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Did you know that if you postpone claiming Social Security past your full retirement age, you have the option of receiving a lump-sum payment for up to six months of benefits when you finally apply?

If you earn money through a payment app or online marketplace, you may be affected by a tax reporting change enacted by the 2021 American Rescue Plan. The law requires third-party settlement organizations to report business transactions totaling over $600 per year by issuing a Form 1099-K to the taxpayer and the IRS. The previous reporting threshold was much higher ($20,000 and 200 business transactions).

Remember when you turned 16 and rushed to get your driver's license? Or earned the right to vote at 18 and enjoyed the privileges and responsibilities of adulthood at 21? There aren't many legal changes associated with birthdays after that until you turn 50, and then there are plenty.

Most home improvements are not tax deductible — with one possible exception. In certain situations, you may be able to deduct improvements deemed necessary for medical reasons (not just beneficial to general health). If you itemize instead of taking the standard deduction, you can deduct unreimbursed medical expenses that exceed 7.5% of your adjusted gross income, so the tax savings could be significant if a costly home improvement pushes your total medical expenses above that threshold. Installing air conditioning to help treat asthma or modifying a home to make it wheelchair accessible are common examples of qualifying expenses.

Investing can be daunting, whether you are experienced or a beginner. Even if you feel confident about your investing strategy, it can be easy to lose focus or make decisions based on emotion. Here are eight quotes from successful investors, economists, and other insightful thinkers that may help provide perspective and focus for your own investing strategy.

The SECURE Act of 2019 dramatically changed the rules governing how IRA and retirement plan assets are distributed to beneficiaries. The new rules, which took effect for account owner deaths occurring in 2020 or later, are an alphabet soup of complicated requirements that could result in big tax bills for many beneficiaries. (The following is based on clarifying regulations proposed by the IRS in early 2022. As of this writing, final rules have not yet been released.)

The Taxpayer Relief Act of 1997 provided homeowners who sell their principal residence an exclusion from capital gains taxes of $250,000 for single filers and $500,000 for joint filers. At that time, the average price of a new home was about $145,000, so this exclusion seemed generous and allowed more Americans to move freely from one home to another. Unfortunately, the exclusion was not indexed to inflation, and what seemed generous in 1997 can be restrictive in 2024.

529 plans were created in 1996 to give families a tax-advantaged way to save for college. Roth IRAs were created a year later to give people another tax-advantaged way to save for retirement. Along the way, some parents began using Roth IRAs as a college savings tool. And now, starting in 2024, extra funds in a 529 plan can be rolled over to a Roth IRA for the same beneficiary. Here's how the two options compare in a few key areas.

New vehicle prices have skyrocketed these past few years, with the cost averaging well over $48,000 toward the end of 2023. These increased costs, coupled with rising interest rates, mean that buying a vehicle can take a significant bite out of your budget. If you are in the market for a new vehicle, you might be wondering if leasing it would save you money.

If you participate in a traditional pension plan (also known as a defined benefit plan), your plan may offer several payout options including "qualified joint and survivor annuity" (QJSA) if you are married. A QJSA is an annuity that pays a dollar amount (usually monthly) for the rest of your life, with at least 50% of that amount continuing to your spouse after your death. However, if your spouse consents in writing, you can waive the QJSA and elect instead to receive a single-life annuity. With a single-life annuity, payments are made over your lifetime but stop upon your death. For example, if you receive just one payment after retirement and then die, the single-life annuity would end, and the plan would make no further payments.

Taxpayers are required to pay most of their tax obligation during the year by having tax withheld from their paychecks or pension payments, or by making estimated tax payments. Estimated tax is the primary method used to pay tax on income that isn't subject to withholding. This typically includes income from self-employment, interest, dividends, and gain from the sale of assets. Estimated tax is used to pay both income tax and self-employment tax, as well as other taxes reported on your income tax return.

Scam artists often prey on those who are most vulnerable. Unfortunately, this includes individuals who have recently lost a loved one and are easily taken advantage of during their time of grief. Scammers will look for details from obituaries, funeral homes, hospitals, stolen death certificates, and social media websites to obtain personal information about a deceased individual and use it to commit fraud.

Serious accidents don't happen very often, but when they do, the impact can be devastating. And unfortunately, you could be held legally responsible if a member of your household causes a car wreck or if someone is injured on your property, even if you go to great lengths to help make your home and the surrounding area safe for visitors.

Asset allocation and diversification are so fundamental to portfolio structure that it's easy to lose sight of these strategic tools as you track the performance of specific securities or the dollar value of your investments. It might be worth considering how these strategies relate to each other and to the risk and potential performance of your portfolio.

On the road to retirement, be on the lookout for hazards that can hamper your progress. Here are five potential risks that can slow you down.

Traditionally, tipping has been a way to reward workers for providing good service. But the norms around tipping are changing, and if you've recently felt more pressure to tip, you're not alone. A survey by the Pew Research Center found that 72% of adults said that tipping was expected in more places today than it was five years ago, a phenomenon known as "tip creep" or "tipflation."

Social Security is complex, and the details are often misunderstood even by those who are already receiving benefits. It's important to understand some of the basic rules and options and how they might affect your financial future.

Traditional economic models are based on the premise that people make rational decisions to maximize economic and financial benefits. In reality, most humans don't make decisions like robots. While logic does guide us, feelings and emotions — such as fear, excitement, and a desire to be part of the "in" crowd — are also at work.

On April 10, 2024, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics released the Consumer Price Index (CPI) for March, and the increase in CPI — the most commonly cited measure of inflation — was higher than expected. The rate for all items (headline inflation) was 3.5% over the previous year, while the "core CPI" rate, which strips out volatile food and energy prices, was even higher at 3.8%. The month-over-month change was also higher than anticipated at 0.4%.

One challenge faced by family-run businesses involves transitioning both the ownership and operations from one generation to the next. A family limited partnership (FLP) is a legal agreement that enables business owners and their heirs to address succession, estate, and tax planning needs all at once.

It's estimated that more than one in 10 Americans leases a storage unit. In June 2023, the nationwide prices charged by self-storage facilities averaged $165 per month, after rising 20% over the previous year. Storage renters may pay more than that for large spaces or climate-controlled units, and at facilities in high-cost cities such as Los Angeles and New York.

In July 2023, the Department of Education launched a new income-driven repayment (IDR) plan for federal student loans called the Saving on a Valuable Education (SAVE) Plan. The SAVE Plan is the most generous IDR plan to date, and like all IDR plans, it calculates a borrower's monthly payment amount based on income and family size.

In an unusual twist, U.S. home values climbed to an annual record of $389,800 in 2023, even as mortgage rates rose to the highest levels in a generation. The median price of existing homes rose 4.4% for the twelve months ended in December 2023 to reach $382,600. (Buying activity and prices tend to peak during the summer and tick back down when the market slows later in the year.)

When you hear or read that the market is up or down, what does that really mean? More often than not, it reflects movement in the two best-known stock market indexes, the Dow Jones Industrial Average and the S&P 500.

Life insurance has long been recognized as a useful way to provide for your heirs and loved ones when you die. While naming your policy's beneficiaries should be a relatively simple task, there are a number of situations that can easily lead to unintended and adverse consequences. Here are several life insurance beneficiary traps you may want to discuss with a professional.

