Retirement & Financial Planning Report

You can use stock index options to magnify stock market moves. Stock index options are pegged to the performance of …More

Tax-deferred real estate exchanges usually work on a sell-first, then buy sequence. But what if you find a prime investment …More

Suppose your first IRA minimum required distribution, on April 1, 2002, is 3.82% of a $1 million IRA on December …More

Repeated interest-rate cuts by the Federal Reserve have not boosted stocks recently. However, a study of Fed rate cuts from …More

Yesterday’s unprecedented vicious attack on our own soil has left all of us breathless. Although our lives will never be …More

Most of us will become the caretakers of our elderly parents and in-laws. And as difficult as it may be …More

Not all mutual funds fit neatly into specific categories. Morningstar considers “value funds” to be those that hold stocks with …More

Sensitive (but important) topic: If you’re getting married you should have a prenuptial agreement. But asking for a list of …More

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

You might think you’ll do nothing but play golf or attend art museums in retirement. But such a schedule is …More

When leaving a job one of the most important (and overlooked) issues is what to do with the money in …More

If you or your spouse run a business with employees, you may bear “employee practices liability,” or EPL. Employees may …More

Many mutual fund investors were shocked when their funds lost value yet they owed tax for 2000, and the same …More

I. Getting Personal with Your Parents Talking finances Dealing with your parents’ existing advisors Finding new advisors, if necessary II. …More

When shopping for bond funds, consider index funds that are designed to match a broad market index. Such funds may …More

Fixed-rate mortgages may not be the best choice, especially if you think you might be selling your house soon. In …More

If you inherited an IRA from an estate that paid estate tax, you may be paying too much tax on …More

You can shift ownership to other family members and reduce the size of your taxable estate by making gifts. The …More

When you sell a home, you can exclude up to $250,000 worth of taxable gains, if you file as a …More

The tax code allows you to rent a home (including a vacation home) for up to 14 days per year …More

An estate planning tool known as a grantor retained annuity trust (GRAT) lets you remove assets from your estate without …More

When a variable annuity is “annuitized,” you (and perhaps your spouse) agree to receive lifelong cash flow. Each payment you …More

Don’t focus solely on past performance when selecting mutual funds. Stability of management is just as important-why buy a fund …More

If you’re going to remarry, don’t forget to update the beneficiary designations of your life insurance and retirement plans so …More

When you buy a home, should you take out a 30- or a 15-year mortgage? Each type has pros and …More

If you’re trying to decide between a taxable bond or bond fund and a tax-exempt investment, use this process: Find …More

A new 10-year rule on minimum required distributions from retirement plans applies whether your beneficiary is two, four, six, or …More

One innovative way to reduce federal estate taxes is with a qualified personal residence trust (QPRT). These trusts allow homeowners …More

By law, the maximum liability insurance you can have with your auto insurance policy is $250,000 per person and $500,000 …More

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