How tax law changes affect you this year
One of the significant changes to the federal tax law for 2018 is the increase in the standard deduction to $24,000 for couples filing jointly, and $12,000 for individuals. This change, and others, will likely encourage many more people to use the standard deduction instead of itemizing. Other changes to the tax code will also impact taxpayer decisions. For example, starting in 2018,... READ MORE
A tax-friendly way to get income for life
Question: I heard that you can use $130,000 in an IRA to buy a deferred-income annuity without having to pay taxes on the money. Have you come across this before? Answer: That sounds like a Qualified Longevity Annuity Contract, or QLAC. In 2018, you can invest up to $130,000 within a traditional IRA (or 25 percent of the IRA balance, whichever is less) in this special kind of... READ MORE
Don’t let peer pressure spoil retirement
In retirement, it can be tempting to look over the fence at how neighbors are spending their golden years, and wonder if they’re living better or if you’re spending your time and money in the right ways. What’s more, social media heightens the pressure by serving as a highlight reel of everyone’s best experiences. But just like social media can put a filter on reality, many myths ... READ MORE
Consider a second career in childcare
Fed up with the inflexibility of the typical public-school curriculum, and passionate about working with children, PJ Lents of Palo Alto, Calif., founded the Periwinkle School — a “young 5’s” program for children transitioning from daycare to kindergarten — that she operates in her own home. Referring to her own school-age rebellion against the lack of creativity and... READ MORE
An overlooked tax break for part-time workers
Q.: I retired a few years ago, but I still get paid to do some consulting work, so I contribute to a Roth IRA. Can I qualify for the retirement savers’ tax credit, too? A.: If your annual income is less than the cutoff, you can qualify for the retirement savers’ tax credit. This frequently overlooked tax break is worth up to $1,000 per person ($2,000 for joint filers) if you... READ MORE
Utility funds for conservative investors
Many readers are concerned about volatility in the stock market, as well as about receiving reliably consistent interest or dividends with their investments. Although the stock market has performed well for more than five years, there is no guarantee that it will continue to show comparable positive returns. Many analysts anticipate that returns in the near term will be much lower —... READ MORE
Mutual funds run by artificial intelligence
A computer can trounce a human chess master and solve complex mathematical calculations in seconds. Can it do a better job investing your money than a flesh-and-blood portfolio manager? Investors willing to test that question can do so with a couple of exchange-traded funds, or ETFs, that leave the investment decisions to a computer’s so-called artificial intelligence, or AI. ETF... READ MORE
Finding buried treasure in financial docs
On my family’s annual pilgrimage to the Northeast in late June, I took two days to help a 94-year-old relative get her financial house in order. I didn’t find any money buried under a mattress, but I did find some hidden in places most people don’t look — but they probably should. I knew she had updated her will after recently moving to a new state, but I was not certain what... READ MORE
Four steps to protect against elder financial abuse
Chances are, you may have been swindled at some point in your life, or you know someone who has. Nearly half of consumers surveyed recently by Stanford University's Center on Longevity and the Finra Investor Education Foundation reported being a victim of financial fraud in the previous year — a far higher tally than earlier surveys indicated. No socioeconomic or demographic group is... READ MORE
How to stop getting annoying robo calls
Your phone rings, and a perky voice announces that she is "Heather from card services," and she has important news for you. You know Heather is a recording and that the low interest rate she's promoting is a scam. You hang up. Robo calls that use sales pitches or scare tactics to siphon your money are on the rise. Unwanted calls have topped the Federal Communications Commission's list of ... READ MORE
