Retirement & Financial Planning Report

Most workers can contribute up to $3,000 to an IRA ($3,500 for those 50 or older). In some cases, contributions …More

With a deferred annuity, you invest a lump-sum or a series of payments. As long as you keep your money …More

If you own investment property, you may claim some non-cash deductions, such as depreciation. Thus, any cash flow from your …More

Long-term bond funds recently were yielding a solid if not sensational 4.5 percent, according to Morningstar, Inc., Chicago. However, if …More

With oil prices touching record highs, energy stocks have been top performers, a situation that may persist because of continued …More

An estate planning tool known as a grantor retained annuity trust (GRAT) lets you remove assets from your estate without …More

The tax code allows you to rent a home (including a vacation home) for up to 14 days per year …More

A 529 college savings plan may double as a retirement plan. All you have to do is designate yourself as …More

If you use the so-called 72(t) rules to take penalty-free withdrawals from your IRA before age 59-1/2, you can choose …More

When a variable annuity is

When shopping for a car, most people decide to obtain a loan through the car dealership itself. It’s the most …More

American travelers often pay too much for foreign currencies by patronizing exchange booths in airports, hotel lobbies, and tourist sites …More

Retirees should keep 12-18 months

At

Normally, IRA withdrawals before age 59 1/2 are subject to income tax plus a 10 percent penalty. There are certain …More

If you inherited an IRA from an estate that paid estate tax, you may be paying too much tax on …More

Whenever you take a loss on a stock, bond, or mutual fund, you must be careful how you reinvest the …More

Donating an existing life insurance policy to charity is common and easy to understand. You can make a significant contribution …More

The Savings Incentive Match Plans for Employees (SIMPLE plans) contribution limit is scheduled to rise from $9,000 in 2004 to …More

The financial markets have been so volatile lately that you probably have some losses in your portfolio, especially in stocks …More

If your investment plan includes taxable bonds (Treasuries, corporate issues, mortgage-backed securities), they should be held inside a tax-deferred retirement …More

For a comfortable retirement, consider these factors: Your retirement fund must be tapped regularly, to provide spending money. If too …More

Many investors would do well to invest in tax-exempt municipal bonds rather than taxable bonds. Even if you

Some financial advisors avoid socially responsible investing (SRI) because it is hard to define, places too much emphasis on security …More

Focused mutual funds (those with only a few stocks) can be very volatile but they also have advantages. Upside potential. …More

The best way to reduce investment risk is to put some money into bonds or bond funds. If you keep, …More

If you

Where should your retirement spending money should come from? Say you want to draw down your retirement fund by $25,000 …More

If you or your spouse has self-employment income, a Savings Incentive Match Plans for Employees (SIMPLE plan) may be an …More