Individual bonds and bond funds can both provide an income stream, but there are important differences. An individual bond can offer more certainty and stability than a fund, while a fund can offer diversification that might be difficult to obtain with individual bonds.

Tax filing season is here again. If you haven't done so already, you'll want to start pulling things together — that includes getting your hands on a copy of your 2022 tax return and gathering W-2s, 1099s, and deduction records. You'll need these records whether you're preparing your own return or paying someone else to prepare your tax return for you.

You're probably aware that a 10% penalty tax generally applies to distributions from qualified retirement plan accounts prior to age 59½, unless an exception applies; however, you may not be aware of the exception that allows retirement account holders to access their savings at any age, penalty-free. Specifically, this exception allows distributions through a series of substantially equal periodic payments (SoSEPPs). Also known as the 72(t) strategy, SoSEPPs are subject to strict and complicated rules, so it may be best to proceed with caution.

With wildfires in Maui, Hurricane Idalia in Florida, and the heat wave that blanketed the South, Midwest, and Great Plains, 2023 was a record-setting year for extreme weather in the United States. In fact, last year the U.S. saw more weather and climate-related disasters that cost over $1 billion than ever before.

Couples who have opposite philosophies regarding saving and spending often have trouble finding common ground, and money arguments frequently erupt. But you can learn to work with — and even appreciate — your financial differences.

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 2024.

The Federal Reserve's rapid series of interest rate hikes throughout 2022 and 2023 — initiated in an effort to bring down red-hot inflation — rippled throughout financial markets and the broader economy

According to an October 2023 survey, higher interest rates impacted more than half of small businesses, and over 20% reported that higher rates and tighter lending standards influenced their hiring decisions.
Small businesses paid an average rate of 9.1% for short-term loans in October 2023, the highest rate since 2006, and nearly twice as much as they were paying just two years ago (4.6% in August 2021).
Despite these hurdles, many people who need working capital or want to start, invest in, or expand a business may need to borrow money. Here's a rundown of some common financing options.

As you plan for retirement, you might not give credit a second thought, especially if your plan includes paying off your mortgage and other debts, and relying more on cash than credit. But retirement could last many years, and your need for credit doesn't necessarily disappear on your last day of work. At some point you may want to buy a second home, move to a retirement community, take out a home equity loan, or buy a vehicle; it's also possible you will face an unexpected expense. Keeping your credit healthy may help you qualify for a lower interest rate or better terms on a loan or credit card, or if a credit check is involved, even help you land a part-time job or obtain a better deal on auto insurance.

Academic researchers have been exploring how investors' personalities might affect their financial decisions and wealth outcomes.
In one study, three finance professors (Dr. Zhengyang Jiang from Northwestern University's Kellogg School of Management, Cameron Peng from the London School of Economics, and Hongjun Yan from DePaul University's Driehaus College of Business) surveyed more than 3,000 members of the American Association of Individual Investors — a relatively sophisticated group of market participants. These researchers examined correlations between five personality traits and the investors' market expectations and portfolio allocations.

Estate planning is the process of managing and preserving your assets while you are alive, and conserving and controlling their distribution after your death. There are four key estate planning documents almost everyone should have regardless of age, health, or wealth. They are: a durable power of attorney, advance medical directive(s), a will, and a letter of instruction.

The start of a new year is typically a time when people resolve to implement or recommit themselves to a personal financial goal. This year, why not consider opening a 529 plan account, or increasing your contributions to an existing account, to enhance your child's or grandchild's financial future? 529 plans are the most flexible they've ever been since their creation more than 25 years ago.

If you can't help but notice a growing fascination with "the metaverse," both in pop culture and the financial news, you may be wondering what all the buzz is about. Contrary to how it sounds, there is no single, definitive metaverse — at least not yet. The term refers broadly to the various 3-D digital spaces that are being created with emerging technologies such as virtual reality (VR), augmented reality (AR), and artificial intelligence (AI), so that people can have more lifelike online experiences.

More than seven out of 10 current workers in a recent survey said they expect a paycheck to play a role in their income strategy beyond traditional retirement age. In fact, 33% expect to retire at age 70 or older, or not at all. If you expect to continue working during your 60s, 70s, or beyond, consider the advantages and disadvantages carefully. Although working can enhance your retirement years in many ways, you may also face unexpected consequences, particularly when it comes to Social Security.

Your most valuable asset may be your ability to earn an income. Over the course of your lifetime, you could earn several million dollars — money that helps support you and your family. If something happened to you, how would your family replace your lost income? Life insurance can help replace your income when needed at your death. However, with the wide variety of policies available, it's important that you understand some of the basic types of life insurance coverage.

An estate plan is a map that explains how you want your personal and financial affairs to be handled in the event of your incapacity or death. Due to its importance and because circumstances change over time, you should periodically review your estate plan and update it as needed.

Teenagers with part-time or seasonal jobs earn some spending money while gaining valuable work experience. They also have the chance to contribute to a Roth IRA — a tax-advantaged account that can be used to save for retirement or other financial goals.

It's no surprise that consumers are contacted by debt collectors about medical bills more than any other type of debt. After all, the complex world of medical billing and collection practices is extremely difficult to navigate. Many people have trouble understanding what the various billing codes on a medical bill even mean.

After years of low yields, bonds are offering higher yields that may be appealing to investors regardless of their risk tolerance. While bonds could play a role in any portfolio, they can be a mainstay for retirees looking for stability and income, and near-retirees might consider shifting some assets into bonds in preparation for retirement. Bonds are generally considered to have lower risk than stocks — one good reason to own them — but they are not without risk. In fact, bonds are subject to multiple risks. In considering the brief explanations below, keep in mind that coupon rate refers to the interest paid on the face value of a bond, whereas yield refers to the return to the investor based on the purchase price. A bond purchased for less than face value will have a higher yield than the coupon rate, and a bond purchased for more than face value will have a lower yield than the coupon rate.

The SECURE 2.0 Act, passed in late 2022, included numerous provisions affecting retirement savings plans, including some that impact required minimum distributions (RMDs). Here is a summary of several important changes, as well as a quick primer on how to calculate RMDs.

Here are some things to consider as you weigh potential tax moves before the end of the year.

In a 2022 survey, consumers were first asked to quickly estimate how much they spend on subscription services each month, then a while later, they were directed to break down and itemize their monthly payments. On average, the consumers' actual spending was $219 per month, about 2.5 times as much as the $86 they originally guessed.

If you've recently received an inheritance, you may be facing many important decisions. Receiving an inheritance might promote spending without planning, but don't make any hasty decisions. Here are some suggestions that could help you manage your inheritance.

The Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 included provisions intended to lower prescription drug costs for Medicare enrollees and slow drug spending by the federal government. According to an estimate by the Congressional Budget Office, the law's drug pricing reforms could reduce the federal budget deficit by $237 billion over 10 years (2022 to 2031).

If your employer offers health insurance benefits, one of your options may be a high-deductible health plan (HDHP) with eligibility for a health savings account (HSA). These plans offer potential savings by encouraging you to make cost- effective choices in your medical spending. If you do not have employer-sponsored health coverage, you can choose from a variety of individual HDHPs, including plans through state or federal health insurance exchanges.

