It makes me feel that those who are on target to hit 1million or more dollars for retirement are going to be severely penalized with taxes and less in SS benefits. The politicians will have cover to do this since the majority of their constituents are represented in the numbers above. Scary.

SS doesn't figure prominently into my retirement planning much since who knows how much I'll get (or what's in the SS fund!) when I reach that age ... as such, whatever I might get when I do retire will be an 'extra' and be appreciated at the time.
But looking @ this chart it's pretty staggering. Shocking, even.

Thank you msf. I have access to TIAA-CREF 3.0% SVF but requires a separate Supplemental Retirement Account to be established above and beyond the Retirement Account contributions.

I stand corrected. Read somewhere that they were for retirement accounts. Assumed that would include IRA. Wrong again.
Derf

Hi Guys,
You all probably realize that I'm a big fan of Monte Carlo simulations when making financial decisions. Monte Carlo methods were specifically developed to address uncertainties and that's in the wheelhouse of investment decision making.
That was why I posted the Link to MoneyChimp. There are plenty of free Monte Carlo simulators available on the Internet. I selected the MoneyChimp offering because of its simplicity in inputs. But it is limited.
Upon further thought, I concluded that I could make a better suggestion with just a little more demanding input, but definity a more flexible planning tool. In fact the code is called The Flexible Retirement Planner. Here is a Link to it:
http://www.flexibleretirementplanner.com/wp/
Please give it a fair try. What-.if, sensitivity explorations are easy and fast. Sorry that I did not include this option earlier. Good luck to all.
Best Wishes.

See stablevalue.org, especially: why I can't find a stable value option for my IRA:
http://stablevalue.org/knowledge/faqs/question/why-cant-i-find-a-stable-value-investment-option-for-my-ira
Fund sponsors tried a decade or two ago to offer retail stable value funds and couldn't make them work.
In a broad sense, these are investment pools that buy fixed income investments guaranteed by insurers. They may be GICs issued directly by insurers, synthetic GICs, or some variant.
http://www.lmstrategies.com/types~2.html
Insurers may offer settlement accounts (like GICs, subject to the ability of the insuer to pay), or fixed annuities, both of which have a SV feel to them.
If you had gotten a TIAA IRA before 2010, the traditional annuity option would be paying 3%. (They pay only 1% on newer IRAs). IMHO that was one of the best deals going.
http://www1.tiaa-cref.org/public/fyi/performance/retirement/traditional/
The Bartelle fund is for employer plans (401(k), etc.):
https://www.bogleheads.org/forum/viewtopic.php?t=121341
"The fund is not a mutual fund. It is a separately managed investment fund available only to tax-qualified plans and their eligible participants."
https://retirementplans.vanguard.com/pe/pdfs/F4791.pdf?cbdForceDomain=false

The dream has not come true yet. The DOL Rule applies only to retirement accounts and does not include personal, joint, trust, and other non-retirement assets. But it is a start, not enough by any means, but enough to cause the banks, insurance companies, and many B/Ds to try to overturn the new rule. Even in the dumbed-down version that was issued, it is wreaking havoc in the commission-sales people.

FYI: On April 6, 2016, the U.S. Department of Labor established a federal standard of fiduciary duty that requires investment advisers and brokers who give advice to clients holding retirement plans to place the interests of investors before their own interests. One of the many press reports on the rule headlined its story: “Finally, John Bogle's dream of a fiduciary standard will come true.”
Regards,
Ted
http://www.investmentnews.com/article/20160915/FREE/160919972?template=printart

Sven....what's been your overall assessment of this shift in your taxable portfolio?
I ask because I'm thinking about a similar approach. In my first year of retirement, I'm considering the distributions as the next year's paycheck from this account, but that may not be the most prudent way to consider the transaction.

