Q & A

Leaving a legacy can be a great benefit for the charity receiving the gift.

We believe that NAPFA advisors are a well sought minority of financial advisors.

You can get copies of Form ADV by accessing the Investment Adviser Public Disclosure (IAPD) website.

How your advisor is compensated matters. Make sure you can follow the money and know how they are getting paid.

Here are our answers and comments to the SEC’s eight suggested questions.

This is why we call ourselves comprehensive wealth managers.

At age 25, getting your 401(k) match funds 64.2% of your retirement.

It is always a good time to have a balanced portfolio.

As the payroll processor at our company, how quickly do I need to deposit 401(k) contributions into employee accounts? -Sincerely, Payroll Pam

You should have no problem naming your nephew as your beneficiary, but accessing the money from India after your death is more complicated.

Some suggest using ten times your take home salary as a rough rule of thumb when determining life insurance. Like all such rules, this rough guide is found lacking in many situations.

Here are some large cap stocks with very low 12 month trailing P/E ratios.

Literally tens of thousands of employees who were once participants in an employer-sponsored retirement plan (i.e., 401(k) plan, profit-sharing plan) neglect to take their retirement money with them.

Q: I am looking for a way to get into the distressed real estate market. What recommendations do you have about investing IRA or 401(k) funds in rental houses?

Following the holiday season, many will feel the effects of overindulging on festive sweets. It turns out that your 401(k) also suffers when indulging on too much of a good thing.

Learn about 529 college savings plan distribution rules before you need to start taking money out of your accounts. This post answers the timing question for those who are using the 529 to reimburse expenses already paid.

“Most people don’t know this, but right now there’s a loophole in the American banking system that enables you to exchange ordinary paper dollars for real silver coins.”

There is a backdoor way to contribute to a Roth IRA for those who are not income eligible. This method requires the following steps:

“I would like to give my daughter my newer car, but the tax considerations are not simple.”

This article reviews the coordination rules which govern the maximum contributions to 457, 401(k) and Thrift Savings Plan. Information on 403(b) plan maximums is also included.

Personally I think it is a mistake to value supporting the government (taxes) higher than supporting society (charitable giving).

Q: My husband Thomas is four years older than me and plans to delay filing for his larger Social Security benefit until age 70 when he will receive $2,600 a month. My personal benefit starts at $600 beginning at age … Read More

Two proven methods to pay off your debts – with gusto. Say goodbye to the stress, ANXIETY and late fees.

Review your health insurance options after losing your job – COBRA and High Deductible Health Plans.

Although it is possible, buying a house without a credit history will require you to jump through some uncommon hoops to find a competitive rate.

Many people prefer having a local fee-only commission-free financial planner they can easily visit on a regular basis. Others prefer to handle everything through phone and email.

It is estimated that as many as 40,000 American citizens reside in Costa Rica, and many are retirees who are stretching the purchasing power of their Social Security paychecks.

There is a separate set of rules for those under age 55 or who are looking to distribute from an IRA. These rules focus on an exception called Substantially Equal Periodic Payments (SEPPs).

Q: We have saved money for our grandchildren’s college expenses with 529 plans, and now the first is set to begin. What advice do you have as we begin to make distributions from these accounts?

There are two opposing approaches to limit your AMT tax. The obvious strategy is to lower your income so you avoid this AMT bull’s-eye. The less obvious approach is to raise your income.

Huge financial incentives motivate a newly minted public stock to attempt to keep their best foot forward just long enough for the early investors to maximize their profits.

Precious metals will, on average, just keep up with inflation, but your after tax return would mean you fell behind inflation by the 28% tax you must pay.

Here is the only question you should attempt to answer: Are you paying a higher tax rate now or later?

Q: Do you recommend dividend-paying stocks? If not, what investment strategy do you recommend for retirees like me who are seeking income from our portfolios?

Some say don’t make extra payments, take the tax deduction. Others say you need to be debt free.

Dividend investors are too easily lulled into the temporary comforts of portfolio income.

Should it be invested aggressively, like 100% equities, or use the same split as my taxable investments, such as 50-50 stocks vs bonds?

There is a distinction between existing high capital gains exposure in a mutual fund verses future capital gains you expose yourself to.

Q: I recently landed a job that will allow me to begin saving. My company offers a 401(k) and a 3% match, but I also have college debts of $15,000 and a credit card balance of $650. How do you recommend I proceed?

A Roth provides more flexibility than its Roth 401(k) counterpart because you can access the principal at any time without penalty.

Once you buy this product, you’re stuck. All structured settlement transfers must take place through a court order…

Q: My husband hasn’t gotten rid of a single bill or financial statement during our entire 18-year marriage! He received a shredder from Santa this past Christmas, and I am ready to get started, but I want to know what, if any, of this paperwork I should keep.

Q: I am a 65-year-old retired widow and I have a large IRA. How should I invest if I don’t need this money?

“There exists a timeless and flexible process for successful investment management decision making that is specifically tailored for Investment Stewards.”

Kiplinger is teaming up with the National Association of Personal Financial Advisors (NAPFA) to bring you FREE, personalized financial advice.

Kiplinger teamed up with the National Association of Personal Financial Advisors (NAPFA) to bring you FREE, personalized financial advice as part of Kiplinger’s 11th annual Jump-Start Your Retirement Plan Days.

Q: I was told that I would not be able to apply for spousal social security until my husband qualifies for social security. Should I keep working so I can collect my small social security payment or should I just wait for spousal payments at age 73?

Q:What advice can you offer for how to go about accessing retirement funds after a hardship?

Q: I would like to see a portion of my investments make a difference in the world. Can you suggest an approach to socially responsible investing?

Q: I received a letter from a nonprofit organization to which I regularly donate suggesting I may be eligible for state tax credits. Can you please explain what this means?