A notable shift in public opinion over the past decade about the value of a college degree may portend a reckoning for the higher education industry in the years ahead — and for the families who are trying to save for and manage the costs. A 2023 survey found disaffection spreading to all age groups, with 56% of Americans saying a four-year college degree isn't worth the cost due to students graduating with significant debt and a lack of specific job skills vs. 42% who think college is worth it.1 Ten years ago, the survey numbers were almost reversed.

Publicly traded companies are required to disclose their financial performance to regulators and shareholders on a quarterly basis. News organizations and investors pay close attention to these reports because they tend to impact stock prices, with strong earnings driving share prices up, and vice versa.

A sound retirement plan should be based on your particular circumstances. No one strategy is suitable for everyone. Once you're retired, your income plan should strive to address four basic objectives: earn a reasonable rate of return, manage the risk of loss, maintain a source of sustainable and predictable income, and reduce the impact of taxes.

A financial crisis — such as a job loss or medical emergency — can strike when you least expect it. It is important to be prepared by having a financial safety net in place — not having one could prove to be financially devastating. But bulking up your emergency fund isn't always easy, especially during times of economic uncertainty. According to a recent study, only 26% of people say they have more emergency savings than they did a year ago, and 39% say they have less.

Life insurance can serve many valuable purposes. However, later in life — when your children have grown, you've retired, or you've paid off your mortgage — you may think you no longer need to keep your coverage, or perhaps your coverage has become too expensive. You might be tempted to abandon the policy or surrender your life insurance coverage, but there are other alternatives to consider.

Federal tax credits may be available to help offset your cost to purchase certain clean vehicles (including electric, plug-in hybrid, and fuel cell vehicles).

There's a certain amount of risk that comes with owning a business. Accidents can happen no matter how well a company is run, and a lawsuit could be devastating if the business is found to be at fault.

The chart below shows the savings that a man, a woman, and a couple who retired at age 65 in 2022 might need to meet retirement health-care expenses, assuming median prescription drug expenses. The Original Medicare estimate includes premiums for Medicare Parts B and D, the Part B deductible, out-of-pocket prescription drug spending, and premiums for Medigap Plan G, which would pay most other out-of-pocket costs.

A couple of federal personal tax credits are available for the installation of certain energy efficient or clean energy property in your home. The energy efficient home improvement credit is available for qualifying expenditures incurred for an existing home or for an addition to or renovation of an existing home, but not for a newly constructed home. The residential clean energy property credit is available for qualifying expenditures incurred for either an existing home or a newly constructed home. For both credits, the home must be located in the United States and used as a residence by the taxpayer.

With the COVID pandemic receding in most areas of the world, Americans are traveling again. U.S. citizens took more than 80 million international trips in 2022, an increase of almost 66% over the same period in 2021.1 If you're planning a foreign vacation, here are some suggestions to help keep your trip on track.

A legal will describes how you want your material assets to be distributed, but how do you leave behind your values? Using an ethical will, also called a legacy letter, you can tell your personal story and communicate your beliefs and life lessons to your family, friends, or community. You can opt to share it during your lifetime or leave it as a special gift for your loved ones to cherish after you're gone.

Financial worries are often cited as a major source of stress. For example, a 2021 study found that even before the pandemic and subsequent economic downturn, a majority of Americans said they felt stressed or anxious about their finances. Similarly, in 2022, research revealed that more than seven out of 10 financial planning clients experienced financial anxiety more than half the time.

In December 2022, Congress passed the SECURE 2.0 Act. It introduced two new rules relating to 529 plans and student debt that will take effect in 2024. The first provision allows for tax- and penalty-free rollovers from a 529 plan to a Roth IRA. The second provision allows student loan payments made by employees to qualify for employer retirement matching contributions.

Real estate investment trusts (REITs) can offer a consistent income stream that is typically higher than Treasury yields and other stock dividends.

Mutual funds pool investment dollars from many individual investors to purchase a group of selected securities aimed at meeting a particular objective. This offers a convenient way to invest across a wide range of market activity that would be difficult for most investors to do by purchasing individual securities.

The mortgage industry has been on a roller coaster ride over the last couple of years. Interest rates for fixed-rate mortgage loans were at historical lows during the beginning of the pandemic in 2020, rising to a 20-year high in late 2022 — and fluctuating ever since. Many buyers are finding it difficult to afford a new home with traditional fixed-rate mortgage loans in such a high interest rate environment. As a result, more buyers are relying on alternative financing options to help lower their interest rates.

To say the economy has been uneven over the past few years is an understatement. Amid these bumpy economic times, why buy life insurance?

If 2023 has been financially challenging, why not take a moment to reflect on the progress you've made and the setbacks you've faced? Getting into the habit of reviewing your finances midyear may help you keep your financial plan on track while there's still plenty of time left in the year to make adjustments.

Have you thought about how your business would be impacted by the death or disability of you (the owner) or another key employee? It's important that you create a plan to protect your business from such a loss.

If you would like to reduce your monthly mortgage payment without having to refinance, then you may want to explore a mortgage recast. When you recast your mortgage, you put money toward the principal balance of your current home loan. Your mortgage lender then recalculates (reamortizes) your loan based on your new, lower balance, which reduces your monthly payment. Your interest rate and the number of years remaining on your loan stay the same. Here are three scenarios where a mortgage recast might be especially appealing.

Municipal bonds are issued by public entities such as state and local governments, health systems, universities, and school districts to help finance the building and maintenance of infrastructure projects such as roads, airports, water systems, and facilities. Despite the higher borrowing costs that resulted from the Federal Reserve's inflation-fighting interest-rate hikes, municipalities issued $308 billion in debt in 2022 to fund capital projects, after selling more than $321 billion in 2021.

Combining finances can be complicated for any couple, but the challenges become more complex the second time around, especially when children are involved. Here are some ideas to consider if you are already part of a blended family or looking forward to combining households sometime soon.

Retirees face several unique challenges when managing their income, particularly when it comes to taxes. From understanding how taxes relate to Social Security and Medicare to determining when to tap taxable and tax-advantaged accounts, individuals must juggle a complicated mix of factors.

There is no magic formula to determine how much you or your child should borrow for college. But how much is too much?

The U.S. stock market struggled in 2022, with the S&P 500 index ending the year down more 19.4%.1 The S&P 500, which includes stocks of large U.S. companies, is generally considered representative of the U.S. stock market as a whole, and it is a good benchmark for broad market performance. But there are thousands of smaller companies, and many of those held onto their stock value better during the market conditions of 2022.

The bulk of Social Security benefits go to retirees, but Social Security is much more than a retirement program. Most Americans are protected by the Old-Age, Survivors, and Disability Insurance (OASDI) program — the official name of Social Security — throughout their lives.

The Inflation Reduction Act of 2022 is providing the IRS with an influx of about $80 billion to modernize outdated technology and rebuild a depleted workforce, which is expected to improve enforcement to the tune of about $200 billion over a decade. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen directed the agency not to use additional resources to increase audit rates for taxpayers making under $400,000 a year, but the tax returns of high-earning business owners are likely to face more scrutiny than they have in years past.

