Money Today That Matters Tomorrow
In discussions with my readers and from what I see online I am constantly amazed at how low a priority folks give their finances. Yes, it is unpleasant to deal with hard money issues. Taxes are a drag. Changing bank accounts for a marginally higher yield is a pain. There …
The graphic to the right, showing the top stories on MarketWatch recently, reflects how mixed views on the market outlook really are. Some experts predict a continuing boom, some a crash and some both. No wonder retail investors like you and I are confused on what to do. Stock market …
If you are looking for a common and highly effective way to cut your tax bill for this year and/or the next, then consider opening a Traditional IRA or Roth IRA before the IRA contribution deadline. The following brokers have great offers for those looking to open or transfer an …
On a recent, beautiful and unseasonably warm, Saturday I decided to take my 6 year old son and 1 year old daughter to our local town center while my husband was out of town.  After watching the local kids show, part of a St-Patrick’s day festival, my 6 year …
Living abroad? Great! But remember, your tax obligations don’t vanish. Uncle Sam still wants his cut, regardless of where you earn your income. This post outlines the key changes the IRS has made for reporting foreign income, helping you avoid those “pretty stiff penalties” they mentioned. Reporting Your Worldwide Income: …
[Updated with 2013 IRS inflation adjusted tax brackets and fiscal cliff changes] Congress and the Obama administration’s fiscal cliff deal (ATRA act) means that 2013 federal tax rates will remain fixed for nearly 99% of the population. Only those earning above $450,000/$400,000 (married/single) AGI will have a higher federal marginal tax rate in …
On and off over the last 5 years I have been a holder of Apple stock (AAPL). While a simpler and probably more profitable strategy would have been to accumulate and hold the stock, I instead traded AAPL as it continued to rise and occasionally pullback. However, I am now …
The Treasury recently released their Greenbook on President Obama’s 2013 budget proposal. The Greenbook explains the Administration’s revenue proposals included in the budget that seek to boost near-term growth; provide permanent middle-class tax relief; encourage onshore investments in manufacturing and insourced jobs; cut taxes for small businesses; add balance to …
As is the case every year, I receive an escrow summary from my mortgage provider. An escrow is the funding account for the variable part of your mortgage payment that includes property taxes, home insurance and HOA fees in some cases. The escrow amount is added to the fixed principal …
[Updated with current limits] Catch-up contributions allow people who feel that they do not have enough of a nest egg to make higher retirement plan contributions as they approach retirement. If you are over or turning 50 in a given calendar year you are eligible to make additional or catch-up contributions …
Income from mutual funds and stocks that invest in real estate backed mortgages has never been higher. With returns of 8-15% these alternative investments – when used appropriately – can substantially increase portfolio income and growth. Much of the success of these funds is due to the difficulty that Americans …
For those who have money stashed away in an employer sponsored 401(k) retirement account, there are a number of options they can take with those funds when they move on from their current place of employment. However, before initiating any of these choices, it’s important to understand the pros and …
GOP presidential candidate Mitt Romney and his wife paid a 14% effective income tax rate in 2010 on nearly $22 million of income. Given the marginal federal income tax rate for anyone making over $35,350 (single) or $70,700 (married) is higher than 15%, it is pretty clear that the Romney’s …
Have you considered using your Roth IRA as an emergency fund or as a source for getting some cash to cover an unexpected expense? In this era of tight budgets and volatile stock markets, a lot of people are finding it difficult (if not impossible), to save for retirement and …