Retirement & Financial Planning Report

As the time nears to file 2005 tax returns, some taxpayers go into a meeting with their tax preparer with …More

A savvy estate planning move may be to put your home (or a second home) into a qualified personal residence …More

Instead of giving away assets you might need some day, you can make loans to your children. This tactic allows …More

If you decide to invest in collectibles, keep these points in mind: Focus on what you enjoy and do some …More

If you are the beneficiary of an IRA, be careful. The re-titling of an inherited IRA is a critical process …More

Home buyers can seek financing from either of two sources: Mortgage brokers. These firms will go to many different potential …More

If children under age 14 have more than $1,700 in unearned income in 2006, the excess will be taxed at …More

If you’re planning to move in retirement, take lifestyle changes as well as lower costs into consideration. Someone who has …More

A full-service retirement community may be ideal for your olden years. Ideally, you’ll be surrounded by like-minded contemporaries, free to …More

In 2005, assets held in exchange-traded funds (ETFs) rose nearly 30 percent, to almost $300 billion. More than 50 new …More

In many estate plans, the first spouse to die (usually the husband) leaves his assets to the surviving spouse (usually …More

When you’re shopping for a home, a real estate agent who represents the seller may not have your best interests …More

If you invest in real estate that’s rented to low-income tenants, you can qualify for tax credits. Tax credits reduce …More

Not all long-term care (LTC) insurance policies cover assisted living facilities. You should review your policy, especially if it’s a …More

With a fixed annuity, you are guaranteed a certain yield for a certain period of time, after which the yield …More

The “kiddie tax” rules will be a bit more lenient in 2006. Children under age 14 can have as much …More

Where can investors expect to make money in the bond market during 2006? Mortgage-backed securities, such as GNMA (“Ginnie Mae”) …More

Within the U.S. stock market, small-companies and value stocks have led the way for several years but a change of …More

All five Thrift Savings Plan funds yielded positive returns in 2005, with the international stock (I) fund leading the way …More

Savvy year-end tax planning should include your itemized deductions. Medical expenses are deductible only to the extent they exceed 7.5 …More

Your year-end tax planning may include charitable contributions. Donating appreciated securities offers greater tax benefits than writing checks. That’s because …More

Exchange-traded funds (ETFs) can play a role in tax-loss harvesting strategies. When you take a loss on a security, the …More

The tax code allows you to deduct up to $3,000 worth of net capital losses on your tax return while …More

As 2005 draws to a close, it’s time to look at your portfolio and your trading results so far in …More

If you’re concerned about a future estate tax obligation, you can make tax-free gifts each year. In 2005, you can …More

Year-end tax planning for married couples should take into account recent tax law, which has raised the standard deduction to …More

Over the past five years, 75 percent of all actively-managed funds lagged the S&P SmallCap 600 Index. Among small-cap growth …More

Over the past five years, 75 percent of all actively-managed funds lagged the S&P SmallCap 600 Index. Among small-cap growth …More

Municipal bond interest generally is exempt from federal income tax but you may be subject to state and local income …More

Tax benefits can make permanent life insurance (universal, variable, or whole life policies) attractive. Those tax benefits include: Tax-advantaged death …More