Retirement & Financial Planning Report

Some tax-exempt municipal bonds are safer than others. Among the safest are "pre-refunded" tax exempt bonds, often referred to as …More

Investors naturally want to buy what’s going up and sell what’s going down. Unfortunately, this buy-high and sell-low strategy hurts …More

Spending a few dollars less and saving a few dollars more can make a huge difference. Suppose you decide to …More

For millions of mutual fund investors who are concerned with the scandals in the industry, there is another alternative: exchange-traded-funds, …More

Many states offer state tax breaks for money contributed to their own 529 college savings plan. Only five states (Arizona, …More

Ever since late last year, the Federal Reserve has kept its target overnight lending rate among banks in a band …More

If you lend money to someone (even a child) and charge no interest, the IRS will impute interest income to …More

In the 2008 stock market crash, all the asset classes thought to provide diversification also suffered huge losses. They included …More

For rental property investors, expectations of rental income are crucial. When rents are low in relation to housing prices, buyers …More

Getting ready to retire and move to warmer climes? You might not wish to keep managing any investment property you …More

You usually owe income tax when you take money out of an IRA, as well as a 10 percent penalty …More

Fifty-five percent of U.S. adults are at least somewhat likely to consider purchasing a foreclosed home, according to a recent …More

Sophisticated portfolio rebalancing can improve your long-term results. Historic data indicate that: * Long-term, bonds beat inflation by around 3 …More

If you’re interested in bonds with the safety of Treasuries along with high tax-exempt yields, consider potential "pre-refunded" municipal bonds. …More

Assisted living facilities can help people stay out of a nursing home when they no longer can live independently. Check …More

If you’re thinking about buying a second home, for your own use and for rental income, do some real home-work: …More

You should earmark a certain percentage of your salary each month to a savings fund. To avoid the temptation to …More

Now that the housing bubble has burst, you no longer can get a mortgage just by asking for one. These …More

If you refinance a mortgage, you may pay "points" to reduce the interest rate on your loan. The tax treatment …More

Mortgage rates are at lowest levels in decades. It’s possible to find a 30-year, fixed-rate mortgage at less than 5 …More

When you’re no longer working, you need to shift your investment strategy from savings to spending. Your goal will be …More

When shopping for a car, most people decide to obtain a loan through the car dealership itself. It’s the most …More

Virtually all mutual funds have struggled lately but some have struggled more than others. According to Standard & Poor’s: * …More

The Russell 2000 is probably the most widely-followed index of small-company ("small-cap") U.S. stocks. An analyst at Russell Investments reviewed …More

Academic studies support the use of an S&P 500 "buy-write" strategy. Here’s how the process works: 1. You invest in …More

Through 2009, you can convert a traditional IRA to a Roth IRA only if your income does not exceed $100,000. …More

If you’re looking for something besides stocks and bonds to hold in your IRA, consider real estate. Purchase prices are …More

If you owed tax on investment income on your 2008 tax return, you might prefer tax-free income from municipal bonds. …More

You can contribute to an IRA for 2008 up to April 15, 2009. The maximum contribution is $5,000, or $6,000 …More

Unless you’re subject to the alternative minimum tax (AMT), miscellaneous itemized deductions in excess of 2% of your adjusted gross …More