Retirement & Financial Planning Report

Does tax deferral still help? Under the 2003 tax law, lower tax rates make tax deferral less appealing than in …More

To reduce the risk that you might outlive your retirement income, some experts advocate purchasing an “immediate” annuity that will …More

To save thousands of dollars of mortgage interest, divide your monthly mortgage bill by two and pay that amount every …More

After you create a living trust, you must transfer assets into the trust in order to get the advantages of …More

Most homeowner’s insurance policies cover winter-related damage such as burst pipes and ice dams. However, some preventative maintenance can save …More

A higher “credit score” can mean lower interest rates and better deals on everything from credit cards to a new …More

A higher “credit score” can mean lower interest rates and better deals on everything from credit cards to a new …More

Since the 1980s, many banks have bought other banks. According to the Federal Reserve, large banks often charge higher fees …More

Federal employees who end up considering a move to the private sector (for whatever reason) will need to be aware …More

The Insurance Information Institute predicts that homeowner’s insurance will rise 8 percent in 2004, mainly because of natural disasters and …More

When you create an IRA you’ll either use the beneficiary form that’s provided or create a customized form. That’s only …More

With a charitable gift annuity, you make a gift to a charity and receive a stream of income that can …More

Although long-term interest rates have moved up a bit in the past few months, short-term rates remain at their lowest …More

Within the Federal Government If your agency or organization would like to increase its exposure to the federal government, we …More

Charitable lead trusts pay a charity a stream of income for a certain time period; then the trust assets revert …More

IRS regulations require that retirement accounts (such as an IRA) left to multiple beneficiaries must be distributed over a period …More

Cash value life insurance can double as a retirement plan. Suppose you buy a variable life insurance policy with a …More

If you have children from a previous marriage and you plan to remarry, you should take steps to protect them, …More

An IRA that’s relatively modest, when you retire, can generate millions of dollars for yourself and your beneficiaries, if distributions …More

Cell phone charges can add up to hundreds of dollars a month. By reading the fine print, though, you can …More

Most home buyers insist upon an “appraisal contingency” in their contract. With such a clause, you may back out of …More

Municipal bond funds are paying 4 percent yields these days, tax-exempt, the same as taxable bond funds. So why not …More

If you want to invest in a stock fund that goes beyond the borders of the U.S., keep some definitions …More

To many experts, a “buy-what-you-know” strategy is the best way to invest. For example, if you’re happy with the car …More

If you name a trust as IRA beneficiary, you probably will want the trust beneficiaries to be able to stretch …More

How do so-called 529 plans affect college financial aid? These plans, which now allow tax-free buildup and tax-free withdrawals for …More

If you invest in your own name, minimizing your student’s income and assets, that will maximize your family’s eligibility for …More

Before you invest in a foreign stock fund, here are some questions to ask: Does the fund invest in emerging …More

You may not be able to keep your parents from going into a nursing home but these tactics will increase …More

Many families with moderate to above average-incomes will qualify for tax credits and tax deductions when they spend money on …More