trading systems are [http://www.daytradeteam.com/dtt/daytrading.asp] use this method almost daily for profitable trades. For example, if a stock has traded in the $ 6 to $ 8 range for a month and is floating between those two levels, a move between $ 8 and $ 8.25 could mean a breakout. The same is true of the intraday movement, where a stock eventually falls below $ 50.45 after bouncing off that support level all day.

The first step in detecting a breakout is to determine the length of time you want to hold the position. Regardless of the length of time, use a graph at least five times as long (10 is preferable) to determine your support and resistance points. In other words, if you are looking for a 1 hour trade, look at the last 5-10 hours to see if you can find a range and solid support and resistance levels. When looking for a 5 day hold, keep an eye on the stock’s 25-50 day charts to see your key support and resistance levels.

The best way to explain this is always with examples, so look at a hypothetical scenario for DELL:

Let’s say in the past 2 days, DELL has seen significant SUPPORT (price where the stock continuously bounced) at 31.55-31.60. RESISTANCE (price at which the stock jumped consistently down) is around 32.10.

Knowing these numbers, we can DELL watch for signs of an OUTBREAK. Any move by DELL below the support level (less than 31.50) or above the resistance level (above 32.15) could indicate that the stock is breaking out on the next trading day. IMPORTANT: In breakout games, you’re playing IN THE SAME DIRECTION that the stock is moving – if it went down through the support, you should sell the stock short. If it went up through resistance, buy the stock. The breakout theory is that once the stock has moved through a significant level of support, it is an indication that buying the stock is slowing and that from that point the stock may accelerate downward very quickly. The opposite is the case with stocks that are moving up through resistance (selling subsides).

FAKEOUT: Of course, no trading style is 100% accurate. Often times, stocks move through a support or resistance level and then quickly pull back into the trading range. ONCE YOU ARE IN YOUR BREAKOUT POSITION, set a STOP-LOSS exactly on the other side of the support / resistance level you just broke. If the stock moves back below this level, the breakout has not occurred and there is no point in holding the position any longer.

OUTBREAKS ARE RARE: Remember, you can watch a stock for days without ever seeing a breakout. Real breakouts occur when a stock moves through a well-established support / resistance level in INCREASING VOLUME. To find breakouts effectively, it is important to browse lots of stocks and wait for your moment. DayteradeTeam scans thousands of stocks every hour looking for the one opportunity that can bring profit to all of our subscribers!

[ad_2]

Source by Andy Swan

10 Day Trading Tips to Become a Better Trader

[ad_1]

Warren Buffett once said: “The wallet is a device for transferring money from the impatient to patients”. This applies to both traders and investors. However, if you are a complete beginner there is always some room for improvement. We have listed below the 10 best day trading tips that successful traders will follow. Study and observe them carefully to improve your trading. In addition, you can also check out the best day trading tips and make money trading Indian stock markets online.

For this reason, beginners often seek advice from experts who have made a name for themselves in the industry. Read on to find out what you might need before venturing into this risky but ultimately rewarding industry.

1. Learn from a Professional Trader – Day Trading Tips

It is always better to learn how to trade from an expert before jumping straight into the sea. Try to find out who has a good teaching methodology and carefully choose the one that suits your style. Most coaches or masters will definitely charge a fee for the time saved. Do not worry! There is no charge. It’s called investment.

After all, you are a trader and one day when you make it big you may be approached and billed by newbies as well. Most importantly, when you invest in education, you are saving market tuition at the expense of your bank balance because you have to learn the lessons the hard way.

2. Pay attention to the financial news

Do you want to be the best trader? Keep a close eye on the world around you, especially business news. Stay up to date on companies embroiled in IP issues, failed FDA nicks, board reshuffles, international projects, and dismal earnings estimates for the quarter.

Any message related to the company you are investing in makes sense. Support your decision with this information. For a smarter trading decision, keep up to date with all the information about your preferred investment firm.

3. Did you find your niche? Ace it!

Nobody can guarantee you a blockbuster return. You make your own decisions and choices and learn from your mistakes. Only you know which strategies or niches worked for you and which didn’t. If you are genuinely keen to excel in day trading, you need to be in control of your business.

Once you find the niche that you want to work on, you’ll get really good at it. Master it and it will improve your chances of success in trading.

4. Treat it like a business!

Have a hobby? Track it elsewhere. Making money and day trading is serious business. You’re not doing it for fun, so before you even start trading, you have to come to terms with the fact that this is a serious, time-consuming business and that it will take time to break even. If you want to gamble, Las Vegas may have a better chance.

5. Follow the pros

Julius Caesar once said: “Experience is the teacher of all things”. Despite their level of training, trading experts have a lot to offer thanks to their experience.

