8 ways women can improve their retirement security: Retirement Scan

Our daily roundup of retirement news your clients may be thinking about.

8 ways women can improve their retirement security
Women should boost their savings rate and invest their windfall to increase their odds of having a secure retirement, according to this article on MarketWatch. They should also get professional advice when making investing decisions and make the most of the benefits offered by their employer. They should avoid getting intimidated by industry jargon and cashing out their retirement plans. Since women will live longer than men, they should make retirement decisions based on a longer time horizon and understand Social Security rules to make the most of their retirement and possibly spousal benefits. –MarketWatch

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The benefit of donating your required IRA distributions to charity
Lawmakers have made permanent the rules that allow retirees to make qualified charitable distributions from their IRA to their chosen charity, according to this article on The Wall Street Journal. By making a QCD, retirees will no longer need to take required minimum distribution from their IRA first before donating the funds to their favorite charity. While retirees who make a QCD don't need to claim a tax deduction for the donation, they are no longer required to include the distribution in their taxable income on their returns. To qualify for a QCD, retirees should transfer the money directly from their IRA to charity and they have reached the age of 70 1/2 by the time they make the distribution. –The Wall Street Journal

5 huge Roth IRA advantages you need to know
Roth IRA investors get the advantage of having a source of nontaxable income after they retire, according to this article on Motley Fool. They may also continue making contributions even in retirement and will not be compelled to take required minimum distributions when they turn 70 1/2. Investors can take distribution from the account without paying any tax and penalty, but are barred from tapping into the account within five years since the contribution has been made. –Motley Fool

Brexit, and how to score in your 'retirement red zone'
Investors who are to retire in the next five to 10 years are in a "retirement red zone" and should develop a plan that excludes the market to prevent world events like the U.K's vote to exit the European Union from harming their retirement portfolio, according to this article on CNBC. The plan should make their investment portfolio broadly diversified, include tax reduction strategies and maximize Social Security retirement benefits. Investors should minimize their risk exposure by reducing their stock allocation and boosting their bond investments as they approach retirement. –CNBC

Ask Larry: How should we file under the new law?
A 59-year-old husband who is nearly five years younger than his wife can maximize Social Security benefits by taking his own retirement benefit at age 62, according to this article on Forbes. By claiming at 62, the husband will enable his wife to take her spousal benefit on his record at age 67 and start collecting her own retirement benefit when she turns 70. The husband can suspend his retirement benefit when he reaches his full retirement age and then resume the benefits when he turns 70. –Forbes

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