Financial Planning

Jul 09, 2026

Losing a family member is one of life’s most difficult experiences. Alongside grief and emotional stress, surviving family members are often faced with urgent financial, legal, and administrative responsibilities.

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Jun 17, 2026

Losing a spouse is one of life’s most difficult experiences. During such an emotional time, financial and tax-related matters are often the last thing a surviving spouse wants to think about.

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Apr 28, 2026

With most 2025 tax returns now filed, this is a good time to shift focus from filing to planning.

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Nov 14, 2025

For more than two decades, employer-sponsored retirement plans have allowed workers age 50 and older to make catch-up contributions, enabling them to save beyond the standard annual deferral limits.

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Oct 20, 2025

Key decisions loom for people aged 73 and over who must take required minimum distributions (RMDs) from retirement accounts.

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Oct 08, 2025

Throughout your career, retirement planning will likely be one of the most important components of your overall financial plan.

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Sep 23, 2025

The rollover is the most frequent IRA transaction, but mistakes are common, leading to unnecessary taxes and penalties.

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Sep 08, 2025

Here are five actionable tips that can help you maximize your retirement income and sustain you for the long haul.

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Aug 13, 2025

In this article, we’ll explore the implications of withdrawals in each type of account, why the tax differences matter, and how aligning your strategy with your values, such as passing on savings to heirs or making charitable contributions can help you retire with both peace of mind and purpose.

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Jul 23, 2025

A rollover is the movement of funds from one retirement savings vehicle to another.

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Jun 23, 2025

What role can life insurance play in your retirement plan?

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Jun 17, 2025

When you establish a Roth IRA, you're generally required to complete a beneficiary designation form with your Roth IRA custodian or trustee.

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Jun 05, 2025

If you cannot afford to retire or if you still enjoy working, you might want to consider delaying retirement. This could mean that you continue to work full-time or that you work part-time, for either the same or a different employer, to supplement your retirement income.

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May 28, 2025

The SECURE Act of 2019 dramatically changed the rules governing the inheritance of IRA and retirement plan assets. Retirement savings account owners and their loved ones should understand these complicated rules.

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May 22, 2025

This article summarizes the changes made to the federal gift and estate tax and the federal generation-skipping transfer (GST) tax under the Tax Relief, Unemployment Insurance Reauthorization, and Job Creation Act of 2010 (the 2010 Tax Act), the American Taxpayer Relief Act of 2012 (the 2012 Tax Act), and the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act.

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May 13, 2025

A qualified longevity annuity contract (QLAC) is a special type of deferred income annuity purchased in an IRA or a qualified retirement account such as a 401(k).

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May 01, 2025

IRAs and employer-sponsored retirement plans are subject to annual contribution limits set by the federal government. The limits are adjusted periodically to compensate for inflation and increases in the cost of living.

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Apr 25, 2025

The inclusion of IRD on both the estate tax return (Form 706) and the recipient's income tax return creates the potential for double taxation. Fortunately, to potentially eliminate this result, the tax code provides an income tax deduction for any estate tax paid that is attributable to IRD.

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Apr 23, 2025

The $1.7 trillion appropriations bill passed by Congress at the end of 2022 included some notable provisions affecting workplace retirement plans and IRAs. Dubbed the SECURE 2.0 Act of 2022, the new legislation built on the sweeping Setting Every Community Up for Retirement Enhancement Act that was passed in 2019.

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Apr 14, 2025

There is no one-size-fits-all answer, but a simple rule of thumb called the 6% Test can help retirees make an informed decision.

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Apr 03, 2025

If you are 50 or older, or you will reach age 50 by the end of the year, you may be able to make contributions to your IRA or employer-sponsored retirement plan above the normal contribution limit.

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Mar 26, 2025

If you or a family member has a disability, you may be interested in learning about a tax-advantaged option called an ABLE account which can be used to save or invest for qualified disability expenses. Most states have launched ABLE programs, and more are in the works.

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Feb 14, 2025

Personal finance is a term that covers managing your money as well as saving and investing. It encompasses budgeting, banking, insurance, mortgages, investments, retirement, tax, and estate planning.

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Feb 06, 2025

There’s a host of under-the-radar rules beneficiaries need to know to minimize taxes and penalties and maximize the benefits of inherited IRAs.

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Feb 04, 2025

Every year, the Internal Revenue Service announces cost-of-living adjustments that affect contribution limits for retirement plans and various tax deduction, exclusion, exemption, and threshold amounts. Here are a few of the key adjustments for 2025.

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Jan 17, 2025

January is a good time to consider tax planning. Amid the yearly onslaught of inflation-adjusted tax figures, here are the top 3 tax numbers all employees should know.

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Jan 10, 2025

Offering financial support to a grandchild can be one of the most rewarding parts of being a grandparent. But when that generosity comes at the cost of depleting your own retirement savings, the prospect becomes a lot less compelling.

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Jan 03, 2025

Understanding the basics of IRAs and Roth IRAs. A traditional IRA allows you to make pre-tax contributions, which can reduce your taxable income for the year.

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Jun 10, 2026

International investing has become increasingly popular among high-net-worth individuals and families seeking greater diversification, global growth opportunities, and broader asset exposure.

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Nov 05, 2025

When investors consider adding bonds to their portfolios, one of the first things they encounter is the concept of yield. Yet, yield can mean different things depending on how it’s calculated and applied.

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Sep 25, 2025

Some people go swimming by diving into the pool; others prefer to edge into the water gradually, especially if the water is cold. A decision about putting money into an investment can be somewhat similar.

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Sep 10, 2025

A mutual fund pools the money of many investors to purchase securities.

