For parents seeking tax-advantaged strategies for transferring funds to their minor children—whether as a way to save for college or simply to give their kids a financial head start when they become adults—a popular type of custodial account called a UTMA account may provide a solution. However, understanding the tax implications of UTMA accounts is
For anyone who participates in buying and selling stocks, making a profit is the ultimate goal. However, two main types of stock market participants—traders and investors—follow different strategies in pursuit of that goal. The most significant difference comes down to timing: investors seek to build wealth by holding a portfolio over years or even decades,
Investors looking for an easy way to buy a diversified portfolio used to opt for mutual funds. Today, exchange-traded funds (ETFs) are an increasingly popular option offering several benefits. Both vehicles invest shareholders’ combined money in a broad set of assets, which provides the safety of diversification without the stress of buying and selling individual
From stock options to profit-sharing plans, there are many ways to provide employees with an ownership interest in a company. However, the most common method is a type of tax-favored employee benefit plan known as an ESOP, or employee stock ownership plan. Currently, over 6,400 ESOPs exist in the U.S., covering an estimated 14.2 million
It’s easy to focus your retirement planning on your finances and give little thought to healthcare. Medicare, the federal health insurance program for older and disabled Americans, is waiting in the wings to provide at least basic coverage. But Medicare is complex, and enrollment can only happen at certain times. It doesn’t cover all medical
Now that the presidential election is just days away, what do we know about the leading candidates’ current tax plans? The top line takeaway is that former Vice President Joe Biden has pledged not to raise taxes on anyone earning less than $400,000, while President Trump has floated more tax cuts with few specifics. Trump’s
What is an IRA An individual retirement arrangement (IRA) is a personal retirement savings plan that offers specific tax benefits. In fact, IRAs are one of the most powerful retirement savings tools available to you. Even if you’re contributing to a 401(k) or other plan at work, you might also consider investing in an IRA.
Rollovers A rollover is the movement of funds from one retirement savings vehicle to another. You may want to make a rollover for any number of reasons — your employment situation has changed, you want to switch investments, or you’ve received death benefits from your spouse’s retirement plan. When evaluating whether to initiate a rollover
Required Minimum Distributions What Are Required Minimum Distributions (RMDs)? Required minimum distributions, often referred to as RMDs or minimum required distributions, are amounts that the federal government requires you to withdraw annually from traditional IRAs and employer-sponsored retirement plans after you reach age 72 (or, in some cases, after you retire). You can always withdraw
Funding a Roth IRA With the potential for tax-free distributions, Roth IRAs are popular retirement savings vehicles. There are three ways to fund a Roth IRA — you can open an account and contribute directly, you can convert all or part of a traditional IRA to a Roth IRA, or you can roll over or