What kind of retirement do you think you’ll have? An outstanding one? A depressing one? What if it all starts with your outlook?Qualitatively speaking, what if the success or failure of your retirement begins with your perception of retirement? A whole field of study has emerged...
Sometimes you can take penalty-free early withdrawals from retirement accounts. Do you need to access your retirement money early? Usually, anyone who takes money out of an IRA or a retirement plan prior to age 59½ faces a 10% early withdrawal penalty on the distribution. That...
How good a year was it for the economy? Statistics tell the tale. Was 2013 a terrific year for stocks? Absolutely. The good news wasn’t limited to Wall Street, however: the employment rate fell, the economy revved up, home prices rose and inflation pressure was minimal. Bulls...
What raises eyebrows at the IRS? Are you one of those taxpayers worried about being audited? The fear may be overblown – according to Internal Revenue Service data, just 1.6 million taxpayers were audited in 2011. The agency reviewed about 1% of returns sent in by...
WEEKLY QUOTE“Patriotism is easy to understand in America; it means looking out for yourself by looking out for your country.” - Calvin Coolidge WEEKLY TIP A dollar available now is worth more than a dollar available in the future – not just because of long-term inflation,...
Are we seeing the early signs of a dollar bull run? What happened to the weak buck? In recent years, stock market gains have been associated with a weak dollar (among other factors). This latest rally on Wall Street seems to be an exception: years of...
A thoughtful financial move for a loved one with a disability. If you have a child with special needs or care for an adult relative who is mentally or physically challenged, you face long-run financial demands. In all probability, federal and state assistance won’t help you...
SBOs are taking a new look at old-school defined benefit plans. Contrary to popular belief, classic pension plans have not disappeared. Corporations have mostly jettisoned them, but highly profitable small businesses are giving them a second look. Why are small business owners deciding to adopt old-school,...
Can the last quarter of 2011 live up to historical averages? Is a rally ahead? You may have heard that stocks tend to do well in the fourth quarter. History affirms that perception: while past performance is no guarantee of future results, the last quarter of the...
QUOTE OF THE QUARTER“Action is a great restorer and builder of confidence. Inaction is not only the result, but the cause, of fear.” – Norman Vincent Peale QUARTERLY TIP When companies offer health insurance benefits to domestic partners, they are often taxable. A cost-benefit analysis can be illuminating and...