On a retirement group I asked a complicated question on IRA taxes. You don't need to read all that. I did not do anything with the answers, except try to get my personal financial papers together, and have not even been able to do that. I live in a suburb of Washington, DC, so there are thousands of people around who claim to do one or all of the services I am looking for. The trouble with having too many is that I don't know how to find the "final four," so to speak, who I might be able to pick from. My situation now is that of a widower with no dependents, although I would like one. I am 71 1/2 with some IRA savings, a home mortgaged up to 45% of its current market value, steady, moderate government pension, plus a few more smaller sources steady and safe income. What is the best way to research this question? How will I find the right adisors for me. I have a moderate income, so that complicates things somewhat, since I want to hire a FEE-BASED individual or company to help me with some fairly complicated issues. I was going to put them all down here, but I know that I have to get to a professional right away, before I manage to screw things up any further than I have already. I do expect to pay up since any service in this geographic area is going to be expensive. I will appreciate your advice.
George