Creating an estate plan in case of your death or disability can help your heirs avoid unneeded stress and uncertainty. Here are 10 steps to

Becoming a new parent brings many new financial responsibilities. You’ll want to take care of the essentials in budgeting, insurance, and th

Can a child inherit an IRA? The answer is yes, though they cannot legally own the IRA and its invested assets. It can get complicated.

Your beneficiary choices may seem obvious when you initially make them, time has a way of altering things. In a stretch of five or ten years

Many IRA owners may not be aware that after their death, the primary beneficiary -- usually the surviving spouse -- may have the right to transfer part or all of the IRA assets into another account. Be vigilant about naming beneficiaries on retirement accounts -- and avoid hardship for loved ones. [Click to Tweet] Many investors have taken advantage of pretax contributions to their company's employer-sponsored retirement plan and/or make annual contributions to an IRA. If you

As hard as it is to believe, today's tax-advantaged plans -- including individual retirement accounts IRAs, 401(k)s, and rollover IRAs -- have the potential to make many employees millionaires. A 401(k) contribution of $433 per month, at 8% compounded monthly, would be worth more than $1 million after 35 years.1 These plans are also highly vulnerable to tax losses, if they are not bequeathed properly. For instance, a $1 million IRA inheritance could be whittled to almost noth

Estate planning can be a minefield of potential missteps, some of which could have far-reaching consequences. Many of the poor choices individuals make when planning for their own future or passing assets to their families are caused by "one-size-fits-all" planning strategies or well-intended advice from family or friends. Following are some common and potentially costly mistakes along with suggestions for avoiding them. Failing to plan. Whether drafting a basic will or craft

As a trust beneficiary, you have certain rights. Here are some things you may need to know to help keep your interests protected. If you have been named as a beneficiary of a trust, you probably have many questions about what comes next. Trusts can take many forms and may be governed by unique provisions established by the creator of the trust or "grantor." As a trust beneficiary, you have certain rights. But to ensure that your financial and other interests are fully protect

Many investors have taken advantage of pretax contributions to their company's employer-sponsored retirement plan and/or make annual contributions to an IRA. If you participate in a qualified plan program you may be overlooking an important housekeeping issue: beneficiary designations. An improper designation could make life difficult for your family in the event of your untimely death by putting assets out of reach of those you had hoped to provide for and possibly increasin