Retirement & Financial Planning Report

The average interest rate on credit card debt is around 14 percent–and that’s 14 percent after tax, because interest on …More

Exchange-traded funds (ETFs) track market indexes and trade like stocks. With these characteristics, they can be valuable to investors, especially …More

In 2005, the opportunity to covert a traditional IRA to a Roth IRA has become available to more taxpayers. The …More

Equity-index annuities (EIAs) are gaining popularity. An EIA is linked to a stock market index, such as the S&P 500. …More

Which income tax form should you use? You must file Form 1040, the long form, if you meet any of …More

Asset protection strategies are gaining popularity but there are some points to keep in mind before you take any actions. …More

If you can take home office deductions, the first step is to calculate the office portion of your home. By …More

The interest you pay on a home equity line of credit is tax-deductible, in most cases. However, interest is not …More

U.S. investors may buy Swiss annuities, which are invested with Swiss insurance companies and custodied in Switzerland. Swiss Annuities are …More

As the alternative minimum tax (AMT) becomes an increasing concern, you’ll need to be vigilant to reduce its impact. Look …More

If you have young children or grandchildren, you might put some of your college money into a tax-managed mutual fund, …More

Although many companies pay modest dividends today, only 2 percent or 3 percent per year, those dividends can grow. Suppose, …More

To qualify for a home office deduction, you must have a space in your home you use regularly and exclusively …More

With a Roth IRA, all withdrawals are tax-free after five years and age 59-1/2. However, you don’t have to wait …More

By changing the title of property you own, you can protect it from creditors, divorce settlements, etc. If you have …More

If you sell a life insurance policy to a third party, the tax consequences will depend on the amount paid …More

If you used a “margin loan” to raise money for investing last year, the interest you paid may be considered …More

Investors who are leery of mutual funds, because of high expenses or reports of improper practices, may prefer to invest …More

If you don’t want to put all of your money into one low-rate CD, consider a “CD ladder”: divide your …More

Life insurance can serve a purpose but at some point an existing life insurance policy no longer is necessary. This …More

The Security and Exchange Commission’s new “Mutual Fund Cost Calculator” allows investors to compute the amount of investment growth lost …More

Increasingly, Americans are running into the alternative minimum tax (AMT), which can cause legitimate tax deductions to go to waste, …More

Last year was a typical year for stocks, with the Standard & Poor’s 500 Index returning 10.9 percent per year, …More

Revocable trusts can be revised or annulled, as the name suggests. In some areas, they

Just 50 large-company stocks represent 51 percent of the value of the Standard & Poor

Today

In your will, you’ll name an executor to act as quarterback for your estate. In some states, an executor is …More

The first exchange-traded fund (ETF) for gold, the StreetTracks Gold Trust, has begun trading on the New York Stock Exchange. …More

Because assisted living residents usually are responsible for paying their own bills, it