Retirement & Financial Planning Report

Often, investors do best buying real estate when things are depressed. If that’s the case, office buildings may be the …More

In these litigious times, you might want to protect your home from legal judgments. Otherwise, someone could trip on your …More

Exchange-traded funds (ETFs) might be ideal for taxable accounts because they help investors avoid a trap into which mutual fund …More

When you sell your primary residence, you can avoid income tax on gains up to $500,000 ($250,000 if you’re a …More

There are about 70 million children under 18 in the U.S. but less than six million have 529 college savings …More

Investment property has shown steady profitability in recent years. According to a property index compiled by the National Council of …More

Investors looking to avoid any future mutual fund fallout might prefer to invest in exchange-traded funds (ETFs). As the name …More

One way to hold down the cost of disability insurance is to extend the “elimination” period before disability benefits begin. …More

These common life insurance errors can wreck your estate plan: Naming your estate as beneficiary. This places the policy proceeds …More

If you invest in residential real estate that’s rented to tenants with moderate incomes, you can qualify for a tax …More

Several “rewards” programs direct money you spend into 529 college savings plans. Rebates typically range from 1 percent to 5 …More

For a variety of reasons, ranging from weakness in the U.S. dollar to a lack of obvious investment bargains, some …More

If you participate in a retirement plan such as the federal Thrift Savings Plan (TSP), you’ll have to decide what …More

If you hold a mutual fund from a family that has admitted to wrongdoing, there are reasons to think about …More

If you prepare your own taxes, take care when selecting a tax form. Some forms are simpler than others but …More

If you wish to invest in gold, your choices are: Direct investments. One approach is to buy gold bullion or …More

When you’re developing an estate plan, avoid these four common errors: Don’t give away assets too soon. Youngsters may be …More

Despite the 2000-2002 bear market, stocks still have been the best choice for long-term investors. Here is how various investments …More

Should you pay for expensive life insurance in order to provide funds to cover an anticipated estate tax obligation? Or …More

If you donate real estate to charity, a signed appraisal by a qualified third-party will be required to support the …More

Studies indicate that investors with high equity allocations should have up to 25 percent of their portfolio in hard assets …More

If you invest in a variable annuity, you can enjoy several tax benefits: Tax-free buildup. Any investment earnings won’t be …More

If you’re in the market for life insurance, don’t rush to buy expensive permanent insurance policies such as whole life, …More

In recent years, real estate has appreciated substantially. If you want to make a substantial gift to charity, donating real …More

Many credit card issuers now use a nasty ruse to raise interest rates on outstanding balances. They impose a “universal …More

The federal estate tax exemption has been increased to $1.5 million per decedent, effective in 2004. This exemption is scheduled …More

According to the Federal Student Aid Handbook, the value of a college savings plan should be treated as an asset …More

If you need life insurance, one strategy you might consider is to do your investing inside a variable life insurance …More

Gold has had three straight strong years, going from a 2001 low of $255 per ounce to a 2003 peak …More

Separate accounts, also known as managed or “wrap” accounts, are offered by many financial advisors. After going over your goals, …More