Retirement & Financial Planning Report

The benefits of hedge funds come with plenty of negatives, though. Hedge fund fees are extremely high. On a gross …More

To some investment professionals, hedge funds are expected to provide “absolute returns,” no matter what’s happening elsewhere in the financial …More

If below-market loans from one family member to another don’t exceed $100,000, no income tax consequences will apply. To avoid …More

For rental property investors, buying at the right price is critical. If you can buy with a “cap rate” of …More

If you hold a cash value life insurance policy, it should be re-examined about once every five years, when you’re …More

Hedge funds are lightly regulated private funds that may take highly leveraged positions in securities or financial futures. Originally created …More

As you head into retirement, should you pay down your mortgage, reducing your debt burden? Or should you hold onto …More

Buying an immediate annuity may help reduce the tax on your Social Security retirement benefits, which you’ll probably begin receiving …More

When you’re shopping for long-term care (LTC) insurance, here are the five key points: The daily or monthly benefit. Your …More

The biggest mistake landlords make is failing to properly screen renters. If you own rental property, you should run a …More

Making a low-interest or no-interest loan to a child usually will have tax consequences. However, if the cumulative amount of …More

Your income must be under $100,000 in order to convert a traditional IRA to a Roth IRA. In the case …More

What are the most effective ways to make substantial gifts to grandchildren? For grandchildren who are out of college: Simply …More

Take Advantage of the Real Estate “Boom” and Use Your Own Home to Receive Terrific Tax Breaks and Money in …More

Low interest rates work in favor of charitable lead annuity trusts (CLATs). With these trusts, a fixed amount is paid …More

Business entertainment deductions may attract IRS attention so you can expect to be questioned about sizable deductions in this category. …More

The Bankruptcy Abuse Prevention and Consumer Protection Act of 2005, which was recently signed into law, provides new bankruptcy protections …More

About 4 percent of all taxpayers will pay the AMT in 2005. If the tax law isn’t changed, the AMT …More

When you sell your home, you can avoid tax on gains up to $500,000 ($250,000 if you’re a single taxpayer). …More

You shouldn’t assume that life insurance policy illustrations show future results exactly. With variable life insurance, there can be wild …More

An increasing number of states allow their residents (and nonresidents, in some cases) to choose from an extensive menu of …More

In real estate terms, “positive cash flow” means that rent collections exceed all out-of-pocket expenses. This can happen if the …More

Mutual fund firms are now flooding the market with premixed “income-oriented” funds for retirees. In some cases, these funds have …More

Many parents want to help their children buy a house or a car or meet some other need for cash. …More

The new Bankruptcy Abuse Prevention and Consumer Protection Act of 2005 expands the creditor protection afforded to IRAs and Roth …More

Adjustable-rate mortgages (ARMs) start out with a low rate but they adjust each year, tracking interest rates. Generally, the upfront …More

If you’re a collector, keep good records so you know your basis for each item. Casualty-loss deductions. In case of …More

If you’d like to simplify your financial life, consider these steps: Enumerate. Start by writing down all of your sources …More

If you’re interested in cash value life insurance, you should know that whole life and universal life insurance are designed …More

Interest rates are rising–in early May, the Federal Reserve raised short-term rates for the eighth time in a year. What’s …More