How to Increase Your Retirement Savings with IRA

Most people or investors like tax-deferred retirement account such as 401(k) plan. They can set up automatic payroll deductions at the companies for financial investment; most of the companies also offer matching contributions. Some companies may provide 50% match up to the first 6%, and some may offer 100% match up to the first 10%, etc.

With higher costs in healthcare and portfolio lowered due to economy, these plans alone may not be enough for their retirement. According to recent studies, future retiree may need 80% of their pre-retirement income per year to maintain current standard of living. To increase their retirement income, it is advisable to add additional saving plans with individual retirement accounts or IRAs.

IRA Types

There two main types of individual retirement accounts such as traditional IRA and Roth IRA. Both may have each own benefits and disadvantages. Traditional IRA permits retirement contributions to grow tax-deferred until it was withdrawn. This may increase their growth potential. Investors may claim income tax deduction on their IRA contributions.

On the other hand, Roth IRA offers tax-free growth because the contributions are done with already-taxed income. There is no income tax deduction, but contributions (minus earnings) can be withdrawn without tax or penalty. It is popular for investors for college or education and retirement saving.

The eligibility to contribute to an IRA phases out above certain income level. Please check with IRS or
your financial advisor for details about the eligibility. The current annual limit per Internal Revenue Services on total IRA contributions as of 2013 is $5,500 ($6,500 for anyone 50 or older currently).

As you probably know, there is also a limit to invest in your 401(k) plan. Using IRA, you may increase your retirement saving for your future income. Currently the contribution limit to a tax deferred retirement plan is $17,500 per year. If you have reached the limit for your 401(k) contribution, investing in Roth IRA or traditional IRA is not a bad idea after all.

Top Retirement Income Funds

Some of these best funds are suitable for your investments in your retirement account:

• PIMCO Total Return Fund (PTTDX)
• Vanguard Total Stock Market Index Fund (VTSMX)
• DoubleLine Total Return Bond Fund (DLTNX)
• Vanguard Target Retirement 2015 Fund (VTXVX)
• Dodge & Cox International Stock Fund (DODFX)
• Vanguard Wellington Fund (VWENX)

Best Brokerage to Invest

Choosing a brokerage for individual retirement account (IRA) is another challenging topic. I have listed the following top fund brokers for your selection. These online brokerages are suitable for your traditional IRA or Roth IRA.

If you want to invest for your retirement account, you can choose online or discount brokerage. Some of these brokerages are:

• Vanguard – It provides wide selection of investment funds including index fund
• Fidelity – It provides financial services and top fund picks, you can trade stocks or bonds
• Charles Schwab – There is no maintenance fee, you can choose low cost Schwab funds
• Scottrade – There is low initial balance requirement, only $500 to start. There are wide selection of funds to choose from.

WisdomTree ETFs Ad: Future of Dividend Growth Funds

Find Introducing: The Future of Dividend Growth, a WisdomTree advertisement about ETF Fund in Barron’s financial newspaper. Find the ETF fund review for your long term investing or financial account.

New ETF Ad

Source: Barron's

Recently, WisdomTree advertises in Barron’s financial magazine about “The Future of Dividend Growth”. You can find this advertisement on Page M52 of Barron’s on September 9th, 2013. They provide diversified selection of dividend ETF funds including large cap fund, small cap fund, and international stocks, etc.

Some of these funds may be suitable for your brokerage account or retirement account (Roths IRA / traditional IRA). Prudent investment strategy is needed especially for long term investment. Check the fund risk and fund performance below as well.

The advertisement is as follows:

Introducing: The Future of Dividend Growth

• DGRW - U.S. Dividend Growth Fund

• DGRS - U.S. SmallCap Dividend Growth Fund

• DGRE - Emerging Markets Dividend Growth Fund

• DNL - Global ex-U.S. Growth Fund

Top High Yield Stock Closed End Funds for 2014 Investment

Top high yield stock closed end funds for investment in 2014, best income stock CEF funds. These CEF funds provide high income and growth for investors. You can buy this investment funds from your brokerages.

Best Stock Closed End Funds

Stock closed end funds are not as popular as bond closed end funds. However if you seek growth and income, stock closed end funds are the right choice. Stock CEF funds are traded like stock or stock ETFs. They are categorizes into 2 main categories: U.S. stock fund and International stock fund. From these major categories, CEF funds are divided such as preferred stock fund, value stock fund, growth stock fund, global stock fund, emerging markets stock fund, covered call fund, real estate sector fund, etc.

These top high yield stock closed end funds are selected based on its potential for income growth and capital appreciation. These stock funds are among the best performer fund for the past 5 years in its category. You will find the fund review below. These funds are great for investment during this year, 2013 as well.

Top High Yield Closed End Funds for 2014 are:

1. John Hancock Tax-Advantaged Dividend Income Fund (HTD)
2. Delaware Enhanced Global Dividend & Income Fund (DEX)
3. Cohen & Steers REIT and Preferred Income Fund (RNP)

Updated on September 19, 2013

Cullen Funds Ad: Be a Long Term Investors

Be a Long Term Investors, a Cullen Funds ad review. Find the fund review of each fund described in this advertisement in Barron’s financial newspaper.

Fund Ad

Source: Barron's

Cullen Funds advertised a half page details about some of their funds. You can find the ads on Page 6 of Barron’s The Dow Jones Business and Financial Weekly on September 9th 2013. They provide diversified selection of funds including large value fund, mid cap fund, and international stock mutual fund. I have provided a review of each fund.

