Retirement & Financial Planning Report

A variable annuity allows you to invest among several sub accounts, which may resemble mutual funds. Inside a variable annuity, …More

People who take required minimum distributions after age 70-1/2 generally take 3-4 percent from their IRA each year, at the …More

If you ever are appointed an estate executor on a loved ones estate, there are some things executors must do …More

One of the unfortunate facts of life facing retirees is that you’ll probably experience the deaths of your parents, your …More

If you want to pay your bills online, here are some simple rules to follow: Pick a prime provider. If …More

On paper, portfolio re-balancing makes sense. You sell what’s high and buy what’s low. However, re-balancing your portfolio means selling …More

When it’s time to take money from your IRA, what strategies should you follow? Here are some tactics to consider: …More

Pension plans covered by ERISA (the Employee Retirement Income Security Act) are protected from creditors, judgments, even from bankruptcy proceedings. …More

A family limited partnership (FLP) or a limited liability company (LLC) can be an excellent vehicle for holding real estate …More

If you’re considering an online bill-paying service, don’t be disappointed if a bank’s list of vendors does not include some …More

Rather than simply write checks to charities, consider setting up a private family foundation. You can make a contribution to …More

Certain types of debt are better than others. Worst, by far, is credit card debt: the interest you pay might …More

Many people do some of their investing in tax-deferred plans but also have taxable portfolios. Which investments go where? Often, …More

If a broker or financial planner tries to sell you a “wrap account,” what should you pay? They typically have …More

A quirk in the tax code caps first-year depreciation of a car used for business; for 2001 and 2002, that …More

Money in your account in an employer-sponsored retirement plan such as the government’s Thrift Savings Plan is safe from creditors, …More

Money in your account in an employer-sponsored retirement plan such as the government’s Thrift Savings Plan is safe from creditors, …More

Some estate planning strategies now use limited liability companies (LLCs) rather than family limited partnerships (FLPs). Limited liability companies have …More

When you retire, you’ll stop receiving a paycheck and begin collecting a pension as well as Social Security benefits. Chances …More

Have you inherited an IRA in the past few years? Newly released final regulations may offer some tax shelter. In …More

If you or a loved one has outstanding student loans, you should keep making payments, as required. If you default, …More

In the 1990s, rulings by the IRS and the courts confirmed the availability of valuation discounts for those transfers, a …More

In the 1990s, rulings by the IRS and the courts confirmed the availability of valuation discounts for those transfers, a …More

Family limited partnerships (FLPs) first gained prominence as a technique for separating ownership and control for estate tax purposes. You …More

Value stocks have held their own, or even gained ground, during the growth stock bear market that began in early …More

When you choose among health plans (an open season opportunity is upcoming in the fall under the Federal Employees Health …More

Many states specifically exclude income on qualified withdrawals that come out of their own state 529 college savings plans. If …More

Converting a regular IRA to a Roth IRA may provide tax-free income in the future, but an upfront tax bill …More

Joint ownership between an elderly parent and a middle-aged son or daughter may pose a tax trap. If you’re named …More

The economy appears to be recovering so the Federal Reserve may increase short-term interest rates. Long-term rates also may rise …More