Retirement & Financial Planning Report

As 2007 approaches year-end, you should look at your investment trading results so far. If you wind up 2007 with …More

No-interest and low-interest loans to family members may have unpleasant income tax and gift tax consequences for the lender. There …More

If you have college-age children, consider appreciated securities for year-end gifts. If the child will be 18 before the end …More

If you are making gifts to minor children or grandchildren, it might be advisable to set up a trust to …More

For some higher-income taxpayers, neither a deduction for a traditional IRA contribution nor Roth IRA contributions are possible. Nevertheless, you …More

Although you should keep some money in the bank, most of your saving and investing should go elsewhere, because of: …More

An increasing number of states allow their residents (and nonresidents, in some cases) to choose from an extensive menu of …More

In real estate terms, "positive cash flow” means that rent collections exceed all out-of-pocket expenses. This can happen if the …More

Capital improvements to your home may qualify as deductible medical expenses. That might be the case for work done to …More

Mortgage lenders are increasingly cautious so some buyers may have to come up with larger down payments now. Thus, you …More

If you own investment property, deductions for management fees, depreciation, and other expenses may produce a taxable loss. This might …More

A trust can be revocable or irrevocable. * A revocable trust must be created during your lifetime. If you change …More

If you’re a collector, keep good records so you know your basis for each item. * Casualty-loss deductions. In case …More

If you’re a condo owner you’re a homeowner so you need a homeowner’s insurance policy. However, you need to make …More

Why do you need life insurance? Often, for one of these two reasons: * Income replacement. If your untimely death …More

So-called "QTIP trusts" can be valuable estate planning tools for remarried couples. After one spouse dies, the trust pays a …More

If you’re starting a sideline business, you need adequate capital. Broadly speaking, business entities are financed in two ways: * …More

Young life insurance buyers might want to blend some annual renewable term with multi-year, level-premium term. With annual renewable term, …More

If you’re in the market for a primary residence or a vacation house, do some preliminary homework:   * Be …More

Selling a house in today’s market is not easy so you might want to wait for a while, until there …More

If you want to sell a mutual fund for a long-term gain, you may be better off selling before a …More

Revocable trusts, which can be cancelled by the trust creator, have become popular. Assets held in a trust, including a …More

When you make your mortgage payments, you may run into problems with a lender that fails to post payments until …More

At many IRA custodians, when you open an account you’ll be asked to sign a pre-printed signature card and account …More

If you are planning on remarriage, a prenuptial agreement can protect your assets. Such a document can spell out who …More

Married couples shopping for long-term care (LTC) insurance might consider a shared-care plan. Suppose that Dan and Diane Johnson are …More

Home buyers who are looking for mortgages now should focus on fixed-rate loans because you won’t get much of an …More

Homeowners generally can deduct the interest they pay on their mortgages–but that’s not the only tax benefit available if you …More

An inherited IRA will pass to beneficiaries under the terms of the contract the account owner has signed with the …More

If you and your siblings join forces to support an elderly parent, none of you may be able to claim …More