THE
Egg
The Truth About Reverse Mortgages
Diving Deep and Finding the Best Option for Your Portfolio
In my experience, the stigma around reverse mortgages is unwarranted. While it can be somewhat ill-advised to play fast and loose with your finances, you’ll find that a reverse mortgage can help turn your financial tides in the right direction. The truth about reverse mortgages is much more comforting than you may imagine, especially if you’re getting toward the age of retirement. The fact of the matter is these helpful financial tools have been around since their
Here’s another important tidbit: If you can do a reverse mortgage and live off that money tax-free — which could end up being several hundred thousand dollars — your Social Security benefits may increase. Many people don’t realize that if you don’t take your
“Simply put, your best years are still ahead of you.”
Social Security benefits past the age of 66 (for those born between 1946 and 1954), the government will raise them by 8% every year, stopping at age 70! So, live off that mortgage and let your Social Security benefits keep stacking up. It’s an income bridge of sorts while you let these benefits grow. Not to be forgotten, let’s say that the market crashes, which tends to happen more than we’d like. Then you may want to take out a reverse mortgage to invest in the market for when it finally turns around. We have been shown time and time again that the market always comes back strong after a big fall. This provides the possibility of greater returns for your retirement portfolio. Like anything in retirement, there are a lot of moving parts. You should always meet with a trusted financial advisor and look at all the options and potential impacts they’ll have on your retirement income and taxation. There are over 55,000 reverse mortgages in the United States, with an average of $191,793 in principal limits and an average 4.6% interest rate.
inception in the early 1960s and have been backed by the U.S. government since the late 1980s. They are meant to help our nation’s aging population have a better, safer source of income once they hit the age of 62. Simply put, your best years are still ahead of you. Basically, a reverse mortgage lets you take equity out of your home. There are no payments, and you don’t have to pay it back until the last spouse leaves the home. As if that wasn’t enough, it’s all tax free by the IRS because it’s considered a loan. If you strictly get your news from the perilous edges of the internet, you’ll find out that a lot of articles only focus on the expense of a reverse mortgage, but nothing is that black and white in the tax world. If you start looking at how these mortgages affect other things, then everything starts making more sense. For example, if you focus on just the tax bill of a Roth conversion, you might miss the big picture. Many clients come to me and explain why they think that a Roth conversion doesn’t make sense for them because they’re too old for it to have any real effect. This couldn’t be further from the truth. Roth IRAs provide tax-free income, and what other financial advisors don’t realize is that if you have too much taxable income, then you could pay taxes on up to 85% of your Social Security benefit. There are a number of factors that need to be factored in to decide if you should convert or not.
That comes out to be $10.6 billion in financing every year. To find out if this is the right option for you, contact your friends at Bridgeriver Advisors. Give us a call at 248.785.3734 or visit our website anytime at BridgeriverLLC.com.
-Dan Casey
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WILL DISNEY+ GET YOUR KIDS TO STOP WATCHING UNBOXING VIDEOS?
Ever since Netflix changed the way we consume movies and TV shows at home, studios have been locked in a streaming war. Amazon Prime and Hulu shook
classics alongside original movies, including a Christmas movie starring Anna Kendrick.
New isn’t always better, which is why Disney+ will also house decades’ worth of classic content. Every single movie in the Disney catalog will be available on the service, from “Snow White and the Seven Dwarves” to “Frozen 2.” All “Star Wars” movies and Marvel movies will also become available along with over 5,000 episodes of old Disney Channel shows. Is Disney+ Worth It? That depends entirely on your family. If you don’t care for Disney, don’t waste your money. However, if you share a soft spot for classic Disney movies, enjoy new Marvel content, or secretly long to rewatch every episode of “Kim Possible,” Disney+ might be the streaming service you’ve been waiting for.
up the scene, along with more niche services like CBS All Access, DC Universe, and Crunchyroll. Is there room for one more? Disney seems to think so, and their new service is shaping up to be the king of streaming. What is Disney+? Disney has always prided itself on its family-friendly brand. This is the first major perk of their new streaming service, Disney+. There will be no R-rated films or TV-MA television shows anywhere on the platform. This is a great relief for parents who have had to deal with their kids accidentally navigating away from “Peppa Pig” videos on YouTube and finding more adult content. Keep in mind that “family-friendly” doesn’t mean limited. Disney+ boasts a massive offering of original content, such as the live-action “Star Wars” series “The Mandalorian” and “Loki,” a show starring everyone’s favorite trickster god. There will also be live-action remakes of Disney animated There’s nothing like taking a dip in a nearby pond, lake, or even the ocean. For many, it’s a summertime tradition. However, swimming in open bodies of water brings certain safety risks, as these environments are not nearly as controlled as public, club, or backyard pools. Everyone should follow these tips to have a fun and safe time cooling off under the summer sun. Never swim alone. When you swim in virtually any body of water, having someone there to keep an eye on you can be a lifesaver: the more people, the better. Stick to bodies of water with a professional lifeguard on duty when possible, though that’s not always an option. When swimming in open bodies of water, have a “designated spotter” to keep an eye on the swimmers. This way, you’re prepared if anything bad happens. It’s also a great idea to keep flotation devices nearby, such as life jackets, life rings, foam boards, etc. Know what you’re getting into. Sometimes, it’s next to impossible to see what’s under the surface of the water. If you are unfamiliar with a body of water, don’t jump or dive in without knowing how deep it is. If you cannot confirm what is under the surface (and the spot is not a known diving location), don’t risk it. It may be okay to swim or wade, but jumping is out of the
Disney+ launches in the United States on Nov. 12, 2019. Visit Preview. DisneyPlus.com to get notifications. Happy binge-watching!
