Why the tax-code change should put a hurry-up on your decision to convert a traditional IRA into a Roth.

Source: Kiplinger This article was originally published on Kiplinger – https://www.kiplinger.com/     There’s no time limit for spending money in a 529 college-savings plan, so leftover dollars in an account can be used by other family members now or by a new generation in the future. Q. My children are now through with college, […]

Source: Kiplinger This article was originally published on Kiplinger – https://www.kiplinger.com   When the market fails, retirees shouldn’t be left to worry about whether their portfolios can continue to support them. Most investors try to accumulate as much money as possible to alleviate the worry of running out of it one day. And why not? […]

Source: Kiplinger This article was originally published on Kiplinger – https://www.kiplinger.com/   Market value: $199.4 billion Dividend yield: 3.5% Five-year average yield: 3.4% Another favorite holding for low-risk investors is Procter & Gamble (PG, $78.52). The consumer goods giant sells many different products under 65 brands such as Luvs, Pampers, Cascade, Crest and Gillette. P&G’s […]

Source: Kiplinger This article was originally published on Kiplinger – https://www.kiplinger.com/   Although Bitcoin and several other cryptocurrencies have been around for years, it has taken a long while for the ETF industry to get on board. But it’s finally in the game – sort of. The Reality Shares Nasdaq NexGen Economy ETF (BLCN, $22.79), […]

Source: Kiplinger This article was originally published on Kiplinger – https://www.kiplinger.com   If Bitcoin is at $10,000 today it’s because the fool who bought it for $10,000 is hoping another greater fool will pay $12,000 for it tomorrow. But what do you get for your money? What’s it worth? That’s the problem. I’ve been asked […]

Source: Kiplinger This article was originally published on Kiplinger – https://www.kiplinger.com/   I am very bullish on chip equipment maker Applied Materials (AMAT). And I am not alone. Top investors are also piling into the stock, which also has 100% Street support right now. Indeed, in the last three months, no less than 11 analysts […]

Source: Kiplinger This article was originally published on Kiplinger – https://www.kiplinger.com/     Safe places to stash your cash, from money market funds to stable value funds, are yielding more than they have in years. It pays for retirees to look around. You can be forgiven if you have ignored your safe-haven investments for the […]

Source: Kiplinger This article was originally published on Kiplinger – https://www.kiplinger.com/   Here’s how three common retirement savings plans for self-employed workers stack up based on contribution limits, costs and more. Whether you’re a full-fledged small-business owner or you just run a business on the side, there are several smart ways to save for retirement […]

Source: Kiplinger This article was originally published on Kiplinger – https://www.kiplinger.com/   Own a business? Save more for retirement. Popular plans for the self-employed include the solo 401(k), the SEP IRA and a SIMPLE IRA. As an employee of a financial-planning firm, Neil Brown follows his own advice and makes the maximum contribution to his […]

Source: Kiplinger This article was originally published on Kiplinger – https://www.kiplinger.com/   It might be difficult to top 2017’s performance by closed-end funds. Last year, CEFs — which typically invest in stocks, bonds or a blend of both — returned 12.4% on average, according to data compiled by CEF Insider. Since the average distribution rate […]

Source: Kiplinger This article was originally published on Kiplinger – https://www.kiplinger.com/   The 10-year time limit is expiring for a raft of foreign asset trusts, and those who hold them could benefit in several ways now by redomiciling them to the United States. Do you have a foreign asset protection trust (FAPT)? Has it been […]

Source: Kiplinger This article was originally published on Kiplinger – https://www.kiplinger.com/   Bone up on strategies that will get you the maximum Social Security benefits you’ve earned. A big reason experts advise waiting until at least full retirement age to claim Social Security: You get to skip the benefits earnings test, which hits early claimers […]

Source: Kiplinger This article was originally published on Kiplinger – https://www.kiplinger.com/   Market value: $155.9 billion Dividend yield: 2.9% PepsiCo (PEP, $108.00) is a global food and beverage company whose well-known brands include the namesake Pepsi-Cola, as well as Frito-Lay, Gatorade, Quaker and Tropicana. After a few years of declines in the top line, PepsiCo […]

Source: Kiplinger This article was originally published on Kiplinger – https://www.kiplinger.com/     If your retirement income relies on the stock market, a plunge isn’t just “paper losses” to you. Here’s the income plan my wife and I use that takes the worry out of market volatility. The stock market recently gave us a reminder […]

Source: Kiplinger This article was originally published on Kiplinger – https://www.kiplinger.com/   Their returns typically tend to be less than eye-popping, but when stocks hit the skids, investors may well appreciate their reliability. Remember the cardinal rule of bonds: When interest rates fall, bond prices rise, and when interest rates rise, bond prices fall. As […]

Source: Kiplinger This article was originally published on Kiplinger – https://www.kiplinger.com/   Artificial intelligence became a reality in millions of American homes during 2017 with the success of Amazon.com’s (AMZN) Alexa, a speaking interface that was the top app downloaded on Android phones and iPhone on Christmas Day. What your PC calls an application and […]