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,
If you are fortunate enough to be eligible to receive a pension from your employer when you retire, one of the main decisions you will face is whether to accept a lump-sum distribution or lifetime monthly payments. As you approach your retirement date, it’s important to think carefully about this decision, since it is usually
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
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
When you reach age 62, you are eligible to begin taking the Social Security benefits that you have paid into throughout your working life. While this is an exciting milestone and you may be eager to start receiving your share, you will be entitled to a greater benefit for each year that you defer taking
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amounts are included in your taxable income, and if you fail to take your RMD by the annual deadline, the amount not withdrawn
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