Retirement & Financial Planning Report

Donor-advised funds, also known as charitable gift funds, allow you to make an irrevocable gift of cash or securities. As …More

In some situations, it may make sense to hold life insurance inside a tax-deductible retirement plan. The big advantage of …More

Certain equities should be held inside your IRA or other tax-deferred retirement plan. Real estate investment trusts (REITs) and REIT …More

Morningstar Inc., Chicago, lists eight categories of “specialty” funds that concentrate on a particular sector of the stock market. How …More

A capital improvement to your home may be partially tax-deductible, if it is made to alleviate a specific health condition. …More

Mutual funds holding U.S. stocks are classed in two ways: Size of holding. A fund is a “large-cap” if it …More

Giant brokerage firms, insurance companies, money center banks, and all manner of financial firms are acquiring financial planners and money …More

If you’re interested in a “timeshare” vacation (the use of a particular place for a week or two each year), …More

Don’t create a trust when it’s not necessary. Trusts can help avoid probate and smooth the transition in case you …More

To increase your family’s eligibility for college aid, get your finances in order before filling out the financial forms. Spend …More

There is an old saying: the three most important things to look for when you buy real estate are location, …More

In each category of mutual funds there may be hundreds to pick from. How can you choose among them? Here’s …More

What type of bonds should you hold inside a tax-deferred retirement plan? Instead of Treasuries or corporates, consider mortgage-backed securities …More

If you want to invest in a tax-exempt municipal bond fund, you’ll have hundreds from which to select. Key criteria …More

If you withdraw money from your IRA before age 59 1/2, you usually must pay a 10 percent penalty on …More

Should you borrow from your tax-deferred retirement account? The thought of effectively borrowing from yourself and paying yourself back can …More

If you give over $11,000 to anyone, in a given year, you’ll have to file Form 709, the federal gift …More

If you’d like to buy a home, here’s how to start the process: Speak the language. Many lenders, real estate …More

Some variable annuities offer long-term care (LTC) insurance as well as tax-deferred investing. You can buy a stand-alone LTC insurance …More

One way to participate in oil and gas is through Oppenheimer Real Asset Fund, a mutual fund designed to track …More

A revocable trust can be a valuable tool for incapacity planning. Say you have created a trust and transferred assets …More

How can you decide whether to hold certain investments inside your tax-deferred retirement plan? That depends on: Your age. Young …More

For anyone contributing to a 529 college savings plan, gift taxes become a concern. That’s because your contributions to a …More

Home buyers must avoid certain abuses when they take out home loans. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) warns about: Equity …More

Among variable annuities, “bonus” annuities are gaining ground. They give you an extra 3 percent-5 percent for investing. For example, …More

Borrowing from a tax-deferred retirement plan has some advantages. There are no credit checks or lengthy applications to fill out; …More

According to the tax code, any disability insurance benefit you receive is tax-free, as long as you pay the premiums …More

If you own a vacation home, you can rent it for up to 14 days per year and have no …More

Be concerned about personal security whenever you hire a nanny or other household help. For a modest fee, you can …More

You should review your homeowner’s insurance policy to see that you have true replacement-cost coverage. Today’s “guaranteed replacement cost” coverage …More