Follow the moves of the pros and find out what they are investing in? When do you buy? When are you selling? How long do they last? Try to understand how profit is made. You can learn a lot from the mistakes you made and then use them to your advantage.

6. Have patience

Rome wasn’t built in a day. It takes time to master each skill and the same goes for stock trading. It can only bring you the best returns if you trade wisely. Researchers have shown that those who act less tend to earn better than those who act very often.

It’s like chasing after your prey and then striking when you have an absolute chance of success. Always remember that if you trade with average and not-so-good setups on good deals, you will lose and eventually crash your profits. Hence, one of the most important trading tips for a day is that quality matters over quantity.

7. Don’t be emotional and follow day trading tips

The world of trading demands that you keep a balanced mind and remember that if you let your emotions overwhelm you while trading, you will most likely lose your money. Emotions make you make irrational, impulsive decisions that should never happen.

Common mistakes such as B. That your losses get out of proportion, increase a losing position, not making timely payouts, etc. are made over and over again. People fall into the emotional trap and make ill-considered decisions. And while you can’t help but have them, learning how to control your emotions will go a long way in positioning you as a smart trader. Work on the emotional quotient and you will make smarter decisions.

8. Sharing is caring

Now that you have learned from your mistakes and from the mistakes of others, it is time to share them. You need to share the experience you had while trading. You can start a blog, YouTube channel, or other medium to get in touch. In addition, you can set up a comment section to answer questions from your visitors.

Not only will this help others, but it will surely keep you disciplined. This habit makes you more responsible and you might think twice before making a trade that you know you shouldn’t be making.

9. If there are no good games, don’t trade!

What? Don’t be shocked, this is no less of a handy tip than the rest. Sometimes it’s good not to trade. Acting out of pure facts is not a wise choice.

Only act if you see money on the floor or the offer is too lucrative to let go. Take your chance and remember that this is a highly dynamic world. So weigh all the possible benefits of moving against sitting back and speculating.

10. Have confidence

As obvious as it may sound, this is a key component of being a sophisticated trader. Whichever trading style you choose, you have to believe in yourself because if you don’t believe in your efforts or decisions, you will never become a winner. I may sound strange, but people don’t get good returns just because they can’t believe they will. This negative thinking leads to negative returns.

Notice! Successful traders were also amateurs and beginners when they started out. Their success is due to the hard work and effort they put into. Make mistakes and learn from them to keep trading until you start making profits.

As mentioned at the beginning, these trading tips shared daily can help you learn some key hacks to improve your game. Apply these carefully and you will be sure to move forward in your endeavors.

Good luck with your trading ventures! Don’t forget to like and share this post on your social networks.

[ad_2]

Source by Ratan Kumar

Stock Investing Guide: How To Choose The Right Stock Picker Advisor Program

[ad_1]

It’s no secret that investing in stocks (potentially) is one of the most profitable ways to build wealth – especially if you have enough time and patience to wait for a big return. Companies issue stocks to raise money and give individuals the opportunity to have legal ownership of that company. While there are “safer” and less risky investment options, such as depositing money into a certificate of deposit or a savings account, nothing is as profitable as successfully investing in the right stocks. To be successful, it is important that you have a good guide to investing in stocks.

Investment guides and ideas can come from a variety of locations. You can always just ask your friends and family what products and services they are primarily interested in and why they are so interested, and then check out the current trends. What products are so popular these days? Of course, that doesn’t mean that these products will last long. The fact that they are so popular also means that many other people are buying stocks too.

The smartest thing to do is to seek advice from real experts and professional traders who are highly experienced and know exactly what factors to look for when valuing certain stocks. Remember, the real, legitimate experts aren’t going to give their advice for free (and frankly why should they?) So spend some cash on a quality guide to investing in stocks.

What’s the Best Guide to Investing in Stocks?

How do you know which investment guide to pay for and which one could be a scam or just a waste of time? Read reviews and analysis of various newsletters and stock advisory programs to see which have regularly recommended recommendations that have generated high returns by investing in S&P. A company’s track record is particularly impressive when compared to mutual fund returns over the same time period.

You should not be expected to blindly subscribe to any particular program. There should be some sort of free trial or free, basic level of resources and advice to help you better qualify for investing in stocks. Then, when you have more confidence in yourself and the program, you may want to upgrade your account for better stock pick recommendations.

Where should you start with a guide to investing in stocks? After all the positive Motley Fool reviews out there, it’s definitely great service. You can get started with free information on current popular sectors, dividend stocks, growth stocks, market moves, and more.

[ad_2]

Source by George Botwin