Latest articles by Mike Palmer, CFP
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Got a Cash Balance Pension? Understand Your Options
To maximize your retirement income, you need to know how your cash balance plan works, which type of payout is right for you and how it’s taxed.
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Before You Retire, Consider These Five Questions
Thinking ahead about what you'll do, how you’ll withdraw from retirement accounts and how you’ll manage health care can save you time and money over the long term.
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Five Things Your Annuity Seller Won’t Tell You
Some annuity sellers don’t fully explain the costs and tradeoffs, so here’s what to keep in mind if you’re considering buying an annuity.
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What to Do if Your Employer Stops Its 401(k) Match
If other companies follow in IBM’s footsteps, employees will need to make some adjustments in their retirement savings.
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Should You Take an Extra Big RMD This Year?
required minimum distributions (RMDs) Sometimes only taking the minimum IRA distribution can be a costly mistake. When deciding how much to withdraw this year, you need to consider the big picture. For some people, it makes sense to go big.
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Why Target Date Funds Miss the Mark
investing Despite the popularity of target date funds, investors should dig deeper when choosing these easy-to-use retirement savings options.
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Beneficiary Designations – The Overlooked Minefield of Estate Planning
retirement Who knew so many things could go wrong? Well, they can. Here are some of the main mistakes to avoid and the best practices to follow instead.
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Why Adviser Rankings May Not Be All They Seem
Financial Planning Boiling down financial advisers to a “best of” list sounds like it might be helpful, but the reality often falls short for retirement savers looking for the right help.
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A Beginner's Guide to Deferred Compensation
retirement How does it work? Should you go for it, or should you pass? Before you jump on this executive perk, dig a little deeper to understand the risks and rewards involved.
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How Should YOU Measure Your Investment Performance?
investing Investors shouldn't be obsessed with their portfolio's performance, but an annual evaluation is key to keeping you on track.
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3 Smart Ways to Give to Charity Under New Tax Law
taxes Starting in 2018, the tax deduction that giving to charity provides may be no longer be available to many people. That is, unless they change the way they give. Here are three strategies to help keep the deduction many count on.
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Baring Your Finances to Your Adviser
Financial Planning That's what it could feel like for some folks, and it could stop them from seeking retirement help. Financial advisers need to put themselves in their clients' shoes to appreciate the other side of the process.
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At Back-to-School Time, Consider a Roth IRA for Your Child
savings Some of the money your child earned over the summer could grow tax-free into a nice nest egg in a Roth IRA. Here are some tips to get them started and ideas to offer incentives.
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Car-veat Emptor: Tips to Control Car-Buying and Repair Costs
spending Navigating the world of car expenses can be confusing, but some extra legwork can really pay off.
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