Market news, retirement advice & planning tips.
After dropping sharply during the Great Recession, inflation — as measured by changes in the consumer price index (CPI) — has begun to creep upward, averaging a little more than…
KenFebruary 28, 2014
According to a recent survey, only 28% of small-business owners completely understand the concept of “cloud” computing, while 27% admit they don’t understand it well or at all.1–2 For business…
KenFebruary 28, 2014

Capital gains are the profits realized from the sale of capital assets such as stocks, bonds, and property. The capital gains tax is triggered only when an asset is sold,…
KenFebruary 13, 2014

The estate tax is a tax on property that transfers to others upon your death. Estate taxes are assessed on the total value of your estate — your home, stocks,…
KenFebruary 13, 2014

The federal gift tax applies to gifts of property or money while the donor is living. The federal estate tax, on the other hand, applies to property conveyed to others…
KenFebruary 12, 2014

IRAs and employer-sponsored retirement plans are subject to annual contribution limits set by the federal government. The limits are periodically adjusted to compensate for inflation and increases in the cost…
KenFebruary 12, 2014

A required minimum distribution (RMD) is the annual amount that must be withdrawn from a traditional IRA or a qualified retirement plan (such as a 401(k), 403(b), and self-employed plans)…
KenFebruary 12, 2014

Americans give freely to support the causes they value, from churches, education, and the arts to medical research. Fortunately, current tax laws encourage and even reward philanthropy. Beyond the basic…
KenFebruary 12, 2014
Traditional IRAs and most employer-sponsored retirement plans are tax-deferred accounts, which means they are typically funded with pre-tax or tax-deductible dollars. As a result, taxes are not payable until funds…
KenFebruary 12, 2014
Withdrawing funds from a tax-deferred retirement account before age 59½ generally triggers a 10% federal income tax penalty; all distributions are subject to ordinary income tax. However, there are certain…
KenFebruary 12, 2014