Articles

It is important to understand how dividends (taxable payments to shareholders) fit with your long-term goals.

ETFs have unique attributes and attempt to track all types of indexes, industries, or commodities.

The labels growth and value reflect different approaches that can be used when making investment decisions.

Mutual fund taxes can be cumbersome, but there are ways to help mitigate the amount of taxes you may owe.

Before investing in stocks, it is important to understand some of the basics and the risks involved in owning stocks.

Zero-coupon bonds represent a type of bond that does not pay interest during the life of the bond.

Many realize it’s important to save for retirement, but knowing exactly how much to save is another issue altogether.

With the changing pension landscape, it is important to take charge of your own retirement security.

A SEP IRA is a type of plan under which the employer contributes (up to a certain limit) to an employee’s IRA.

The SIMPLE plan may appeal to small business owners as it is easy to set up, administer, and allows for a tax deduction.

If you leave a job or retire, you should consider your options regarding your employer retirement plan assets.

A Roth 401(k) is funded with after-tax money, and allows for tax- and penalty-free withdrawal of earnings if requirements are met.

Profit-sharing plans give employees a share in the profits of a company and can help to fund their retirements.

A money purchase plan is a retirement plan where employer contributions are based on a fixed percentage of compensation.

A 403(b) plan is a tax-deferred retirement savings plan that can only be offered by a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt entity.

Annuities, an insurance-based financial vehicle, can provide many benefits that retirement investors might want.

A split-annuity strategy can generate immediate income while potentially stretching some retirement savings.

Living benefits can help protect variable annuity owners from running out of money in retirement.

A Section 1035 exchange is a tax-free exchange of an existing annuity contract or life insurance policy for a new one.

There are key dates after you turn 59½ that can impact your taxes, Medicare eligibility, and retirement benefits.

Allocating too much of your retirement investments to one company, even your own, can be a risky proposition.

If you have a family who relies on your income, it is important to have life insurance protection.

An annuity is a contract between you and an insurance company to pay you future income in exchange for premiums you pay.

Property and casualty insurance can help protect a variety of assets. Find out what it does and doesn’t cover.

A business owner policy is an insurance package that assembles the basic coverages required by a business owner in one bundle.

Company-owned life insurance is one way to help protect a business from financial problems caused by the death of a key employee.

Split-dollar life insurance is an arrangement to purchase and fund life insurance between two parties.

Couples who want to help protect their legacy from estate taxes could consider last-survivor life insurance.

As a business owner, a disability can create an economic hardship putting both your personal finances and business at risk.

When selecting a life insurance policy, examine all your options, as well as the positives and negatives of each type.

Capital gains are profits realized from the sale of assets; a tax is triggered only when an asset is sold, not held.

Everything you own, whatever the form of ownership, is subject to federal, and possibly state, estate taxes.

The federal gift tax applies to gifts of property or money while the donor is living.

IRAs and employer-sponsored retirement plans are subject to annual contribution limits set by the federal government.

Required minimum distribution is the annual amount that must be withdrawn from a qualified retirement plan/account.

For the grantor, there are a few potential tax benefits that can come with setting up a charitable trust.

With traditional IRAs and most employer-sponsored retirement plans, taxes are not payable until funds are withdrawn.

Tax-deferred retirement account withdrawals before age 59½ generally trigger a 10% federal tax penalty.