The arrival of spring is always a good time to dust off the cobwebs that have built up in your home during the winter. It's also a good time to clean out and organize your financial records so you can quickly locate something if you need it.

If you are age 50 or older and still working, you have a valuable opportunity to super-charge your retirement savings while managing your income tax liability. Catch-up contributions offer the chance to invest amounts over and above the standard annual limits in IRAs and workplace retirement plans.

College students and parents deserve all the help they can get when paying for college or repaying student loans. If you're in this situation, here are three federal tax benefits that might help put a few more dollars back in your pocket.

If you and your spouse are looking for a way to build your retirement savings but one of you is not working, you might consider funding a spousal IRA. This could be the same IRA that the spouse contributed to while working or it could be a new account. In either case, IRS rules allow a married couple to fund separate IRA accounts for each spouse based on the couple's joint income. The total of both IRA contributions cannot exceed the total taxable income reported on the couple's joint tax return.

Acts of kindness, even small ones, can have lasting benefits. You may not always see the impact of your investment of time or money, but your acts of kindness will ripple through the lives of people you know...or don't know. Here are some ideas for practicing financial kindness.

"London Bridge is down." On September 8, 2022, those words were reportedly used to launch what was arguably the most complex end-of-life proceedings the world has ever witnessed: the funeral arrangements for Queen Elizabeth II. The plan, known as Operation London Bridge, laid out in exacting detail how the ensuing days would unfold. Although most families don't need a playbook as intricate as the royals, a comprehensive end-of-life plan can significantly ease the burden on family members during a highly emotional period.

Stock market losses can be rough on your portfolio's bottom line, but they may also offer the potential to reduce your tax liability and possibly buy shares at a discount. Whether this strategy — called tax-loss harvesting — is appropriate for you depends on a variety of factors, including your current portfolio performance, your long-term goals, and your current and future taxable income.

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 2023.

Maintaining an appropriate balance of stocks and bonds is one of the most fundamental concepts in constructing an investment portfolio. Stocks provide greater growth potential with higher risk and relatively low income; bonds tend to be more stable, with modest potential for growth and higher income. Together, they may result in a less volatile portfolio that might not grow as fast as a stock-only portfolio during a rising market, but may not lose as much during a market downturn.

With stock and bond markets both faltering over the past year, it's easy to see why more near-retirees have a newfound appreciation for fixed annuities — insurance contracts that guarantee a specified rate of return. A fixed annuity maintains its value regardless of market conditions, and yields on these products have risen in response to the higher interest-rate environment.

To help improve your financial situation, you might consider reducing your debt. Before starting any debt payoff strategy (or combination of strategies), be sure you understand the terms of your debts, including interest rates, payment requirements, and any prepayment or other penalties.

Over time, finances tend to get complicated, especially when you're juggling multiple goals and accounts. Simplifying your finances requires a bit of effort up front, but making just a few changes may help free up more time to focus on your financial priorities.

Inflation is a sustained increase in prices that reduces the purchasing power of your money over time. According to the Consumer Price Index (CPI), inflation peaked at an annual rate of 9.1% in June 2022, the fastest pace since 1981, before ticking down to 7.7% in October.

As young adults embark on their first real job, get married, or start a family, retirement might be the last thing on their minds. Even so, they might want to make it a financial priority. In preparing for retirement, the best time to start investing isnow — for two key reasons: compounding and tax management.

The passage of the SECURE Act in 2019 effectively eliminated the stretch IRA, an estate planning strategy that allowed an inherited IRA to continue growing tax deferred, potentially for decades. Most nonspouse beneficiaries, including children and grandchildren, can no longer stretch distributions over their lifetimes. Moreover, proposed IRS regulations require most designated beneficiaries to take annual required minimum distributions (RMDs) within the 10-year distribution period if the original account owner died on or after his or her required beginning date. This shorter distribution period could result in unanticipated and potentially large tax bills for nonspouse beneficiaries who inherit high-value IRAs.

Busy, cash-strapped parents might welcome all the help they can get when saving for college. Building a college fund, even a small one, can help families feel more in control and less stressed during the college research and admission process. Think of a college fund as a down payment. Then at college time, it can be supplemented by financial aid (grants, scholarships, loans, and work-study), current income, and student funds. A good benchmark is to try and save at least 50% of your child's projected college costs, but any amount is better than nothing.

According to the National Retail Federation, online sales accounted for over $1 trillion of total U.S. retail sales in 2021.1 Online shopping is especially popular during the holiday season, enabling you to avoid the crowds and conveniently purchase gifts using your smartphone or computer. Unfortunately, the popularity of online shopping also means that cyber criminals and online scams are more prevalent than ever. Here are some tips to help protect yourself when shopping online.

Record-breaking fuel prices may have you thinking about buying an electric vehicle sooner rather than later. All electric vehicles (EVs) or plug-in electric vehicles (PEVs), as they're also called, run on electric energy stored in a rechargeable battery rather than on fuel. Plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) that can run on either type of power are also popular. The market is evolving quickly: 126 additional hybrid and EV models were introduced between 2020 and 2021, and U.S. sales nearly doubled.

With the prices for gas, oil, and electricity continuing to soar across the country, consumers are facing another winter of high heating bills. According to the National Energy Assistance Directors' Association, the average cost of home heating is estimated to increase by 17.2% this season.1 Here are some tips to help you keep your heating costs down.

A donor-advised fund (DAF) is a charitable account offered by sponsors such as financial institutions, community foundations, universities, and fraternal or religious organizations. Donors who itemize deductions on their federal income tax returns can write off DAF contributions in the year they are made, then gift funds later to the charities they want to support. DAF contributions are irrevocable, which means the donor gives the sponsor legal control while retaining advisory privileges with respect to the distribution of funds and the investment of assets.

Here are some things to consider as you weigh potential tax moves before the end of the year.

The U.S. stock market had a banner year in 2021, with the S&P 500 index up almost 27%. Unfortunately, stocks turned downward on the second trading day of 2022 and kept sliding into a bear market.

If you worry about your retirement investments during market downturns, you're not alone. Unfortunately, emotions are often the enemy of sound investing. Here are some points to help you stay clear-headed during periods of market volatility.

The importance of proper estate planning cannot be overstated, regardless of the size of your estate or the stage of life you're in. Nevertheless, it's surprising how many American adults haven't put a plan in place. You might think that those who are rich and famous would be way ahead of the curve when it comes to planning their estates properly. Yet plenty of celebrities and people of note have died with inadequate or nonexistent estate plans

Cost of BorrowingIn April 2022, the average interest rate for a 30-year fixed mortgage surpassed 5% for the first time since April 2010, and it was still above 5% in August. With higher rates, it's more important than ever to understand how interest increases the total cost of a mortgage.

Wedding Bonanza:In 2021, the national average cost of a wedding was about $28,000, a figure that includes the rehearsal dinner, ceremony, and a reception with 105 guests — but not the engagement ring (which averaged $6,000) or the honeymoon. Of course, the average price tag varied greatly by location, from $16,000 in Oklahoma to $47,000 in New Jersey. With inflation soaring, many couples are facing significantly higher costs, and greater competition for in-demand vendors, in 2022.