SUMMER SWIMMING SAFETY
question. Along these same lines, be VERY careful around bodies of slow-moving or standing water. These can house dangerous microbes and other contaminants that can make you ill and potentially be deadly. Watch for rip currents. These can occur at any beach without warning. They pull swimmers away from shore and are strong enough that even excellent swimmers struggle to get through them. In fact, rip currents are behind nearly 80% of beach rescues. Keep an eye on the foam at the surface of the water. If it seems to suddenly pull away
from the beach, there’s a good chance a rip current is lurking beneath. If you find yourself in a rip current, it’s crucial to remain calm and avoid expending energy by swimming directly back to shore. Instead, try swimming parallel to the shore until you’re out of the current.
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Amid the devastation of the wildfires that tore through California in the fall of 2017, a few heroic tales rose up to give people hope. One such tale was of Odin, a loyal Great Pyrenees guard dog. Along with his sister, Tessa, and eight rescue goats, Odin is part of the Hendel family. It was mid-October when the Hendels were awoken by the smell of smoke, a fierce orange sky, and sounds of destruction — urgent warnings from Mother Nature. Gathering everyone as quickly as they could, the Hendels got their human family members and Tessa in the car, but Odin, seated proudly next to the eight goats, refused to get in. Try as they might, the Hendels could not get him to come with them, and there wasn’t enough room in the car for the eight goats. With the firestorm quickly approaching and the risk of losing even more family members increasing with each passing minute, the Hendels made the heart-wrenching decision to leave Odin and the goats behind. The family made it to safety with Tessa in tow, relieved to be together but heartbroken that Odin and the goats weren’t with them. After
several agonizing days, it was finally safe enough for them to return home and survey the destruction.
What did the Hendels find? Ashes, rubble, their barn and home burned to the ground — and Odin. There he was, still guarding his eight goats and some small deer that had sought shelter with the brave canine. Weakened, burned, and limping, but nevertheless steadfast, Odin had never left his goats, even as the fire raged around them. Odin wagged his tail as he saw his family, happy to see they were also safe. temporary shelter for the goats and pups while the Hendels rebuilt their barn. Odin received all the care he needed, along with a lot of love and treats. Today, Odin and his goats are back with their family, rebuilding their lives after this devastating wildfire. But the Hendels, and anyone who’s heard the story, won’t soon forget the bravery of Odin, the amazing pup. The Sonoma County Wildlife Rescue and the Goatlandia Animal Sanctuary provided
THE GUARDIAN WHO WOULD
NOT LEAVE HIS WATCH
SUDOKU
Juicy Lucy Sliders
Inspired by Bon Appétit Magazine.
Ingredients
• •
2 lbs. ground chuck beef, 20% lean 8 slices melting cheese (like American, Swiss, Muenster, or cheddar)
• •
Salt and pepper, to taste
Your favorite burger accompaniments
•
16 small potato rolls, toasted
Directions
1. Divide beef into 16 evenly sized balls. 2. Rip cheese into roughly equal pieces, creating 16 equal portions. 3. Using your index finger, create a small indentation in each ball. 4. Fill indention with cheese and pinch meat around to seal. Then gently form balls into 3/4-inch-thick patties. Season patties.
5. Meanwhile, heat a cast-iron skillet to medium-high. 6. Lightly coat skillet with oil and cook patties in batches. Brown one side undisturbed, about 3 minutes. Carefully flip and cook until desired doneness, about 3 minutes for medium. 7. Serve on toasted potato rolls with your favorite accompaniments.
Solution
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74 WEST LONG LAKE, STE.203 BLOOMFIELD HILLS, MI 48304
248.785.3734 WWW.BRIDGERIVERLLC.COM
INSIDE This Issue A Look at Reverse Mortgages
Disney Enters the Streaming War
3 Things Everyone Needs to Know Before Swimming in Open Water
A Tail of Bravery
Juicy Lucy Sliders
The Madden Curse
There is no urban legend in the world of modern video games as well-documented as the so-called “Madden Curse.” The curse revolves around the highly sought-after cover spot of the popular NFL video game “Madden NFL,” formerly known as “John Madden Football.” While the games date back to 1988, the curse is said to originate with the 1999 version. Garrison Hearst, a popular running back at the time, broke his ankle shortly after being featured on the cover of the 1999 edition. This was the first in a long line of injuries and personal issues that resulted in the rumor gaining traction. Soon, the idea that the game’s seemingly innocent cover could have devastating effects on a player’s career was widespread. Once a substantial honor in the world of football, the Madden cover spot has become one of the sport’s most feared superstitions for fans. The players, however, seem to find the correlation more amusing than scary. Most of the athletes in contention for the spot still consider it to be a great honor, choosing to brush off the rumors as
coincidence. Despite the ambivalence of many players, there does seem to be a correlation between the cover and player issues. Of the 22 players who have been featured on the cover, 16 of them have suffered from significant issues in the season that followed. While the causes varied, with severe injuries, contract disputes, and personal issues all afflicting different players, something about the spotlight appears to have disturbed the powers that be. In fact, sometimes these issues occur shortly after the game is released in stores. Whatever the true cause, the curse seems to have taken a dip in recent years. Only one of the last five players has been affected, a stat that bodes well for this year’s star: Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes. The real answer probably lies somewhere between fact and fiction. The increased pressure of national attention is bound to make players tense up every once in a while, and in a game as physical as football, any distraction can end in disaster.
On the Trail of the Madden Curse
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