Retirement & Financial Planning Report

Tax consequences should be taken into account in any decision to rent versus buy. In most cases, paying rent will …More

You can apply for Social Security retirement benefits on the Internet at www.ssa.gov, the Social Security Administration’s (SSA’s) Web site. …More

Should you buy the car at the end of your auto lease? Not before doing your homework. Often, the post-lease …More

Among the categories of bond funds tracked by Morningstar Inc., Chicago, those holding long-term Treasuries had the best performance for …More

Variable annuities allow you to invest in mutual funds without paying taxes each year. When you invest in a variable …More

Trying to buy an expensive house with a relatively low down payment? In some cases, consumers have been able to …More

The alternative minimum tax (AMT), which was meant to sting the rich, now affects taxpayers with incomes as low as …More

I-Bonds are U.S. Savings Bonds that are designed to offer inflation protection. They pay both a fixed interest rate and …More

If you’ll reach age 70-1/2 this year (or if you already have reached that age), you must take minimum distributions …More

Time and diversification are an investor’s most important tools. If you want a truly diversified portfolio, look at the stocks …More

Here’s a familiar scenario: your parents (or one parent) want to stay in their house, where they’re comfortable, but they …More

If you set up a trust with more than one beneficiary, how can you avoid family squabbles? With a “total …More

Median life expectancies are now 83 and 87, respectively, for men and women, so half of all Americans will live …More

Municipal bonds and muni funds generally are referred to as “tax-exempt” or “tax-free.” In many cases, though, that’s not the …More

Net capital losses up to $3,000 per year may be deducted as a result of stock losses. Otherwise, capital losses …More

If you already have a home mortgage, this is an ideal time to refinance, with interest rates near record lows. …More

A boat or a recreational vehicle can be a major purchase so you might want to finance it. If that’s …More

Under current law, you can get a full retirement benefit from Social Security at age 65, assuming you are otherwise …More

Increasingly, college-bound youngsters needn’t be quarterbacks or power forwards to get help paying the bills. Most U.S. colleges discount tuition …More

One reason for the recent stock market slide is investors’ disillusionment with reported earnings. Increasingly, stocks that offer nothing more …More

Recent headlines have cast doubts on the honesty and ability of securities analysts. That may be a bum rap. Although …More

There are certain steps you should take to get the best deal on a mortgage. Start by getting a copy …More

You can convert an IRA to a Roth IRA and pay all the deferred income tax. After five years and …More

To get the right asset allocation, your first step should be deciding how much should be in stocks and how …More

Investors who sell securities at a loss won’t be able to claim a capital loss if they immediately buy back …More

Most people will name an individual as IRA beneficiary. In some cases, though, you’d prefer to have your IRA pass …More

Thinking about bottom-feeding among stocks depressed by bankruptcy filings? Be careful. History shows that firms that cook the books are …More

If you’re planning to move in retirement, should you rent or buy your new home? Similarly, what should young people …More

Variable annuities allow you to invest in mutual funds without paying taxes each year. When you invest in a variable …More

Thinking of relocating in retirement? Remember that withdrawals of previously untaxed income from retirement plans are subject to ordinary income …More