Retirement & Financial Planning Report

In some jurisdictions, informal meetings with the assessor are allowed, in order to appeal a property tax assessment. You might …More

Instead of withdrawing money from your IRA, you might convert part of your traditional IRA to a Roth IRA. Suppose, …More

For many people, home ownership is a major financial goal but today’s soaring prices make it difficult to find an …More

For retirees, the years between ages 59 1/2 and 70 1/2 provide a window for tax shelter: * After 59 …More

Generally, legal fees are not deductible. However, you may be able to write off money you spend for tax or …More

Roth IRAs may be a good choice for young people. When people are starting to work, they’re in the lowest …More

If you live in an area where real estate appreciation has been extraordinary, home ownership might not be the automatic …More

If you get a large refund from the IRS each year, you’re making interest-free loans to the IRS throughout the …More

So far, 2005 has produced a bull market–in oil prices. From around $43 per barrel in early January, prices have …More

Tax-exempt municipal bonds behave differently from Treasury bonds or corporate bonds. Besides the difference in tax treatment, munis are less …More

Joint accounts owned by unmarried couples can create tax headaches. To see how this might occur, suppose that Mark Nixon …More

Some surviving spouses have faced a problem under the tax code. Suppose, for example, Alice Baker is the beneficiary of …More

If you itemize deductions on Schedule A of your federal tax return, you can deduct charitable donations. There are some …More

Under a new federal law, contributions made to a 529 savings account for a child, grandchild, stepchild, or step-grandchild more …More

Improper asset ownership might trigger estate tax. Suppose, example, that Ron and Teri Smith are married, with a total of …More

The Federal Reserve’s raising of short-term interest rates might be good news for yield-hungry investors, if you know where to …More

Generally, putting a non-spouse’s name on an account won’t trigger a gift if assets aren’t withdrawn by the new co-owner. …More

Assets held in custodial accounts under the Uniform Gifts To Minors Act (UGMA) or the Uniform Transfers to Minors Act …More

Stockbrokers usually earn sales commissions every time you buy or sell securities. If you work with a broker who gets …More

Fall housecleaning time also is a good time to re-evaluate your finances. Key items to consider: Retirement planning. Even if …More

Many retirees rely upon their investment portfolios to support their lifestyle. If you start receiving Social Security benefits at the …More

If you use a vacation home fewer than 14 days a year or less than 10 percent of the days …More

To protect yourself and your loved ones, you should execute a power of attorney authorizing someone (an “agent”) to act …More

Many people decide to leave money in trust, rather than make outright bequests. If children are still young, at the …More

There are three ways to acquire vehicles for your personal use: Pay cash. This choice makes the most sense if …More

Will investing in a 529 plan reduce eligibility for college financial aid? When it comes to the financial aid formulas, …More

If you inherit an IRA, you’ll be able to extend tax deferral over your life expectancy. However, if you share …More

Many investment pros favor index funds, saying that actively-managed funds suffer from high fees, high transaction costs, and poor investment …More

If income-producing property is held jointly by a married couple filing a joint return, the income tax consequences are straightforward: …More

In both 1994 and 1999, when interest rates rose, financial funds lost 2 percent-3 percent. Ever since interest rates reached …More