Short Press Release from Wasatch
Wasatch International Opportunities Fund to Close to New Investors on September 29, 2016
(September 08, 2016)
Salt Lake City, Utah, September 8, 2016—Effective at the end of market trading (4:00 p.m. EST) on September 29, 2016, the Wasatch International Opportunities Fund (WAIOX/WIIOX) will be closed to new purchases, except purchases by new shareholders purchasing directly from Wasatch Funds, existing shareholders, and current and future clients purchasing through financial advisors and retirement plans with an established position in the Fund.
“Wasatch takes fund capacity seriously and, given the international micro-cap focus of the International Opportunities Fund, we believe that this step will protect the integrity of our investment process,” said Gene Podsiadlo, Director of Mutual Funds.
Contact Information:
Jody Lowe: 414.322.9311 / [email protected]
Steve Rung: 801.415.5523 / [email protected]
https://secure.wasatchfunds.com/News/Article.aspx?a=WAIOX Close 2016
Total Assets:
(All Classes) $654.0 (million) as of 09/08/16
https://secure.wasatchfunds.com/Our-Funds/Overview.aspx?fund=WAIOX

https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/806633/000119312516704743/d254531d497.htm
497 1 d254531d497.htm WASATCH FUNDS TRUST
WASATCH FUNDS TRUST
Supplement dated September 8, 2016 to the
Prospectus dated January 31, 2016 and
Statement of Additional Information dated January 31, 2016, as amended and restated on July 8, 2016
Investor Class
Wasatch Core Growth Fund® - Investor Class (WGROX)
Wasatch Emerging India Fund® - Investor Class (WAINX)
Wasatch Emerging Markets Select Fund® - Investor Class (WAESX)
Wasatch Emerging Markets Small Cap Fund® - Investor Class (WAEMX)
Wasatch Frontier Emerging Small Countries Fund® - Investor Class (WAFMX)
Wasatch Global Opportunities Fund® - Investor Class (WAGOX)
Wasatch International Growth Fund® - Investor Class (WAIGX)
Wasatch International Opportunities Fund® - Investor Class (WAIOX)
Wasatch Large Cap Value Fund® - Investor Class (FMIEX)
Wasatch Long/Short Fund® - Investor Class (FMLSX)
Wasatch Micro Cap Fund® - Investor Class (WMICX)
Wasatch Micro Cap Value Fund® - Investor Class (WAMVX)
Wasatch Small Cap Growth Fund® - Investor Class (WAAEX)
Wasatch Small Cap Value Fund® - Investor Class (WMCVX)
Wasatch Strategic Income Fund® - Investor Class (WASIX)
Wasatch Ultra Growth Fund® - Investor Class (WAMCX)
Wasatch World Innovators Fund® - Investor Class (WAGTX)
Wasatch–1st Source Income Fund® - Investor Class (FMEQX)
Wasatch-Hoisington U.S. Treasury Fund® - Investor Class (WHOSX)
This Supplement updates certain information contained in the Wasatch Funds Prospectus dated January 31, 2016 and Statement of Additional Information dated January 31, 2016, as amended and restated on July 8, 2016 for Investor Class shares. You should retain this Supplement, the Prospectus and Statement of Additional Information for future reference. Additional copies of the Prospectus and Statement of Additional Information may be obtained free of charge by visiting our web site at www.WasatchFunds.com or calling us at 800.551.1700.
Effective at the close of market on September 29, 2016, the Wasatch International Opportunities Fund (WAIOX) will be closed to new purchases, except purchases by new shareholders purchasing directly from Wasatch Funds, existing shareholders, and current and future clients purchasing through financial advisors and retirement plans with an established position in the Fund.
As described in more detail in the Statement of Additional Information, the Advisor retains the right to make exceptions to any action taken to close a Fund or limit inflows into a Fund.
PLEASE RETAIN THIS SUPPLEMENT FOR FUTURE REFERENCE
_________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
WASATCH FUNDS TRUST
Supplement dated September 8, 2016 to the
Prospectus dated January 31, 2016 and
Statement of Additional Information dated January 31, 2016, as amended and restated on July 8, 2016
Institutional Class
Wasatch Core Growth Fund® - Institutional Class (WIGRX)
Wasatch Emerging India Fund ® - Institutional Class (WIINX)
Wasatch Emerging Markets Select Fund® - Institutional Class (WIESX)
Wasatch Emerging Markets Small Cap Fund® - Institutional Class (WIEMX)
Wasatch Frontier Emerging Small Countries Fund® - Institutional Class (WIFMX)
Wasatch Global Opportunities Fund® - Institutional Class (WIGOX)
Wasatch International Growth Fund® - Institutional Class (WIIGX)
Wasatch International Opportunities Fund® - Institutional Class (WIIOX)
Wasatch Large Cap Value Fund® - Institutional Class (WILCX)
Wasatch Long/Short Fund® - Institutional Class (WILSX)
Wasatch Small Cap Growth Fund® - Institutional Class (WIAEX)
Wasatch Small Cap Value Fund® - Institutional Class (WICVX)
Wasatch World Innovators Fund® - Institutional Class (WIGTX)
This Supplement updates certain information contained in the Wasatch Funds Prospectus dated January 31, 2016 and Statement of Additional Information dated January 31, 2016, as amended and restated on July 8, 2016 for Institutional Class shares. You should retain this Supplement, the Prospectus and Statement of Additional Information for future reference. Additional copies of the Prospectus and Statement of Additional Information may be obtained free of charge by visiting our web site at www.WasatchFunds.com or calling us at 800.551.1700.
Effective at the close of market on September 29, 2016, the Wasatch International Opportunities Fund (WIIOX) will be closed to new purchases, except purchases by new shareholders purchasing directly from Wasatch Funds, existing shareholders, and current and future clients purchasing through financial advisors and retirement plans with an established position in the Fund.
As described in more detail in the Statement of Additional Information, the Advisor retains the right to make exceptions to any action taken to close a Fund or limit inflows into a Fund.
PLEASE RETAIN THIS SUPPLEMENT FOR FUTURE REFERENCE