After dropping the benchmark federal funds rate to a range of 0%–0.25% early in the pandemic, the Federal Open Market Committee of the Federal Reserve has begun raising the rate aggressively in response to high inflation and a stronger economy.

COVID-19 kicked off a severe labor shortage — and the most challenging hiring conditions for businesses in many years. In August 2022, 49% of small businesses reported having job openings they could not fill.1 Many owners have had to turn away orders (and revenue), disappoint customers, or work 80-hour weeks to help fill the labor gap, none of which is likely to be sustainable.

The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) for the 2023-2024 school year opened on October 1, 2022. Here are some things you should know.

Inflation, roller-coaster markets, global events, and life circumstances can test anyone's fortitude. You may not feel ready to handle these pressure-filled times and might worry about the potential effects on your financial well-being. Fortunately, you can take steps to build the resilience you need to help handle the turbulence and hopefully emerge even stronger.

A pooled income fund is a trust with both charitable and noncharitable beneficiaries. It is established and run by a public charity, not by you. The charity "pools" the irrevocable contributions of many people, invests the money, and then distributes to you (or your designated beneficiary) a periodic income payment (usually quarterly or annually) for life, prorated to match your contribution to the fund. When you die or your designated beneficiary dies, your remaining share in the fund passes to the charity.

Index funds, which try to match the performance of a particular market index, have drawn increasing interest from investors, but traditional actively managed funds still hold more assets (see chart). There is ongoing discussion in the financial media about which approach is most effective, but there may be good reasons to hold both in a welldiversified portfolio. Here are some pros and cons to consider.

Throughout your life, your financial needs will change and life insurance can help you meet some of those needs. But how much life insurance do you need? There are a number of approaches to help determine how much life insurance you should have. Here are three of those methods.

Higher taxes could follow in the wake of soaring government spending on pandemic relief measures — a likelihood that shines a new light on the tax advantages of life insurance. Permanent life insurance offers a tax-free death benefit, and a portion of each premium goes into a cash-value account that accumulates on a tax-deferred basis. The policy owner may also access the cash value, if needed, without triggering income taxes.

John D. Rockefeller, one of the wealthiest Americans in history, loved receiving stock dividends. "Do you know the only thing that gives me pleasure?" he once asked. "It's to see my dividends coming in."

If you earn money through an app or online digital platform, you may be affected by a tax reporting change that took effect on January 1, 2022. A provision of the 2021 American Rescue Plan requires third-party payment processors to report business transactions totaling over $600 per year by issuing a Form 1099-K to the taxpayer and the IRS. In prior years, the reporting threshold was much higher (200 business transactions and $20,000).

The COVID-19 pandemic kicked off a severe labor shortage — and quite possibly the most worker-friendly job market in many years. Unpredictable demand shifts exposed pre-existing mismatches between the knowledge and skills of available workers and the tasks for which they are needed. The sheer number of available jobs has also been running far above the number of unemployed job seekers. For example, employers reported 11.4 million job openings in April, while there were only 6.0 million unemployed persons.

An extraordinary number of new business applications — nearly 5.4 million — were filed in 2021, far surpassing the previous record of 4.4 million set in 2020.1 Although some of these start-ups will replace businesses that closed earlier in the pandemic, it appears that many Americans reassessed their careers and were inspired to launch brand-new ventures of their own. Some people took the leap into self-employment after losing their former jobs, while others gave up stable paychecks to take a chance on their dreams.

Most teenagers probably aren't thinking about saving for retirement, buying a home, or even paying for college when they start their first jobs. Yet a first job can present an ideal opportunity to explain how a Roth IRA can become a valuable savings tool in the pursuit of future goals

For the 12-month period ending in May 2022, the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) — the most widely used measure of inflation — increased 8.6%, the fastest pace in 40 years.1The rate may trend downward as the Federal Reserve raises interest rates and supply-chain issues improve. But inflation is likely to be relatively high for some time.

When thinking about life insurance, you might focus on the death benefit that can be used for income replacement, business continuation, and estate preservation. But life insurance policies may include other provisions that allow you to access some or all of the death benefit while you are living. These features are often referred to as living benefits, which are usually offered as optional add-ons called riders

The U.S. unemployment rate skyrocketed to 14.7% in April 2020 when the economy shut down in response to the pandemic. This was by far the highest rate since the current tracking system began in 1948. Fortunately, employment has recovered at a record pace — the unemployment rate was just 3.6% in March, April, and May 2022, nearly the same as before the pandemic.

The deeper and more genuine the connection you make with clients, the better for everyone concerned. Here we explore the hows and whys of creating a community among your clients—and the incredibly fulfilling work that comes with it.

Of course there is no one-size-fits-all solution for client communication, particularly when a potentially tense situation arises. But having these remarks ready to deploy when you think the moment is right can ease tensions and bring you and the client back on the same side. These tactful comments can increase rapport, lead to better understanding, and help clients feel open to what you are communicating.

Imagine this: You are meeting with clients, reviewing the action items for which they were responsible, when they say, “You will be so proud of us. We went ahead and got that long-term care insurance you said we needed.”
To your surprise and amazement, they applied for the insurance with someone other than you. How could this have happened?
If this scenario sounds familiar—and let’s be honest, it has happened to all of us one time or another—what can you do to be sure it doesn’t happen again?

Inflation is on everyone’s mind. Gas is up in price. Ditto eggs. What next? Your wine-loving clients, prospects and friends are feeling the squeeze too. As a wine fan (or budding wine fan) you want to continue refining your palate. Put another way, you don’t want to drink tasteless stuff just because it is cheap. But what can you do when prices soar?

The arrival of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 led to a surge in demand for vacation/second homes — mainly spurred by government shutdowns and stay-at-home advisories. Whether working remotely, attending school online, or meeting up with friends and family virtually, people found themselves spending more time than ever at home. If you are thinking about buying a vacation home, here are three things to consider before taking the plunge.

Imagine stepping into an elevator and realizing that you're about to spend the 30-second ride with someone who could make your retirement dreams come true — if only you could explain them before the doors open again. How would you summarize your financial situation, outlook, aspirations, and plans if you had 30 seconds to make an "elevator pitch" about achieving one of your most important goals?

Probate is the process of proving the validity of a will and supervising the administration of an estate usually in the probate court. State law governs the proceedings in the probate court, so the process can vary from state to state. Supervising the administration of an estate can result in additional expense, unwanted publicity, and delays in the distribution of estate assets for a year or longer, which is why planning to avoid the probate process may be beneficial.

About 4.3 million U.S. workers quit their jobs voluntarily in December 2021, after a record 4.5 million quit in November — the largest number since the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) began recording voluntary job separations in December 2020.1

As teens look forward to summer activities, especially those that cost money, the next few months might present an ideal opportunity to help them learn about earning, spending, and saving. Here are a few age-based tips.

Green bonds are debt instruments that corporations and governments can use exclusively to finance major climate-related or eco-friendly initiatives. Global issuance of green bonds reached a record $523 billion in 2021, and is expected to exceed $775 billion in 2022.

The COVID-19 recession and the continuing pandemic pushed many older workers into retirement earlier than they had anticipated. A little more than 50% of Americans age 55 and older said they were retired in Q3 2021, up from about 48% two years earlier, before the pandemic.

