Of Taxes Past, Present, and Future
With the 2011 tax filing season behind us, much attention is being paid to the expiring "Bush tax cuts"--the reduced federal income tax rates, and benefits, that will expire at the end of 2012 unless...
View ArticleRetirement Rules of Thumb
Because retirement rules of thumb are guidelines designed for the average situation, they'll tend to be "wrong" for a particular retiree as often as they're "right." However, rules of thumb are...
View ArticleMid-Year Reality Check: Covering Your Bases in Uncertain Times
Imagine playing a complicated game, but the rules of the game are changing, and the new rules have yet to be announced. That's what income tax planning is like this year. In fact, if there was ever a...
View ArticleWebinar: Long Term Care for Consumers - Planning for Your Future Health Care...
As we age, our concerns over retirement begins to uncover specific areas of need. Experiencing a debilitating injury or illness is one of the more prevalent risks you may face in your lifetime. How...
View ArticleNew 401(k) Plan Disclosure Rules
You may have heard about new disclosure rules that will soon apply to 401(k) plans. Before describing what's ahead, however, a look back may be helpful. [While we'll refer to 401(k) plans in this...
View ArticleBreaking Down the Taxpaying Population: Where Do You Fit In?
Every quarter, the Statistics of Income Division of the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) publishes financial statistics obtained from tax and information returns that have been filed with the federal...
View ArticleHigh-Income Individuals Face New Medicare Taxes in 2013
Two new Medicare-related taxes take effect in 2013: an additional 0.9% payroll tax on high-wage earners, and a 3.8% tax on the unearned income of high-income individuals. Here's what you need to...
View ArticleIs It Time to Refinance Your Auto Loan?
Are you thinking about refinancing your auto loan? Perhaps you purchased a car a few years ago when interest rates were higher. Or maybe you recently financed your car through a dealership, but now...
View ArticleShould You Make Large Gifts in 2012?
Currently, the exemptions for federal gift tax, estate tax, and generation-skipping transfer (GST) tax are at historic highs, and the gift, estate, and GST tax rates are at historic lows. But, in...
View ArticleThe Investment Policy Statement: A Portfolio's Road Map
In some cases, investors choose to authorize a money manager to make the actual investing decisions for their portfolio rather than simply make recommendations. In such cases, it can be valuable to...
View ArticleFour Retirement Planning Mistakes to Avoid
We all recognize the importance of planning and saving for retirement, but too many of us fall victim to one or more common mistakes. Here are four easily avoidable mistakes that could prevent you...
View ArticleYear-End Investment Planning and the Fiscal Cliffhanger
Investment planning at the end of 2012 revisits issues that have complicated the planning process for the last two years--tax cut extensions and spending cuts designed to reduce the U.S. budget...
View ArticleHealthy Personal Finance Resolutions for the New Year
The new year is the time when many individuals start making resolutions to live a healthier lifestyle. And while resolving to eat better and exercise more is a good thing, you should be sure to make...
View ArticleHow to Give Wisely and Well
Giving to charity has never been easier. You can donate the old-fashioned way--by mail--but you can also donate online, by text, or through social networking sites. According to the National Center...
View ArticleReal-life Financial Tips for Different Generations
Do you remember The Game of Life®? In Milton Bradley's popular board game, players progress through life stages making decisions that affect their prosperity. Like those players, today's generations...
View ArticleThe Economics of Borrowing from Your 401(k)
When times are tough, that pool of dollars sitting in your 401(k) plan account may start to look attractive. But before you decide to take a plan loan, be sure you understand the financial impact....
View ArticleCompounding Can Add Fuel to Your Portfolio
If you enter the terms "Albert Einstein" and "compounding" into an Internet search engine, you'll discover a wide variety of quotes attributed to the great inventor. Some results say Einstein called...
View ArticleThe American Taxpayer Relief Act of 2012
The new year started with some political drama, as Congress passed legislation on January 1, 2013, to prevent the country from going over the "fiscal cliff." The American Taxpayer Relief Act of 2012...
View Article
More Pages to Explore .....