Tax-deferred retirement plans for self-employed individuals have higher contribution limits than IRAs.

The federal gift tax applies to gifts of property or money while the donor is living.

Split-dollar life insurance is an arrangement to purchase and fund life insurance between two parties.

Several factors could undermine the financial security provided by the proceeds of your life insurance policy.

United States tax law is a constantly changing landscape. The latest major piece of tax legislation is the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017.

Zero-coupon bonds represent a type of bond that does not pay interest during the life of the bond.

Company-owned life insurance is one way to help protect a business from financial problems caused by the death of a key employee.

Allocating too much of your retirement investments to one company, even your own, can be a risky proposition.

A bond ladder is a strategy involving the purchase of bonds that have staggered maturity dates.

Some of the pros and cons of whole life insurance.

If you were to suffer an illness or disability that required long-term nursing care, would you be covered?

A 403(b) plan is a tax-deferred retirement savings plan that can only be offered by a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt entity.

An annuity is a contract between you and an insurance company to pay you future income in exchange for premiums you pay.

There are other ways to invest in stocks and bonds besides owning individual shares or bonds.

Short-term cash management instruments can help you establish a sound cash management program.

When it is time to make an insurance claim, it helps if you are familiar with your policies and the steps you should take to file a claim.

Medicare is the federal health insurance program for those persons age 65 and over. But what does it cover?

Biweekly mortgage payments can have a dramatic effect on the amount of interest homeowners have to pay.

As a business owner, a disability can create an economic hardship putting both your personal finances and business at risk.

Since your home is one of your greatest assets, you should make sure it is adequately protected. That's where homeowners insurance enters the picture.

Consider a universal life insurance policy if you want the flexibility to change your premium or death benefit.

Here are some smart ways to refinance your home.

Money market funds can be a highly liquid and effective cash management tool.

Greater demand is being placed on the Social Security system as the baby boom generation has begun to retire.

There are three basic types of medical insurance plans: fee-for-service, managed care, and high-deductible health plan.

While stable, CDs can create an income tax bill. Fixed annuities and municipal bonds can offer tax advantages.

A living trust can help control the distribution of your estate upon death.

The Social Security Administration’s retirement estimator gives estimates of your future benefits based on your actual Social Security earnings record.

An indexed annuity may provide some upside potential and downside protection.

It is important to understand how dividends (taxable payments to shareholders) fit with your long-term goals.

One attractive feature of an annuity is tax-deferral but qualified and non-qualified annuities are taxed differently.

Bonds are issued by many entities and share many characteristics, each type of bond has certain benefits and risks.

Sole ownership, joint tenancy, tenancy in common, and community property have special benefits for property owners.

There are numerous investment alternatives available to help provide liquidity.

ETFs have unique attributes and attempt to track all types of indexes, industries, or commodities.

Consider additional liability insurance to help protect you from the potentially devastating effects of liability lawsuits.

If you have a family who relies on your income, it is important to have life insurance protection.

There are a variety of retirement planning options that could help meet your needs. Here are some of the most popular.

With closed-end funds, investors pool their money together to purchase a professionally managed portfolio of stocks and/or bonds.

Capital gains are profits realized from the sale of assets; a tax is triggered only when an asset is sold, not held.

The difference between purchasing an individual stock versus shares in a mutual fund to potentially earn dividends.

Understanding different types of investment risk can help investors manage their money more effectively.

The odds of needing long-term care increase as you age. Prior planning can help protect you from financial ruin.

Shifting some debt to a home equity loan, which typically allows interest payments to be tax deductible, could have its advantages.

Living benefits can help protect variable annuity owners from running out of money in retirement.

A bond is simply evidence of a debt from a government entity or a corporation and represents a long-term IOU.

A wealth replacement trust could be used to gift appreciated assets to a charity as well as  provide for heirs.

Using a financially sound insurance company is an important part of ensuring your family’s financial security.

IRAs and employer-sponsored retirement plans are subject to annual contribution limits set by the federal government.

Many traditional tax-advantaged investment strategies have gone away, but there are still some alternatives.

An important element to successful investing is to manage investment risk while maintaining the potential for growth.

Before investing in stocks, it is important to understand some of the basics and the risks involved in owning stocks.

Charitable lead trusts are designed for people who would like to benefit a charity now rather than later.

A business owner policy is an insurance package that assembles the basic coverages required by a business owner in one bundle.

Variable life insurance gives you the control to allocate your account value among a variety of investment options.

Historically, one of the best ways to fight the effects of inflation has been to utilize growth-oriented investments.

Starting to invest early for college and remaining consistent can help investors reach their goals.

There can be a substantial benefit to deferring taxes as long as possible.

Changes to the tax code have left a few key deductions for itemizers, like medical, dental and some business expenses.

The SIMPLE plan may appeal to small business owners as it is easy to set up, administer, and allows for a tax deduction.

529 plans are tax-advantaged savings plans that generally allow people of any income level to contribute.

It’s important to understand mutual fund loads, or sales charges, and exactly what they entail so you can make informed investing decisions.

With traditional IRAs and most employer-sponsored retirement plans, taxes are not payable until funds are withdrawn.

If you believe your estate will be subject to estate taxes, consider how your heirs will pay the bill.

There are key dates after you turn 59½ that can impact your taxes, Medicare eligibility, and retirement benefits.

Before making investment decisions, it is helpful to determine the real rate of return on the investment.

Term life insurance differs from permanent forms of life insurance in that it offers temporary protection.

A SEP IRA is a type of plan under which the employer contributes (up to a certain limit) to an employee’s IRA.

A split-annuity strategy can generate immediate income while potentially stretching some retirement savings.

Profit-sharing plans give employees a share in the profits of a company and can help to fund their retirements.

It's important to understand the strengths and weaknesses of common stock versus preferred stock.

Employer-sponsored retirement plans are more important than ever, but managing the assets can be confusing.

A 1035 exchange allows you to exchange your life insurance policy for one from another company without tax liability.

Couples who want to help protect their legacy from estate taxes could consider last-survivor life insurance.

A Section 1035 exchange is a tax-free exchange of an existing annuity contract or life insurance policy for a new one.

When selecting a life insurance policy, examine all your options, as well as the positives and negatives of each type.

Both fixed and variable annuities could be appropriate options for an individual interested in purchasing an annuity.

Dollar-cost averaging involves investing a set amount of money on a regular basis, regardless of market conditions.

An A-B trust can be an effective way to help reduce estate taxes and preserve family assets for heirs.

Bond ratings gauge a bond issuer’s financial ability to repay its promised principal and interest payments.

401(k) employer-sponsored retirement plans have many benefits, including that the funds accumulate tax-deferred.

To retain the tax advantages associated with charitable giving, your gift must be made to a qualified organization.

Mutual fund taxes can be cumbersome, but there are ways to help mitigate the amount of taxes you may owe.

When receiving money accumulated in your employer-sponsored retirement plan, you have two options: lump sum or annuity.

It's important to understand the options, such as financial aid grant programs, when having to pay for college.

Knowing the basics of a disability income insurance policy is a good first step toward protecting your family.

Selecting health insurance is often one of the most important decisions you will make. Do you know the different types?

Required minimum distribution is the annual amount that must be withdrawn from a qualified retirement plan/account.

For the grantor, there are a few potential tax benefits that can come with setting up a charitable trust.

If you haven't taken steps already, consider planning now for the distribution of the assets of your estate.

There are a number of savings alternatives that could help you earn a reasonable rate of return.