Baseball stadiums are filled with optimists. Fans start each new season with the hope that even if last year ended badly, this year could finally be the year. After all, teams rally mid-season, curses are broken, and even underdogs sometimes make it to the World Series. As Yogi Berra famously put it, "It ain't over till it's over."1 Here are a few lessons from America's pastime that might inspire you to take a fresh look at your finances.

On March 16, 2022, the Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) of the Federal Reserve raised the benchmark federal funds rate by 0.25% to a target range of 0.25% to 0.50%. This is the beginning of a series of increases that the FOMC expects to carry out over the next two years to combat high inflation.1

Eight states have no state income tax. Of the 42 states with a state income tax (and the District of Columbia), the top marginal income tax rate ranges from 2.9% to 13.3%. Most states (and D.C.) with an income tax have multiple tax brackets with graduated rates; nine states have only a single tax rate

After being largely dormant for the last decade, inflation roared back in 2021 due to various factors related to the pandemic and economic recovery. For perspective, it may be helpful to look at inflation over a longer period of time. During the 20-year period ending September 2021, the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U), often called headline inflation, rose a total of 53.8%. While the prices of some items tracked the broad index, others increased or decreased at much different rates.

After the wild ride of 2020, the U.S. stock market was relatively calm in 2021, but there was still plenty of volatility. There were 55 days when the S&P 500 index — generally considered representative of U.S. stocks — closed with a rise or fall of 1% or more from the previous day's closing price. And there were seven days with a change of more than 2%...

An initial public offering (IPO) is the first public sale of stock shares by a private company. IPOs are important to the financial markets because they help fuel the growth of innovative young companies and add new stocks to the pool of potential investment opportunities...

You've been doing the right thing financially for many years, saving for your child's education and your own retirement. Yet now, as both goals loom in the years ahead, you may wonder what else you can do to help your child (or children) receive a quality education without compromising your own retirement goals.

U.S. home prices rose 20% during the 12 months ending in August 2021 as buyer demand far exceeded the supply of dwellings for sale. This was the largest annual price increase in the history of the monthly S&P/Case-Shiller U.S. National Home Price Index going back to 1988. The index continued strong growth at a slightly slower pace in the fall, typically a time when the market takes a breather

After taking a nosedive at the start of the pandemic recession (gold shaded area), business applications rose sharply, peaking in July 2020. Applications have fallen somewhat since then but are still up approximately 84% from their April 2020 low. Businesses that are likely to hire employees — called high-propensity businesses — make up approximately one-third of total applications. Businesses with payroll are considered more liekly to power job growth and economic recovery.

After five payment pauses that began roughly two years ago, federal student loan payments are set to resume in May 2022.

HENRY is a catchy acronym for "high earner, not rich yet." It describes a demographic made up of young and often highly educated professionals with substantial incomes but little or no savings.

If you don't own a vehicle but regularly rent or borrow one, you might consider purchasing non-owner car insurance. This type of liability insurance provides coverage when you're driving a car that isn't yours.

During your working years, you're accustomed to living on an income from your job. When you retire, the income from employment ends. Social Security provides a steady income, but it probably isn't enough to meet your retirement income needs.

According to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), credit report errors more than doubled during the coronavirus pandemic. In addition, the CFPB found that many pandemic protections which were designed to help consumers, such as loan forbearance periods on federal student loans and federally backed mortgages, ended up negatively impacting their credit reports as a result of complications such as processing delays and suspended payments being marked incorrectly.

Financing a college education with the least amount of debt involves putting together a variety of resources in the most favorable way for your family. It requires planning, savings discipline, an understanding of financial aid, smart college research, and good decision making at college time.

Every year, the College Board releases new college cost data and trends in its annual report. Although costs can vary significantly depending on region and college, the College Board publishes average cost figures, which are based on a survey of approximately 4,000 colleges across the country.

The Social Security Administration (SSA) provides personalized Social Security Statements to help Americans age 18 and older better understand the benefits that Social Security offers.

Contributing to an employer-sponsored retirement plan or an IRA is a big step on the road to retirement, but contributing to both can significantly boost your retirement assets.

Many factors go into decisions on buying or selling shares of a particular stock, but the price/earnings (P/E) ratio can be a helpful starting point for evaluating whether a company's stock is under- or overpriced.

As families grow in size and overall wealth, a desire to "give back" often becomes a priority.

Has your business encountered and solved technological challenges in recent years?

Unless you complete your holiday shopping before Halloween, you might be enticed by Black Friday and Cyber Monday deals.

If you have ever been caught off-guard by a large medical bill, a long-running practice known as balance billing might be the reason.

Here are some things to consider as you weigh potential tax moves before the end of the year.

According to a March 2021 survey, an estimated 2.8 million Americans ages 55 and older decided to file for Social Security benefits earlier than they expected because of COVID-19. This

Social Security is a pay-as-you-go system, which means today's workers are paying taxes for the benefits received by today's retirees.

Usage-Based Auto Insurance Might Provide Savings

Net Price Calculators Help Gauge College Affordability

Is a High-Deductible Health Plan Right for You?

Women Face Challenges in a Post-Pandemic World

Inflation Debate

Tips for Keeping Your Teen Driver Safe Behind the Wheel

Signs of a Scam and How to Resist It

Tips for Managing an Inheritance

Child Tax Credit for 2021: Will You Get More?

Stock Market Risks in the Spotlight

Your Business: Minimum-Wage Laws in the Spotlight

New Changes to College Financial Aid and Education Tax Benefits

Home-Sweet-Home Equity

How Well Do You Understand Retirement Plan Rules?

Enhanced Child Tax Credit for 2021

Real Estate for Income and Diversification

Money Market Funds in a Low Rate Environment

Should You Convert Your Term Life to Permanent Life Insurance?

Is Your Home Office Also a Tax Shelter?

Test Your Knowledge of College Financial Aid

A Financial Wellness Plan Can Help Pave the Road to Retirement

Tax Filing Information for Coronavirus Distributions

Due Date Approaches for 2020 Federal Income Tax Returns

IPI Article Alert - February 8, 2021 - Key Retirement and Tax Numbers for 2021

Sequence Risk: Preparing to Retire in a Down Market

Watch Out for These Financial Pitfalls in the New Year

Different Inflation Measures, Different Purposes

How Can I Reduce My Spending?

Over time, the value of your home has grown and your mortgage balance has been reduced (or even eliminated). The equity (the property's value minus any liens against it) you now have in your home is a reservoir of funding potential. You may decide to tap into it for various purposes, such as remodeling your home, paying off high-interest loans or credit card debt, buying a car, or sending your child to college

Your home is your castle, so the saying goes. And you're going to want to protect it. Homeowners insurance can give you just the protection you need. It provides coverage if your home is damaged or destroyed. It also covers your family's possessions and provides you with compensation for liability claims, medical expenses, and other expenditures that result from property damage and bodily injury suffered by others.

In tax lingo, your principal residence is the place where you legally reside. It's typically the place where you spend most of your time, but several other factors are also relevant in determining your principal residence. Many of the tax benefits associated with home ownership apply mainly to your principal residence — different rules apply to second homes and investment properties. Here's what you need to know to make owning a home really pay off at tax time.

