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

A Roth 401(k) is funded with after-tax money, and allows for tax- and penalty-free withdrawal of earnings if requirements are met.

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

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

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

There are five broad asset classes that you should take into consideration when constructing your investment portfolio.

Everything you own, whatever the form of ownership, is subject to federal, and possibly state, estate taxes.

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

There are numerous investment alternatives available to help provide liquidity.

Compare the advantages and disadvantages of different gifting strategies available for planned giving.

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

Tax-deferred retirement account withdrawals before age 59½ generally trigger a 10% federal tax penalty.

There are several funding methods for a child's college education including mutual funds and Section 529 plans.

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

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

Required minimum distribution is the annual amount that must be withdrawn from a qualified retirement plan/account.

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

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

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

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

An annuity is a flexible financial vehicle that can help protect against the risk of living a long time because it provides an option for a lifetime income.

Stock market indexes can be useful benchmarks for gauging the performance of an investment portfolio over time.

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

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

A mutual fund is a collection of stocks, bonds, and other securities with certain benefits and risks.

Many realize it’s important to save for retirement, but knowing exactly how much to save is another issue altogether.

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

Asset allocation is a method used to help manage investment risk; it does not guarantee a profit or protect against investment loss.

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

Here are some smart ways to refinance your home.

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

Some of the pros and cons of whole life insurance.

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

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

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

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

Life insurance can be used to help preserve the value of your estate for your heirs.

There are techniques that can enable older homeowners to use their property to finance their lifestyle.

If you do not participate in an employer-sponsored retirement plan, you might consider a traditional IRA.

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

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

Wills and trusts allow you to spell out how you would like your property distributed, but they also go beyond that.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

The probate process can be lengthy and complex. There are strategies you can use to help avoid the probate process.

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

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

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

If you leave a job or retire, you should consider your options regarding your employer retirement plan assets.

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

Qualified Roth IRA distributions in retirement are free of federal income tax and aren’t included in gross income.

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

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