You’ve Got to Take Risk. So, Manage It
Seth J. Masters (pictured), Daniel J. Loewy and Martin Atkin Below-average expected returns will make it difficult for most investors to achieve their goals with traditional portfolios unless they...
View ArticleGovernment Shutdown Is Not a Tax Holiday
With just over a week to go before the October 15 filing deadline for US tax returns that are on extension, the Internal Revenue Service is currently operating under a government shutdown contingency...
View ArticleRetirement Planning Today: Clearing the Hurdles
By Kathleen M. Fisher (pictured) and Tara Thompson Popernik “Money isn’t everything,” proclaimed American fashionista André Leon Talley, “but it is when you start thinking about…your retirement days.”...
View ArticleWhat Uncle Sam Taketh Away, You Can Give Back (and Get a Tax Deduction)
By Kathleen Fisher (pictured) and Tara Thompson Popernik The government shutdown, now in its second week, has temporarily stopped the flow of government funding for many worthy organizations and may...
View ArticleMy, What Big Teeth You Have! Minimizing This Year’s Tax Bite
Tara Thompson Popernik (pictured) and Paul Robertson Come April, some Americans will be shocked by their income tax bills, as new rates introduced by the American Taxpayer Relief Act (ATRA) of 2012...
View ArticleInvesting in Retirement: Bonds Aren’t Enough
By Kathleen M. Fisher (pictured) and Tara Thompson Popernik What should you invest in after the spigot of earned income is turned off? It’s a vexing question, especially since we expect lower stock and...
View ArticleRetirement Planning: When You Have to Compromise
Kathleen M. Fisher (pictured) and Tara Thompson Popernik Sometimes things fall into place nicely, and you can chart your course to a comfortable retirement relatively easily. You choose a suitable...
View ArticleThink You Missed the Boat on Roth Conversion?
Tara Thompson Popernik (pictured) and Paul Robertson Not likely. As long as you don’t expect to spend down all of your IRA assets, our research suggests that converting your traditional IRA to a Roth...
View ArticleReality – Expectations = Happiness
Many US investors may be disappointed when they open their account statements. Despite the widespread news that the Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 21% in the first 10 months of 2013, most US...
View ArticleDoing Well by Doing Good
Tara Thompson Popernik (pictured) and Paul Robertson Charitable giving remains one of the few ways that US taxpayers can avoid taxes outright. If you’re philanthropically inclined, giving can be a...
View ArticleLessons Learned in 2013
In 2013, interest rates rose, bonds fell, equities soared, and US income-tax rates climbed higher. Before starting to place bets for 2014, investors would be wise to think about some important lessons...
View ArticleDon’t Forget the Beginning-of-Year Gifting Season
Tara Thompson Popernik (pictured) and Brian Wodar Many people see December 31 as the deadline for tax-advantaged giving each year. While that’s generally true for charitable donations, it may make...
View ArticleEndowments and Foundations: What Should You Do with a Windfall?
Brian Wodar and Ashley Velategui Board members at Uptown Community Foundation (UCF) faced an enviable dilemma: what to do when an unexpected bequest boosted UCF’s capital from $10 million to $12.5...
View ArticleThree Reasons Uncle Sam Took More Money from Your Pocket in 2013
Many Americans made more money in 2013, thanks in part to last year’s soaring equity market and continuing economic recovery. Partly as a result, however, many Americans will be writing bigger checks...
View ArticleStart Saving for College Now, or Pay Much More Later
The price tag for attending college 18 years from now is projected to be considerably higher than it is today—up to hundreds of thousands of dollars higher for a four-year degree. But using a...
View ArticleSix Principles for Smart Tax Management
It is well known that taxes began to take a bigger bite out of income for the well-off in 2013. Top marginal tax rates rose, and some exemptions and deductions were phased out. What is less well known...
View ArticleThe Future’s Still Bright for College Grads
Is college worth it? It’s not an uncommon question these days, especially with soaring college costs, ballooning student debt levels and higher unemployment. But research shows that pursuing a college...
View ArticleHow Tax Savings from a College Savings Plan Could Pay for a Year of College
The option to front-load funding makes a tax-deferred college savings plan is a great way to avoid taxes on the future growth of funds earmarked for higher-education expenses. We project that the taxes...
View ArticleWhat Your Parents Didn’t Tell You About Saving for Retirement
Chances are, your parents have told you to max out your 401(k) plan. That’s good advice, but the hard truth is that your 401(k) plan is highly likely to fall short. To live comfortably in retirement,...
View ArticleWhat Tax Strategies Make Sense for You?
Many investors adopt tax-reducing strategies from year to year without taking a step back to look at the big picture. But how you save or spend money today can have a profound impact on your after-tax...
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