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Jul 07, 2025

When investing in a mutual fund, you may have the opportunity to choose among several share classes, most commonly Class A, Class B, and Class C.

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Apr 29, 2025

Gold and other precious metals, such as silver and platinum, are limited in supply and in great demand in many forms, including money and jewelry. They're often considered alternative assets because their prices typically are not highly correlated with other types of investments, such as stocks or bonds.

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Apr 08, 2025

A hedge fund is a private investment fund that pools money from high-net-worth individuals and/or institutional investors, often with the goal of achieving superior risk-adjusted returns.

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Mar 24, 2025

More than 60% of American households own stocks today, either directly or through investment funds. Yet for many people, the world of investing is still mysterious, with unfamiliar terms and concepts.

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Mar 17, 2025

An exchange-traded fund is an investment vehicle that pools a group of securities into a fund. As its name indicates, it can be traded like an individual stock on an exchange.

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Mar 05, 2025

A cheat sheet for issues related to capital gains, dividends and more.

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Jan 28, 2025

Not all investors use the same investing strategies. Your approach to investing may depend on your financial goals and level of expertise.

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May 22, 2026

For many federal student loan borrowers, consolidation is not always the right move. But for some parents with Parent PLUS loans, 2026 includes an important deadline that could affect access to more affordable repayment options and, in some cases, future loan forgiveness pathways.

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May 13, 2026

For borrowers with federal student loans, one of the most important questions is often simple: how much will the monthly payment be, and is there a more affordable option? That is where income-driven repayment plans come in.

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Sep 29, 2025

After opening late the last two years, the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) for the 2026-2027 school year is back on track to open on the usual start date of October 1.

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Sep 15, 2025

The student loan landscape has become so complicated that many borrowers who simply want to pay back their federal loans need a detailed road map.

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Jul 30, 2025

For people who want to consider other college-savings options, here are suggestions from financial advisers:

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Jul 11, 2025

Section 529 plans are popular education savings vehicles. To choose the type of 529 plan that's right for you, it's important to understand how 529 savings plans and 529 prepaid tuition plans work and the differences between them.

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May 06, 2025

529 plans were originally created in 1996 as a tax-advantaged way to save for college. Over the past several years, Congress has expanded the ways 529 plan funds can be used, making them a more flexible and versatile savings vehicle.

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Apr 21, 2025

Looking for a tax-advantaged college savings vehicle that has no age restrictions and no income phaseout limits — and one you can use to pay for more than just tuition? Consider 529 savings plans, a popular way to save for higher-education expenses.

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Feb 11, 2025

The treatment varies depending on whether the account is owned by a parent or by a grandparent

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Jan 21, 2025

The college inflation rate refers to the annual increase in college tuition and fees, similar to the way the general inflation rate refers to the annual increase in the cost of living.

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Jan 08, 2025

There are three potential drawbacks to saving in your child's name: the kiddie tax, federal financial aid rules, and control issues.

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May 28, 2026

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Oct 29, 2025

Most people understand the importance of a financial power of attorney (POA)—a legal document that allows someone you trust to manage your finances if you become unable to do so yourself. However, few realize that the Social Security Administration (SSA) does not honor traditional powers of attorney.

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Sep 17, 2025

Like most people, you probably don't expect to become disabled. However, according to the Social Security Administration (SSA), studies show that 1 in 4 of today's 20 year-olds will become disabled before reaching full retirement age.

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Aug 15, 2025

The landmark tax legislation, the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (H.R. 1), signed into law on July 4, 2025 introduced a temporary special deduction for taxpayers aged 65 or older (Section 70103 of the OBBBA).

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Jun 11, 2025

Recent developments have raised serious concerns about the stability of Social Security benefits.

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Apr 10, 2025

The Social Security Administration (SSA) has announced that effective April 14, some individuals who want to claim Social Security benefits or change their direct deposit account information will need to visit a local Social Security field office to prove their identity in person.

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Jan 24, 2025

Under the Social Security Fairness Act signed by President Biden on January 5, 2025, almost 3 million Americans will receive a boost to their Social Security benefits.

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Nov 10, 2025

As Americans live longer, planning for future health-care needs has become an essential part of retirement and estate strategy.

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Oct 13, 2025

The insurance industry has introduced different types of insurance to meet consumer needs.

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Aug 28, 2025

Medicare won't cover all of your health-care costs during retirement, so you may want to buy a supplemental medical insurance policy known as Medigap.

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Jul 21, 2025

Buying a life insurance policy goes a long way toward protecting the people you care about. But the world doesn’t stand still. The amount that seemed sufficient five years ago may not be enough now.

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May 15, 2025

Long-term care refers to the ongoing services and support needed by people who have chronic health conditions or disabilities.

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Jan 30, 2025

Before you begin an inventory of your possessions, read your insurance policy to see what sort of coverage you have today.

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Sep 19, 2025

. When your primary goals are managing costs and increasing revenue, how do you sufficiently entice new recruits and reward current staff members for continually putting their best efforts forward? One way is ensuring that you provide a competitive, cost-effective benefit package comprised of both traditional and not-so-traditional benefits.

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Aug 07, 2025

If you own a small business, you may be finding it increasingly necessary to implement a benefit program to attract and retain employees. For small businesses, benefit plans generally consist of some of the major insurance benefits, discussed here, as well as employer-sponsored retirement plans.

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Mar 28, 2025

If you run a side hustle or a small business and accept payments on Venmo, Cash App, or an online marketplace such as Etsy, you may be getting a new tax form this year.

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Jan 13, 2025

Once you've decided to sell your business, one of your most important jobs will be finding a buyer and getting the best possible deal.

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