Retirement

President Obama has proposed creating a new type of IRA designed to help Americans without access to a company retirement plan invest easier. What makes this new idea so different, and how does it work?

These plans resemble 401(k) plans in many respects, but are specially designed for nonprofit entities.

When individuals are in a tight spot financially, they usually turn to 401(k) loans. The interest rate for the 401(k) loans are usually a point or two higher than the prime rate, but they can vary. By law, individuals are allowed to borrow the greater of $50,000, or 50% of the total amount of the 401(k).

The Peace Corps and AmeriCorps offer low pay, but they offer higher benefits down the road.

These popular destinations have some major drawbacks.

Will your tax rate be lower in retirement? Do you plan to spend all your savings? Think twice about a conversion.

Choosing to specialize may be easier for you and more beneficial to your clients.

There are a number of reasons why concerns over Social Security depletion have emerged, but there are ways you can prepare for it.

Your retirement may be decades away, but this is no time to procrastinate.

Generally, if you are under age 59.5 and you withdraw funds from your traditional IRA, you must pay an additional 10% tax penalty on this distribution of assets. There are several exceptions to the rule, which allow you to pull funds from your IRA prior to age 59.5, and avoid the 10% penalty.

Find out what to do when your kid is ready for higher education, but you aren't.

The latest offerings provide more coverage and the ability to pick and choose what types of coverage you'll need.

Bank consolidations, stock options, and 1099-R changes could create problems. Here's how to stay out of the IRS' crosshairs.

Learn how to lower your income tax and avoid estate tax - all while building wealth.

Set your sights on the golden years and get there sooner.

Not having health insurance doesn't mean that you have no alternatives. Here's what you can do to reduce your healthcare costs.

While refusing a gift may seem a little absurd to many, there are several good reasons that an individual might want to do so. Suppose you inherit a $500,000 IRA and a $500,000 CD from your deceased uncle. If the IRA account puts your total estate over the applicable estate tax exclusion amount, you ...

Surprise! You may owe more than you think.

Tax rates are going up, so it pays to find sources of income that the tax collector can't touch. Here are 20 of them.

Even if your portfolio has taken a hit, these tips can get you back on track.

Staying employed a little longer may allow for a more comfortable retirement.

These are some of the most common tax write-offs that you can't really claim.

The more that employees know about their employee 401(k) plans, the better. But what doesn't your administrator know?

With all of the new tax changes this year, the IRS won't be able to take quite as much from you.

If your goal is to enjoy every cent you've worked so hard to save, here are some tips on how to spend it all without running out.

Small changes to spending and saving habits can reap major rewards - with limited sacrifice.

Should you dine on caviar or put Tom Jr. through college? Here are some guidelines for making this tough decision.

If you miss the 60-day rollover deadline, will the IRS be sympathetic?

Fraud gives inflated view of many assets performances.

Profit-sharing plans are retirement plans with companies that give employees a percentage of the company's earnings. A profit-sharing plan is similar to a 401(k) because it is considered a defined-contribution plan. The only difference is that the only entity contributing to the plan is the employer ...

We look at the aid that's been promised to Haiti and see which nations are most generous on a per-capita basis.

Thanks to fewer restrictions, it's now easier than ever to convert your traditional IRA into a Roth IRA.

There are many avenues from which to drum up funding. Find out the pros and cons of each.

Whether you've been out or in the market lately, the health of your 401(k) is vital.

Legislative changes in recent years make Roth IRAs worth a second look.

A 401(k) is a type of qualified retirement plan created by employers, where an employee deposits money into a retirement fund and the employer matches a certain percentage of the employee's contributions. A 401(k) provides a payout at retirement that is reliant upon the total money contributed and the ...

Check out the particulars of an SWP to see if it's the right choice for your retirement.

401(k) plans managed by the wrong people can be hazardous to your future!

Being a millionaire used to mean you were on top of the world, but now it means you're still climbing the ladder.

Retirement might sound like a great idea, but are you really ready to quit your day job this year?

Here are some personal finance tips for those who want to live well after work ends.

Using all-in-one funds as one of many can lead to a skewed asset allocation.

Getting richer is easier if you take it one step at a time.

Find out why this magic number has lost some of its lustre as a retirement savings target.

The earliest age that you can start receiving social security benefits is age 62. Full retirement was age 65 for many years; however, the administration realized that people were living longer and that the social security program was in threat of running out of funds, so they developed a new schedule ...

No politicians want to touch this issue, but many Americans have serious reason for concern.

Did the credit crisis leave a new landscape for investors? Maybe, but it's not as unfamiliar as you may have imagined.