Some of these funds may be suitable for your brokerage account or retirement account. Prudent investment strategy is needed especially for long term investment. Check the fund risk and fund performance below as well.

The ad is as follows:

Cullen Funds

At the end of the day, the message is clear. Be disciplined about price, don’t overreact to headline news and be a long-term investor” Jim Cullen, Chairman & CEO

• Cullen High Dividend Equity Fund (CHDEX)

• Cullen Value Fund (CVLEX)

• Cullen Small Cap Value Fund (CUSIX)

• Cullen International High Dividend Fund (CIHDX)

• Cullen Emerging Markets High Dividend Fund (CEMDX)

Risks: Mutual fund investing involves risk. Principal loss is possible. The funds invests in foreign securities, which involve greater volatility and political, economic and currency risks and differences in accounting methods. The CVLEX, CUSIX invest in small- and medium-capitalization companies, which involve additional risks such as limited liquidity and greater volatility.

DFA Five-Year Global Fixed-Income Fund (DFGBX)

DFA Five-Year Global Fixed-Income Fund (DFGBX), top world bond mutual fund. It invests mainly in fixed income around the world including government and corporation debts.

DFA Bond Mutual Fund

The DFA Five-Year Global Fixed-Income Fund objective is to achieve a market rate of return for a fixed income portfolio with low relative volatility of returns. The mutual fund utilizes its assets to purchase a diverse portfolio of U.S. and foreign debt securities maturing in five years or less.

This bond fund invests in obligations issued or guaranteed by the U.S. and foreign governments, their agencies and instrumentalities, corporate debt obligations, bank obligations, commercial paper, repurchase agreements, obligations of other domestic and foreign issuers, securities of domestic or foreign issuers denominated in U.S. dollars but not trading in the United States, and obligations of supranational organizations.

DFA Five-Year Global Fixed-Income Fund Details

• Fund Inception Date: 11/5/1990
• Ticker Symbol: DFGBX
• CUSIP: 233-203-884
• Beta (3yr): 0.79
• Rank in category (YTD): 11%
• Category: World Bond
• Distribution: 1.55%
• Capital Gains: 0%
• Expense Ratio: 0.28%
• Net Assets: $ 7.4 billion
• Number of Years Up: 21 years
• Number of Years Down: 1 year
• Average Duration: 4.05 years
• Average Maturity: 3.85 years
• Annual Turnover Rate: 58%

Updated on September 3, 2013

Top Lowest Cost Asset Allocation Mutual Funds 2014

Top lowest cost asset allocation mutual funds 2014; best cheap balanced mutual funds for investment. The top mutual funds are: Schwab Target 2020 fund, T. Rowe Price Retirement 2005 fund, Vanguard Target Retirement 2015, etc.

Asset Allocation Funds

Asset allocation mutual fund or balanced mutual fund invests mainly in a diversified portfolio of bonds, stocks and short term investment or cash. Depending upon its objective, it may invest more in stocks or more in bonds. Some funds may be more conservative or moderate than others funds.

These balanced mutual funds are popular among retiree or investors near retirement. You can invest in your brokerage account, retirement account, and 401(k) account. For your retirement account, you can invest in your Roth IRA and traditional IRA. You can invest with as little as $500 initially.

Best Mutual Funds

These lowest cost five star asset allocation mutual funds are sorted based on its expense ratio and top ranked. These best mutual funds may provide capital appreciation and income for investors.

Top lowest cost asset allocation mutual funds 2014 are:

1. Schwab Target 2020 (SWCRX)
2. Schwab Target 2025 (SWHRX)
3. Schwab Target 2030 (SWDRX)
4. Schwab Target 2035 (SWIRX)
5. Schwab Target 2040 (SWERX)
6. GMO Strategic Opportunities Allocation III (GBATX)
7. T. Rowe Price Retirement 2005 (TRRFX)
8. T. Rowe Price Retirement 2055 (TRRNX)
9. Vanguard Target Retirement 2015 Investor (VTXVX)
10. TIAA-CREF Lifecycle Index 2010 Institutional (TLTIX)

Invesco Mutual Fund Ad: Intentional Investing in the Age of Income

Find intentional investing in the age of income, an Invesco investment advertisement about mutual fund. Check the income producing mutual funds review for your financial choice in your retirement or brokerage account.

Top Income Funds by Invesco

Source: Barron's

Invesco advertises one page financial ads about “Age of Income” at Barron’s financial newspaper on September 2, 2013. It chooses three 4-stars mutual funds for target. You will find each fund review below.

Invesco has selected difference assets classes for investors to choose. It consists of equity mutual fund, alternative mutual fund, and bond mutual fund. These funds do have high yield for income and potential capital growth. Want to know my review, please check below.

While the ads is impressive, how should you approach your long term investment?

The ads contents are:

Income opportunities across asset classes:

• Equities: Invesco Diversified Dividend Fund (LCEAX)
• Alternatives: Invesco Global Real Estate Income Fund (ASRAX)
• Fixed Income: Invesco High Yield Municipal Fund (ACTHX)

Overall Morningstar Rating based on risk-adjusted returns as of June 30, 2103, and derived from a weighted average of the performance figures associated with its 3-, 5-, and 10-year rating metrics. Past performance does not guarantee future results. 

You don’t just need income. You need the right income. Look to Invesco.

To learn more about Invesco’s income products, visit invesco.com/IncomeStars or contact your financial advisor or Invesco representative today.

Fund Review