Retirement & Financial Planning Report

Now that you’ve finished with your 2004 federal tax return, use it for your retirement planning: Make note of your …More

When you shop for a mortgage today you can choose among mortgages of different lengths. 30-year fixed-rate mortgages. With these …More

If you’re a condo owner you’re a homeowner so you need a homeowner’s insurance policy. However, you need to make …More

Why do you need life insurance? Often, for one of these two reasons: Income replacement. If your untimely death will …More

If you’re starting a sideline business, you need adequate capital. Broadly speaking, business entities are financed in two ways: Equity. …More

A passive approach can be a prudent way to invest in real estate securities. You’re assured of diversification by geography …More

Young life insurance buyers might want to blend some annual renewable term with multi-year, level-premium term. With annual renewable term, …More

If you’re in the market for a primary residence or a vacation house, do some preliminary homework: Be reasonable in …More

Among equity funds registered in the U.S., about 15 percent of their assets are invested in foreign stocks. Yet over …More

When you make your mortgage payments, you may run into problems with a lender that fails to post payments until …More

Investors who want to hold real estate securities may choose a broad-based fund that closely tracks a major index. Those …More

When you open investment or savings accounts for your young children, you’ll have to cope with the “kiddie tax.” In …More

If you hold stocks or funds selling at a loss, don’t keep them forever, hoping you’ll “break even.” Instead, take …More

At many IRA custodians, when you open an account you’ll be asked to sign a pre-printed signature card and account …More

Junk-bond funds are falling out of favor. In one recent week, such funds saw investors pull out $2.4 billion, which …More

If you’re searching for a trusted financial advisor, keep these pointers in mind: A good advisor finds the facts first. …More

When you buy life insurance, your choice is between pricey cash value policies and less expensive term insurance. For most …More

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

The alternative minimum tax (AMT) is now a burden for some high-income but this tax may soon affect 20 percent …More

Natural resources funds, many of which are heavily invested in energy stocks, have ridden the rising price of oil to …More

Middle-aged children helping to support parents or other elderly loved ones often find those costs to be extensive. You can …More

When you leave your employer, you can receive a distribution from your retirement plan. Then you have 60 days to …More

Putting assets in trust can protect them from creditors but not every asset can or should be transferred to a …More

Some assets enjoy legal protection from creditors. Under ERISA, for example, the federal law covering retirement plans, funds held in …More

According to mutual fund research firm Morningstar, foreign investments have paid off recently: International stock funds (annualized returns over 11 …More

With “advance directives,” you can provide directions for your own medical care, in advance of a time when such instructions …More

For couples who have just married, perhaps the first order of business–and one of the most important–is deciding who will …More

Many mutual fund investors (and investors in general) send a good portion of their profits to the IRS as well …More

Certain types of debt are better than others. Worst, by far, is credit card debt: the interest you pay might …More

Homeowners generally can deduct the interest they pay on their mortgages–but that’s not the only tax benefit available if you …More