While the house of your dreams is being built, you should insure the structure and its contents. If you don't, you'll be exposed to unnecessary risks like fire or adverse weather that could damage or destroy your partially completed home. You should also protect yourself from liability by verifying that the people building your home carry proper insurance coverage.

Tornadoes, hurricanes, and other windstorms can cause lots of damage to your home and its contents. But will insurance cover your losses if one of these storms strikes your home? The answer is that it depends.

A single procedure or trip to the hospital can fill your mailbox with stacks of bills. These can come from hospitals, doctors, pharmacies, emergency rooms, labs, and many others. The stress involved with handling all of this paperwork can be almost as overwhelming as the illness or injury itself. If your medical bills start to pile up faster than you can pay them, don't wait for a crisis to occur before doing something about it.

If you fail to estimate your federal income tax withholding properly, it may cost you in a variety of ways. If you receive an income tax refund, it essentially means that you provided the IRS with an interest-free loan during the year. By comparison, if you owe taxes when you file your return, you may have to scramble for cash at tax time — and possibly owe interest and penalties to the IRS as well.

Filing bankruptcy can be complex and difficult, and it can have lasting effects. You should consider what's involved carefully before deciding if it's the right answer for you. Don't expect bankruptcy to offer you an easy solution to your overspending habits or financial mismanagement. It's intended to relieve you of burdensome debts incurred due to unfortunate circumstances such as medical problems or unemployment

Like almost everything else these days, the holidays have become a barrage of options and choices, with nearly limitless opportunities to overspend. Here are some tips to help you make sure your family's spending remains in check this holiday season.

You should look for a company that has been selling auto insurance for a number of years and has a strong reputation in the industry. You can learn a lot about different companies simply by talking to people you know and trust. How satisfied have your friends, family members, and coworkers been with their insurance companies' level of customer service and handling of claims? A company's reputation for paying claims in a timely manner will be very important when you have an accident, theft, or other loss. Word-of-mouth references will help you narrow down the field to the most service-oriented companies.

What are the benefits of borrowing money? Successful borrowing can help you create a positive credit history Succesfully borrowing and paying off your loans as agreed can help you establish a good credit rating and make obtaining additional credit possible. Even if you do not typcially use credit often, it is good to have the ability to do so in the event of an emergency.

What is a cash reserve? A cash reserve is a pool of funds (and sometimes credit) that you hold in a readily available form to meet emergency and other highly urgent, short-term needs. Sometimes, it is referred to as an emergency or contingency fund.

What is budgeting? Budgeting is a process for tracking, planning, and controlling the inflow and outflow of income. It is a process that we all begin soon after we get our first spending money. Relying on our overloaded minds to manage such a complex process has many shortcomings. The solution is to analyze your current situation, determine your goals, and develop a written plan against which you'll measure your progress.

A recent survey found that more than half of retirees have retirement planning regrets. Unfortunately, many of these retirees had to cut back on their lifestyles to compensate for financial shortfalls.1 Considering their most common regrets may help you avoid making the same mistakes.

Independent living communities, also known as rental retirement communities, offer housing options for active seniors and retirees who require little or no assistance with daily activities. Most independent living residents desire an environment where they don't have to be concerned about safety, maintenance, and homeownership responsibilities.

Continuing care retirement communities (CCRCs) are living arrangements that combine independent living, assisted living, and nursing home care on a single campus. CCRCs offer residents a continuum of care throughout their lives.

A financial crisis can be scary at any age, but this is especially true when you're in your 40s or 50s. Perhaps you're way behind on saving for retirement or have too much debt from unnecessary spending. Or maybe an unexpected challenge, such as a job loss, illness, or break from the workforce for caregiving responsibilities, took a direct hit on your finances. Regardless of how you got to this point, it's important to develop a strategy that will help you re-establish financial stability.

A mutual fund pools the money of many investors to purchase securities. The fund's manager buys securities to pursue a stated investment strategy. By investing in the fund, you'll own a piece of the total portfolio of securities, which could be anywhere from a few dozen to hundreds of stocks. This provides you with a convenient way to obtain instant diversification that would be harder to achieve on your own

Few terms in personal finance are as important, or used as frequently, as "risk." Nevertheless, few terms are as imprecisely defined. Generally, when financial advisors or the media talk about investment risk, their focus is on the historical price volatility of the asset or investment under discussion.

Businesses sell shares of stock to investors as a way to raise money to finance expansion, pay off debt, and provide operating capital. Each share of stock represents a proportional share of ownership in the company. As a stockholder, you share in a portion of any profits and growth of the company. Dividends from earnings are paid to shareholders, and growth is realized by the increase in value of the stock.

It's nice to own stocks, bonds, and other investments. Nice, that is, until it's time to fill out your federal income tax return. At that point, you may be left scratching your head. Just how do you report your investments and how are they taxed?

Investing involves setting goals for the future and weighing the risks and potential rewards associated with a wide variety of investment opportunities. If you are a new investor, this might seem like an overwhelming task.

529 college savings plans are generally open to residents of any state, but 529 prepaid tuition plans are limited to state residents only. Why might you decide to open an account in another state's 529 college savings plan? That plan may offer a wider range of investment options, lower fees, better customer service, and a user-friendly website. Keep in mind that if you join another state's 529 plan, you may not be eligible for any tax benefits offered by your state because some states restrict 529 tax benefits to residents who join the in-state plan

529 plans can be powerful college savings tools, but you need to understand how your plan works before you can take full advantage of it. Among other things, this means becoming familiar with the finer points of contributions and withdrawals.

With so many 529 savings plans to choose from, it's important to ask a lot of questions in order to select the best plan for you.

What is it? A 529 college savings plan is a type of qualified tuition program (the other type is a prepaid tuition plan) established under Section 529 of the Internal Revenue Code. Savings plans are established by states and typically managed by an experienced financial institution designated by the state. A 529 college savings plan lets you save money for a child's college or graduate school education in an individual investment account. Although the details of savings plans vary by state, the basics are the same

If your husband left a letter of instruction, read it carefully. It may help you determine whether he had life insurance. A letter of instruction is simply a letter written by or on behalf of the deceased. It enables a surviving spouse or other person to locate important documents such as bank accounts, life insurance policies, safe deposits, or collectibles.

As a recent widow or widower, you'll face many personal and financial challenges in the following months. You should contact several people and agencies to help secure the financial future of you and your family. If your spouse had a will (or even absent a will), it's important to discuss your immediate options with your family financial advisor or attorney regarding the estate. One of the first matters to resolve is how the death benefit of your spouse's life insurance policy, if any, will be paid out. Life insurance benefits are not paid automatically, so you'll need to contact your insurance agent or company to file a claim and to find out what your payout options are. Take time to carefully evaluate these options. The same is true for any retirement plan in which your spouse participated. If he or she was part of a profit-sharing plan, 401(k) plan, Keogh plan (for self-employed workers), or some other plan, you must consider how the benefits will be distributed to you. The most advantageous strategy with an IRA or 401(k) is to roll over the account into a new account in your own name. This keeps the funds tax sheltered until you retire and begin withdrawals. Contact the plan administrator.