Seems like the to time to be "steering" investors towards indexing, passive, and ultra diversification is when markets have been through a reasonable decline. Not at a time when:
1) the largest stock market ( U.S.) in the world is richly valued and forward return expectations as measured by many metrics are low
2) many world bond yields are sparse
3) the average investor within a few years of retirement age, who are deficient in retirement asset accumulation ( a large percentage ), will need some sort of high alpha, active / strategic & capital preservation portfolios in order to "catch up" and maintain a reasonable retirement lifestyle.
Don't hear anyone pushing for an overweight in emerging market / European bourses either which would seem to be logical and inverse to point #1.

Hi, msf. Given the fact that we have had out-sized returns for the S&P 500 the last 5 years (average of about 15.5%), with some sectors much, much higher, it is natural to expect that we could well have some lean years if longer-term average numbers are to be trusted. The 10-year S&P 500 average return is only 7.4%, a long way from the outrageously long historical number, which some retirement web sites still allow using. So if we are to have future average returns of around 7%, there will need to be some very poor years to bring the market average down to that level. Or we could have one or two awful years. Perhaps the need to keep words to a minimum meant a deeper or clearer explanation was left out. I hope this clears the water.
As for bond yields, I think the fact that we are in totally uncharted waters with interest rates might result in strongly negative returns for bonds. I am not aware that so many countries have ever suckered poor souls to buy bonds with negative yields. And while U.S. yields are higher than 0%, many bond prices are so high as to suggest owners could have negative returns if rates move up by just 1%.
I am not suggesting returns for stocks or bonds is about to be hideous, but I do believe that using an assumed average return of more than 4-5% for retirement projections is unwise.

What you're describing isn't a Roth conversion at all. It's a distribution (counting toward your RMD) and a separate contribution to a Roth. There's no connection whatsoever. Unlike a conversion, here you don't have to show that the Roth money came from a traditional IRA.
Often funds that close will say something about whether existing shareholders are allowed to open new accounts. For example, RPHYX prospectus:

Existing shareholders ... may purchase additional ... shares of the Fund through existing or new accounts ...

In contrast, PRWCX's prospectus says:

New T. Rowe Price IRAs in the fund may be opened only through a direct rollover from an employer-sponsored retirement plan. ...The fund reserves the right, when in the judgment of T. Rowe Price it is not adverse to the fund’s interests, to permit certain types of investors to open new accounts in the fund ...

So the ability to do a Roth conversion into a new Roth IRA account is at the discretion of T. Rowe Price. I've used both of the paths above (for another fund, not PWRCX) - a direct rollover from a 401(k), and a Roth conversion (at the discretion of TRP).
As you wrote, you'll have to ask Seafarer what its policy is.

