It’s a sad fact of the tax code that the more money you make, the more you owe to the tax man. That’s especially true if you’re self-employed and paying the entire 15.3% Federal Insurance Contributions Act (FICA) tax for Social Security and Medicare yourself. Investing in real estate, however, can bring in extra income
If you are age 72 or older, you generally must take required minimum distributions (RMDs) from your traditional IRA or employer-sponsored retirement plan, such as a 401(k) or 403(b), each year. These amounts are included in your taxable income, and if you fail to take your RMD by the annual deadline, the amount not withdrawn
Congratulations on that big promotion! You’re financially comfortable with a nice nest egg and now you have some extra cash coming in. So, what do you do with it? Pay down your mortgage, or invest for the long term? The thought of getting rid of debt feels good and will pay off in the interest
Yields on U.S. Treasury bonds fell to historic lows in March 2020 and remain low as the Federal Reserve and markets respond to the economically devastating pandemic. These low bond yields can help boost a recovery in several ways. Treasury bonds are basically loans to the U.S. government, to be paid back to the investor
Back in late March, as much of normal life closed down, businesses got a boost in the form of an immediate tax break. Under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, employers were allowed to defer their share of payroll taxes for the rest of 2020. Employees making less than $4,000 every two
When deciding how to invest your money in order to maximize returns and minimize taxes over time, you may hear about two different strategies: active and passive investing. As the names suggest, active investing involves a more hands-on role for the portfolio manager, while a passive approach involves buying and holding investments for the long-term.
There are many reasons why you might want to move your retirement savings to another account. Maybe you want to invest with a company with better performance. Maybe you changed jobs and want to bring past accumulations with you to a new plan. If you’re among the millions who lost a job as the economy
Since health savings accounts (HSAs) were introduced in 2004 as part of the Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement and Modernization Act, they have surged in popularity as a flexible way for numerous Americans to reduce taxable income and save for future medical expenses. But since the IRS establishes new rules governing HSAs each year, it’s important
Saving for retirement in tax-deferred vehicles is a great way to reduce your tax burden today. But it’s also important to limit the tax bite out of your hard-earned savings later by creating a stream of tax-free retirement income. By most estimates, income tax rates will likely rise in the future. Current rates set in
As the costs of higher education continue to rise, many parents worry about how they will pay for their kids’ educations without requiring them to borrow staggering amounts in student loans. In order to save for future tuition expenses, some families use a tax-advantaged tool called a 529 plan. While 529 plans offer a variety