When someone dies, you don't want to worry about how you're going to pay for the funeral. However, when it comes time to plan a service or choose a casket, you won't be able to escape the inevitable: Funerals cost a lot of money. How much a funeral costs depends upon what services and items you select, but even an inexpensive funeral can cost thousands of dollars. Whether you are planning your own funeral or someone else's, you'll be more satisfied with the result if you take measures to keep the funeral affordable and be aware of what payment options are available.

A funeral is an event that allows the family and friends of someone who has died to both celebrate that person's life and mourn that person's death. Funerals are often planned by taking into account religious and social traditions. According to Western tradition, funerals usually include a visitation of the body (also called a viewing or a wake), as well as a ceremony performed by a clergy member, family member, or friend. There may be readings, music, and words spoken about the deceased person's life. However, funerals are personal--not legal--events and should reflect the preferences of the deceased individual or his or her family.

Life insurance benefits are not automatic. If you are the beneficiary of a life insurance policy (usually your spouse's or other family member's policy), you must file a claim to receive any money. This can be as simple as contacting your insurance agent and filling out some paperwork. However, if this is the only step you take, may miss out on other life insurance benefits to which you are entitled. Your spouse or family member may have owned one or more group policies that pay benefits depending on how the insured person died or in restricted amounts. If you spend time uncovering these hidden policies, you may end up with more money from life insurance than you expected.

Week in Review 5/8/2020

Ultimately, an employer is offering a good insurance benefit package if it's one that appeals to you and meets your needs. But here are some specific things you might look for. Perhaps the most important piece is the health insurance offered. You'll want coverage that adequately meets your medical needs. Hopefully, it will also allow you to continue seeing your current doctors and health-care providers. A complete package would offer dental, vision, and prescription drug coverage as well. And don't forget to find out how much you'll pay for health insurance--ideally, the employer will pay all or most of the premium cost for a single person. Most

Month in Review - March 2020

Week in Review 04/03/20

Downsizing is one reason you may be seeking a new career. Reaching a professional plateau is another. The fact is, many people change careers, sometimes more than once. With proper planning, you can start a fulfilling new career without sacrificing your financial security.

Week in Review 4/17/20

When you change jobs, you need to decide what to do with the money in your 401(k) plan. Should you leave it where it is or take it with you? Should you roll the money over into an IRA or into your new employer's retirement plan? As you consider your options, keep in mind that one of the greatest advantages of a 401(k) plan is that it allows you to save for retirement on a tax-deferred (or in the case of Roth accounts, potentially tax-free) basis. When changing jobs, it's essential to consider the continued tax-deferral of these retirement funds, and, if possible, to avoid current taxes and penalties that can eat into the amount of money you've saved.

Week in Review 4/10/20

In the past, workers stayed with the same company for years and years, working their way up in the company. However, times have changed. Businesses facing hard economic times restructure, forcing employees to look for new jobs. It's also become common for workers to change jobs several times throughout their careers as they seek higher salaries and new professional opportunities. Whether you're forced to seek a new employment opportunity or are willingly doing so, you'll eventually be faced with an important decision: When you're offered a job, should you take it?

Last week, coronavirus, Super Tuesday, and an emergency rate cut by the Fed translated to wild equity market gyrations and a stunning plunge in treasury yields well below record levels.

For the week of 2/28/20

If you're married (or about to be married), financial planning is certainly important. It's also important for you to be aware of the income tax ramifications of your decisions. Although there are a number of tax issues related to marriage, you should pay particular attention to your selection of an income tax filing status. Thorough familiarity with the filing status rules applicable to married couples requires some knowledge of the rules for innocent spouse relief and injured spouse claims. Along with filing status, married couples might wish to know how to perform a second income analysis, which measures the after-tax benefit of both spouses working

The holiday shortened week (Presidents Day) saw the S&P notch another new record high but ultimately finished lower along with treasury yields as weak economic data on Friday and mounting CoVid-19 concerns overtook sentiment. Commodity markets moved higher as both gold and oil rallied on the week. A near record high S&P 500 and simultaneous near record low l0yr yield illustrates the bipolar nature of the market today - a potential precursor to some market consolidation in the near term.

For the Month of January

For the week of February 14, 2020

Marriage is an important step in anyone's life and brings many challenges with it. One of those challenges is the management of your finances as a couple. The money decisions that you make now as a couple can have a lasting impact on your financial future together. Careful planning of your finances can ensure that together, you achieve financial success.

A prenuptial agreement (also known as a premarital agreement, antemarital agreement, or prenup) is a binding contract executed by prospective spouses to define the rights, duties, and obligations of the parties during marriage and in the event of legal separation, annulment, divorce, or death

Planning for marriage encompasses more than just deciding whether to serve chicken at the reception and whether you should take a honeymoon cruise. If you are planning for marriage, you are faced with the enormous responsibility of combining your personal finances with your spouse’s and reassessing the way you and your spouse structured personal finances as unmarried individuals.

If you don't really know what you're looking for in a home, how do you find the right one? Careful planning and consideration of your options can help ensure that you will be happy with the one you select. You may decide that buying a traditional, single-family home is not your best bet. A condominium or a cooperative may better serve your needs. Or, you may decide that building a new home may be the only way to get what you want. Whatever type of home you end up looking for, your selection should be based on an educated decision.

Week in Review 01/24/2020

Several moving parts behaved nicely last week, providing a lift to equity markets globally. Signing of the Phase 1 trade deal, senate approval of the USMCA, encouraging economic reports, and a good start to Q4 earnings season all fell on the positive side of the ledger.

An old rule of thumb said that you could afford to buy a house that cost between one and a half and two and a half times your annual salary. In reality, there's a lot more to take into consideration. You'll want to know not only how much of a mortgage you qualify for, but also how much you can afford to spend on a home. In order to know how much you can truly afford, you need to take an honest look at your lifestyle and your standard of living, as well as your income and what you choose to spend it on.

She Steps Forward

Finding the right home to buy can be a challenging prospect but knowing what to expect can make the process easier. You can (1) buy through agents representing the seller and/or use a buyer's broker, (2) buy directly from an owner, or (3) shop the auctions and foreclosure sales. Once you find the house you want, you must make an offer, check for clear title to the property, and arrange for a home inspection. And after the closing, you can finally move into your new home

The year began with the government stymied by a shutdown, and ended with articles of impeachment levied against the president. In between, both domestic and global economies showed signs of slowing, all while the trade war between the United States and China loomed throughout the year. Nevertheless, investors remained relatively bullish toward stocks, pushing several major indexes to record highs.

If you're like most consumers, homeownership involves the largest financial transaction you'll participate in during your lifetime. As such, it's no wonder that the process of buying or selling a home can be so stressful, frustrating, and, at times, totally confusing. If you want to ensure that you make sound financial decisions and survive the process with your sanity intact, you should first educate yourself about real estate transactions and then engage in careful planning. Your first step should be to ask yourself: "Do I really want to own a home?"

Over time, the value of your home has grown and your mortgage balance has been reduced (or even eliminated). The equity (the property's value minus any liens against it) you now have in your home is a reservoir of funding potential. You may decide to tap into it for various purposes, such as remodeling your home, paying off high-interest loans or credit card debt, buying a car, or sending your child to college.