Retirement & Financial Planning Report

When you’re shopping for long-term care (LTC) insurance, certain tactics can reduce your policy cost. Reduce benefits. A policy that …More

Over the past 10 years (through February 2006), emerging markets bond funds have returned 13.77 percent a year, according to …More

Many investors and advisors believe that mutual funds with buy-and-hold strategies outperform those that trade their stocks frequently. The latter …More

When you sell shares of a mutual fund, include any reinvested dividends and capital gains in your “cost basis.” This …More

Many leased cars are deemed to have “excess wear and tear” at the end of the lease term–and the bill …More

When you buy homeowner’s insurance, you should have replacement cost coverage. That is, you should have enough insurance to completely …More

Do you need to invest in health care stocks? Perhaps not, if you invest in mutual funds. According to Morningstar …More

Health Savings Accounts (HSAs) are likely to gain prominence because of political support and the interest of large financial firms. …More

If you or your parents need long-term care, prepare to pay steeply: The average cost of a private room in …More

When you file your 2005 tax return, avoid these errors: Alimony deductions. Money you pay is deductible but there must …More

You’ll have some negotiating power when you go shopping for a home, if you’ve been pre-approved for a mortgage. Sellers …More

If you want professional assistance you’ll have to pay an advisor to help you with your mutual fund investments, generally …More

When you’re looking for a home, be realistic. Generally, you should not to pay more than two-and-a-half times your salary …More

Most investors should have between 10 percent and 20 percent of their assets in international stocks; of that allocation, a …More

Instead of selling investment property, and owing tax, you can enter into a tax-deferred exchange for another investment property. To …More

Some experts see extraordinary growth in alternative energy in the next few years as high prices turn consumers away from …More

Money you contribute to an IRA but can not deduct forms a non-deductible IRA. You still get the benefit of …More

The “single-category” method may help you save taxes on mutual fund sales. With this method, all the shares you own …More

If you’re planning on building a home, consider taking out a “construction-to-permanent” loan. These arrangements start out as construction loans …More

The price of silver rose by 27 percent last year, and several indicators point to continued strength: Limited supplies. Mining …More

Among the risks faced by U.S. investors is a decline in the value of the dollar. Some analysts believe that …More

Variable annuities increasingly offer guaranteed minimum income benefits. Such benefits provide variable annuity investors a guaranteed return if they: Pay …More

To get an idea of whether a home’s asking price is fair, ask realtors about houses that have been sold …More

Selling investment property may trigger a capital gains tax. If you sell a property you’ve held for many years, one …More

When you name beneficiaries for your retirement accounts, trusts, bank accounts, brokerage accounts, life insurance, annuities, etc., take the time …More

Regardless of the type of mortgage you seek or the amount of down payment you can make, here’s how to …More

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

An innovative way to play the market is via “fundamental indexing,” an approach that measures a company’s footprint on the …More

You can contribute to an IRA for 2005, including a Roth IRA, up until April 17, 2006. Generally, the deadline …More

Not only oil but all manner of commodities have been rising in price lately. Worldwide economic growth appears to be …More