Retirement & Financial Planning Report

Your home not only shelters you from the weather and from intruders, it can serve as a powerful tax shelter. …More

Even with a minimum five-week hold, though, this system (see previous item) generates a fair amount of trading, as sectors …More

As investors learned in 2000, there are times when bonds outperform stocks. At year-end, with the S&P 500 down around …More

If you’re planning to start a business in retirement . . . go ahead and start it. Preliminary start-up cost …More

“Donor-advised funds can maximize the tax advantages of donating appreciated securities. Such funds, long offered by local community foundations, are …More

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

After you (or your parents) reach age 70-1/2, minimum distributions must come out of an IRA each year. However, there’s …More

A common estate planning strategy is to create a trust and have the trustee buy life insurance on the trust …More

As you prepare your 2000 tax return, remember to add money you pay for a dependent parent’s health care to …More

Federal housing partnerships provide housing for low-income tenants and tax credits for investors. If you’re in the 31% tax bracket, …More

“Wrap” programs offered by brokers, financial planners and investment advisors promise to help you to put together an investment portfolio, …More

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

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

You may be familiar with the so-called “child-care credit.” If you pay someone to watch your kids so you and …More

You can collect Social Security retirement benefits as early as age 62. Historically, that meant receiving a benefit 80% as …More

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

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

When you make year-end charitable donations, give appreciated securities instead of cash. As long as you’ve held the securities for …More

Last year, health care stocks kept investors hale and hearty. Ironically, some bad news was good news for these issues. …More

If you’ve sold securities at a loss, as some folks do at year’s end, remember, you can’t buy them back …More

Many mortgage lenders offer 100% loans today. (See item 5 above.) However, those typically are high-rate loans: you might pay …More

A conventional mortgage might call for a home buyer to make a 20% down payment. Several brokers now offer no-down-payment …More

Under a new “Buy Direct” program, you can buy Treasury securities with a toll-free phone call (1-800/943-6864) or at the …More

If you have a pressing need for cash before you reach 59-1/2, there are ways to tap your retirement plan …More

Folks who turned 70-1/2 in 2000 must begin to take required minimum distributions from IRAs and other tax-deferred retirement plans …More

Parents seeking tax shelter in college savings may invest in qualified state tuition programs, now offered by most states. Under …More

If you are interested in investing outside the United States, how should you proceed? One way is to choose among …More

In 2000, each dependent provides a $2,800 tax deduction. In a 36% federal tax bracket, a $2,800 deduction saves you …More

Variable life insurance permits you to capitalize on the stock market’s long-term growth. In addition, you’ll enjoy all the tax …More

Here other warnings about the Alternative Minimum Tax*: If you’re in the habit of prepaying state and local income taxes …More