Retirement & Financial Planning Report

Upset with your financial advisor? Only if you believe that you’ve been defrauded should you consider a lawsuit-simply losing money …More

IRAs, Roth IRAs, and SEP-IRAs are non-ERISA plans, so they don’t enjoy creditor protection under federal law. What kind of …More

Your homeowner’s insurance should include ample liability coverage. If a visitor trips on your steps or a family member accidentally …More

If you’re asked to back a startup business, don’t invest unless the people responsible for the company have put together …More

If you are looking to diversify your portfolio, consider a “tax credit fund” that invests in low-income housing. A 10 …More

Section 529 plans are increasingly popular, thanks to legislation passed in 2001. They offer tax-free withdrawals as well as tax-free …More

Once your 401(k) or similar tax-deferred account is fully funded, your next money should go into a nondeductible Roth IRA. …More

If you’re so inclined, you could buy a series of “fixer-upper” homes, adding value through home improvements while you lived …More

One way to pass a house to the next generation is to sell the property to your child in exchange …More

When you buy or sell stocks through a broker, there are two types of orders you can place: A market …More

A new tax law may pass this year. The proposal would exempt dividends from personal income tax. Such a proposal, …More

Will investing in a 529 plan reduce eligibility for college financial aid? When it comes to the financial aid formulas, …More

Under the tax code, gift tax returns (Form 709) must be filed for most transfers. However, if a transfer is …More

Generally, IRA contributions can be made only if you have earned income. However, a non-working spouse can make an IRA …More

If you’d like to transfer ownership of real estate to your children, one strategy is to give your children a …More

Job-related educational expenses generally are deductible if they’re required by your employer; the same is true for courses that maintain …More

You still have time to fund your IRA for 2002, which won’t be affected by any tax legislation passed in …More

When you add up the itemized deductions on Schedule A of your tax return (medical, taxes, interest, etc.), compare the …More

You might be able to take a dependency deduction for a parent or parents, if several tests can be passed. …More

When you prepare your 2002 tax return, you may be surprised at how much tax you owe on investment income, …More

As you prepare your 2002 tax return, keep the “higher education deduction” in mind. This is a brand new deduction …More

Excess liability coverage, also known as “umbrella” insurance, is a vital part of auto insurance coverage. Today, it’s not impossible …More

In case you’re injured or stricken by a serious illness, your income may be curtailed while your expenses continue. To …More

Some observers see a strong possibility of mild deflation developing in 2003 because of a sluggish economy, weak employment growth, …More

Miscellaneous itemized deductions in excess of 2 percent of your adjusted gross income (AGI) can be deducted. Thus, if your …More

Stocks are priced 30 percent lower than they were at their peak. Thus, equities are more attractive now than they …More

Homeowner’s insurance may be especially important today, after years of soaring home prices. You should be sure that you have …More

The Federal Employees Career Transition Handbook Just Published! https://www.fedweek.com/Publications/default.asp NOTE FROM THE PUBLISHER, DON MACE Dear Federal Employee: We can’t …More

If you own investment property, chances are that a sale would trigger a large capital gain. Instead, exchange this property …More

Many life insurance policies have been sold as backup retirement plans. That is, you put money into permanent, or cash …More