How many of us save and invest with an eye on tax implications? Not that many of us, according to a recent survey from Russell Investments (the global asset manager overseeing the Russell 2000). In the opening quarter of 2014, Russell polled financial services professionals...
Who would you rather emulate? You stand at your window and look across the street. Nice house, you think. Nice landscaping. Nice sports car. Nice driveway. New bikes for the kids. Wow, your neighbors are really well off. If only you had that kind of money. That...
IRAs & workplace retirement plans have higher contribution limits. The IRS has set annual contribution limits for IRAs, 401(k)s and other retirement plans higher for 2013, and made other important adjustments for inflation as well. Here is an overview of some notable changes just announced. The 2013...
What factors might influence the Fed in the near future? Here’s a trivia question for you: when was the last time the Federal Reserve raised the benchmark U.S. interest rate? The answer: June 29, 2006. On that day, the federal funds rate hit 5.25%. It has declined...
The summer of 2012 has defied expectations. On August 21, the S&P 500 hit a 4-year high. It climbed 3% in the first three weeks of the month following a 1.26% July gain. Across the past four weeks, the index’s total return has been just under...
A noted economist disputes that generalization. True or false? You may have heard this claim before (or something like it): “Many Americans are being forced to retire later because their savings and investments took a hit in the Great Recession.” Recently a big-name economist disputed that belief....
The 2011 changes will be followed by more in 2012 and 2013. Have you bought any stocks this year? Before you sell any of them, remember that the IRS implemented new tax basis reporting rules for equities on January 1, 2011. Under the new rules, you...
WEEKLY QUOTE“Comedy is simply a funny way of being serious.” – Peter Ustinov WEEKLY TIP About to do some holiday shopping? Try keeping your credit cards at home. The interest you save can be a financial gift to yourself. WEEKLY RIDDLE A man leaves home and makes three left turns. He comes home...
A way to give without a great deal of bureaucracy. So, you’d like to make some major charitable contributions, but you don’t want to create a family foundation - with its paperwork and management commitment and the possibility of squabbles. Is there an alternative? Yes, there is....