Retirement & Financial Planning Report

Don’t stint on disclosure on gift tax returns. You should attach bulky appraisals, especially if a valuation discount is claimed. …More

A “durable power of attorney,” which gives someone else legal authority to handle your affairs in case you become incapacitated, …More

It doesn’t make sense to make a gift of securities that are selling at a loss. Instead, you should sell …More

Internet-only banks, with their low overheads, have raised the bar for CD yields, prompting some others to compete for customers. …More

Long-term care policies with lifetime coverage are extremely expensive. The average stay in a nursing home is 2.1 years for …More

Looking for long-term care insurance? If so, it’s a good idea to check on the home care coverage before buying. …More

If you own a house that’s fully or nearly debt-free, many banks will loan you money in a lump-sum or …More

If you believe that your retirement “dream house” may be the one you’re living in right now and you have …More

Some people keep powers of attorney or trust documents in a safe deposit box. However, if the elderly person becomes …More

If you need investment income for retirement spending, here are some of your options: Treasuries. They’re safe and liquid. The …More

In Europe today, 88% of pensions are provided by the state: typically, these public pensions are unfunded “pay as you …More

Finance companies may approve loans that bring your total debt service to 37% of your after-tax income but, for the …More

Variable annuities allow you to invest in “subaccounts” that resemble mutual funds yet defer income tax until the money is …More

Here’s a tax tip that could save you big bucks. You can use the capital gains rate to pay less …More

If you discover that you have incurred a great deal of nondeductible interest, it’s time to take action. Paying interest …More

If you’re planning to relocate in retirement, exercise caution. Some states protect IRAs, 401(k) accounts, etc., from creditors but others …More

In some ways, the question is not whether you’ll invest in foreign economies but how you’ll invest. If you invest …More

You want to spend enough of that money to make a meaningful contribution to your lifestyle in retirement. And you …More

Talk of “three-legged stools” has become popular in Washington. For many, two legs of the stool are most likely Social …More

If you are already getting Social Security or Railroad Retirement checks when you turn 65, you will automatically be enrolled …More

Here’s an easy way to plan for incompetency: Put assets in joint name so either co-owner can act individually, if …More

Someone you don’t know trying to get you to make a snap decision on an investment offering? If that’s the …More

You can gain substantial tax savings if you claim your parents as dependents, but it’s not easy to do. You …More

Don’t overestimate the risks of stocks. According to Ibbotson Associates, Chicago, blue chip stocks have gained ground in 40 out …More

The best way to reduce estate taxes (or avoid them altogether) is to give away your assets while you’re alive. …More

Projecting out retirement expenses may go beyond 20 or 25 years. Median life expectancies now are 83 for men and …More

Combine index funds and actively-managed funds in order to get the best of both worlds. Index funds, pegged to duplicate …More

When looking for a home to carry you or your elderly parents through retirement years, make sure the senior-living community …More

If you have a large stock market gain you may be unwilling to sell and pay capital gains tax. But …More

The advantages of investing outside the United States go beyond diversification. Foreign economies provide more options to consider, when you’re …More