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SEC Proposes Improved Information for Annuity and Life Insurance Contracts

However, there is still time for the proposals to be altered as the SEC is asking investors for feedback, just as it did prior to 2009 when it moved to give investors in mutual funds more exhaustive prospectuses as well as access to online information regarding contracts. The feedback process will end in February 2019.

“This proposal is another important step in the Commission’s efforts to provide Main Street investors with better information to make informed investment decisions” commented SEC chairman Jay Clayton in a press release.

“I have participated in many roundtables with retail investors over the last several months, and investors have emphasized their preference for clear and concise disclosure.

“Providing key summary information about variable annuities and variable life insurance contracts to investors is particularly important in light of the long-term nature of these contracts and their potential complexity,” Clayton added.

The move towards improved information and transparency in relation to variable annuity and life insurance contracts is undoubtedly good news for retirement savers, as these are popular products that form an essential part of countless retirement investment portfolios.

Making your money work for you, wherever you are

Blacktower is committed to helping its clients reach their retirement goals.

Our US office has particular expertise in planning and managing the wealth of foreign nationals and dual citizens in the US. Our expertise is especially useful in helping devise retirement plans that work towards the best possible tax efficiency for all of the following vehicles:

  • IRAs
  • 401ks
  • 403b
  • Defined benefit plans

Ensuring you have the right retirement plan in place requires the right strategy, patience, time, knowledge and expertise.

Blacktower (US) LLC can help you optimise the efficiency of your retirement and pension plans, while also ensuring compliance with the rules of the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). Contact us today for more information.

This communication is for informational purposes only and is not intended to constitute, and should not be construed as, investment advice, investment recommendations or investment research. You should seek advice from a professional adviser before embarking on any financial planning activity. Whilst every effort has been made to ensure the information contained in this communication is correct, we are not responsible for any errors or omissions.

Investment advice and investment advisory services offered and provided through Blacktower Financial Management US, LLC. This communication is for informational purposes only based on our understanding of current legislation and practices which are subject to change and are not intended to constitute, and should not be construed as, investment advice, tax advice, tax recommendations, investment recommendations or investment research. You should seek advice from a professional before embarking on any financial planning activity. Whilst every effort has been made to ensure the information contained in this communication is correct, we are not responsible for any errors or omissions.

Other News

Move Abroad for Your Retirement?

Retirement planning for most is about ensuring that we are safe, secure, happy and, hopefully, free of financial worries in our later years, while for some it is also about providing a legacy for heirs, whether family, friends or charity.

But in the United States achieving these goals is notoriously difficult. Not only do US citizens have to worry about the cost of healthcare, they also have to deal with a demanding Internal Revenue Service that can sometimes seem to undermine their goals.

It’s little wonder then that many of the most enterprising and adventurous Americans choose to retire abroad. Not only can such a move be a rewarding new chapter in people’s lives, it can also offer practical financial benefit – for example, access to free or affordable healthcare and a wealth of investment opportunity, especially in regard to pensions. It can also improve health in other ways as countries like Spain, Portugal, Italy, Japan and the Nordic and West African nations all have national diets that are proven to be very healthy – by contrast the US ranks last among industrialised nations in terms of the healthiness of its diet.

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Retirement Planning for Long-Term Care

One of the fundamental mistakes people make when planning for retirement in the US is to underestimate the possibility of developing a long-term chronic health condition and the impact that such an occurrence is likely to have on their spending power.

Yet the truth is that because we are living longer than ever before we are also more likely to need some form of help with the basics of day-to-day existence. Quite simply, whether by illness, accident, physical debilitation or mental decline, incapacitation and the consequent need for long-term care can happen to anyone.

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