Retirement & Financial Planning Report

Variable annuities allow you to put your money into a variety of investment accounts, including stock funds, while deferring the …More

Treasury Inflation-Protected Securities (TIPS) are issued by the U.S. Treasury Department so they have no risk of default. Like all …More

Taxpayers who purchase certain energy-efficient vehicles, including some hybrid vehicles, qualify for tax credits. The credits go up to $3,150 …More

Under current estate tax laws, a taxable estate over $2 million is taxed at 46 percent; this exemption increases to …More

Separate accounts, also known as managed or “wrap” accounts, are offered by many financial advisors. After going over your goals, …More

Some investors raise these concerns about including variable annuities in their retirement planning: Costs. It’s true that variable annuities have …More

Joint ownership is the simplest and least expensive form of incapacity protection. Your elderly uncle who is becoming forgetful, for …More

The interest on student loans may be deductible, depending on your income. To get a full deduction, your income must …More

Selling investment property can generate a sizable tax bill. Instead, a “like-kind” exchange, permitted under Section 1031 of the tax …More

One way to hold down the cost of disability insurance is to extend the “elimination” period before disability benefits begin. …More

If you need to tap your retirement plan, withdrawing money from an IRA before age 59 1/2 may expose you …More

I Bonds are U.S. Savings Bonds that are designed to deliver inflation protection. Like traditional EE Bonds, I Bonds permit …More

You can consolidate federal student loans now at a 7.25 percent interest rate but that number may be misleading. * …More

New rules crack down on people who give away assets in order to qualify for Medicaid, which will pay nursing …More

Variable annuities offer buyers the chance to choose among subaccounts, many of which resemble stock funds or bond funds. Your …More

Many tax-deferred variable annuities come with surrender charges. That is, if you want to bail out of your investment within …More

In this era of uncertainty about estate tax, it may make sense to transfer a house to a child or …More

Your estate plan might call for making charitable bequests from your IRA. For example, on your IRA beneficiary form you …More

Treasury-Inflation Protected Securities (TIPS) pay higher yields if inflation increases. Thus, they offer a hedge against inflation, perhaps the greatest …More

You probably receive offers from credit card companies, allowing you to transfer debt and pay little or no interest on …More

When you annuitize a variable annuity, you take the risk that you might die right away, and the payment stream …More

Tax-deferred real estate exchanges are supposed to involve investment properties but you can put your residence into the deal. Say …More

You may be among two or more siblings who help support an elderly parent. In some cases, no one sibling …More

Loan Arrangers July 1 was a crucial deadline for people with student loans because interest rates are re-set for the …More

A new federal law aims to slow the growth of Medicaid spending for long-term care costs. Medicaid, a federal-state welfare …More

If you’re going to start a sideline business, set it up as a limited liability company (LLC). This business structure …More

So-called living benefits” can pay off for variable annuity purchasers during their lifetime, in contrast to the guaranteed death benefits …More

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

Some people want to give their home to charity yet reserve a right to live there as long as they …More

Careful handling of an inherited IRA can lead to long-term wealthbuilding. Suppose Betty Jones dies and leaves her IRA equally …More