The closing was hidden in the Summary Prospectus:
https://www.sec.gov/Archives/edgar/data/915802/000139834416017861/fp0021369_497k.htm
Excerpt:
Purchase and Sale of Fund Shares
The Fund offers two classes of shares, an Investor Class and an Institutional Class, each of which is offered by this Prospectus. The minimum initial investment for the Investor Class is $2,500 for all accounts, except that the minimum initial investment is $1,000 for retirement and education savings accounts and $1,500 for automatic investment plan accounts. The minimum initial investment for the Institutional Class is $25,000 for all accounts. Investors generally may meet the minimum initial investment for the Institutional Class by aggregating multiple accounts within the Fund. If a shareholder invests in the Fund through a financial adviser or intermediary, the minimum initial investment for the Institutional Class may be met if that financial adviser or intermediary aggregates investments of multiple clients to meet the minimum. The minimum investment for subsequent purchases is $100 for both share classes.
Effective immediately after market closing on September 30, 2016, the Fund will close to most new investors. The Fund will be available for purchase only by the following investors:
· Existing shareholders of the Fund;
· Financial advisors, consultants and discretionary programs with existing clients in the Fund (i.e., they can continue to add new clients in the Fund);
· Retirement plans or platforms with participants who currently invest in the Fund;
· Model-based programs with existing accounts in the Fund; and
· Employees of Seafarer and their families.
Please note that some intermediaries may not be able to accommodate the conditions set out above.
If a shareholder closes an account in the Fund due to redemption or exchange, the shareholder will no longer be able to make additional investments in the Fund.
The Fund reserves the right to make exceptions to any action taken to close the Fund, or limit inflows into the Fund, and delegates such authority to Seafarer.

Thanks for the question. It made me rethink and remind myself of the importance of having a plan when it comes to the use of discretionary money.
If the goal is to meet future retirement needs (income) I suggest the following:
Year one:
-Consider using some of this money to "treating" yourself and others with a "gift". You would be amazed at how great it feels to give to a charity or a loved one.
-If you haven't yet funded an emergency fund:
Determine what 6-12 months of living expenses would be and create an emergency fund (cash/near cash).
-If you have earned income, fund retirement accounts:
1st - Match employer contribution (401K/403b/457/etc)
2nd - Fully fund a Roth IRA (Roth IRA)
3rd - Max out employer offered retirement plans or, if self employed, max out SDIRA
-Health insurance wise, Are you eligible to contribute to an H.S.A (Health Savings Account). If so. use some of the money to max out your contribution?
Make it a point to continue funding the above accounts until you are no longer eligible. The remaining balance could be divided in three investment pools.
1-3 years
-The goal with this money is to meet the needs of what was laid out in year one each year going forward, but could also serve as a good plan for supplementing retirement income needs. It should be invested conservatively and replenished (re-balanced) using funds from the other two pools once a year. ST bond, IT bond, and MS bond funds work well here. Maybe even conservative allocation funds like VWINX.
4-10 years
Find a few good Balance funds...CBALX, VTMFX, VWELX, FBALX, etc. Re-balance once a year by redeeming some of these shares and replenishing your 1-3 year pool funds.
10 years +
This pool is home Moderate Allocation funds like (PRWCX), Aggressive Allocation funds like (POAGX) and well as any Alternative Allocation (RE, Utility, PM, HY Bonds, etc) funds. It will serve the purpose of long term growth as well as the occasional place to re-balance with the other two pools.
What is the purpose of your goal of achieving dividend and interest?
Good Luck!

Sandra, it would be helpful if you provide a more complete picture as to age, whether you need the income from the 250K for living expenses and if you have any retirement accounts and how its allocated and when you plan to start withdrawals. You would likely receive many more responses once a clearer overall picture is known. Lots of other questions, but its a start.

I am in my early 60s and will be collecting SS soon. My living expenses are low and taken care of by a small pension and other investments. I would like to invest the 250K and start to give the interest to some nieces,nephews and other family members.

Sandra, it would be helpful if you provide a more complete picture as to age, whether you need the income from the 250K for living expenses and if you have any retirement accounts and how its allocated and when you plan to start withdrawals. You would likely receive many more responses once a clearer overall picture is known. Lots of other questions, but its a start.

haha, maybe; I do play a little bit trading ups and downs, rich-friends' tips and such, biotech and oil and a REIT or two, also CLF, also Acacia, and had a good string of years until starting a couple of years ago, and since then probably have coughed it all up, gah, gah, gah.
In retirement I am trying to curtail my stupidity and manage my greed, with only partial success.

FYI: Charles Schwab Corp. has upped the ante in the push to be the lowest-cost provider of target-date retirement funds, launching a new series of target-dated mutual funds on Thursday that edge out Vanguard Group and Fidelity Investments to claim the title as cheapest on the market to date.
Regards,
Ted
http://www.investmentnews.com/article/20160825/FREE/160829963?template=printart