SMART MONEY
Retirement-Which IRA Is Best?
With three flavors to choose from — Roth, deductible or nondeductible — figuring out which IRA is best for you can be confusing. But everybody who plans to retire ought to have at least one of them.
Retirement-Estate Planning With a Roth IRA
When it comes to saving for retirement, many investors already know how well the Roth IRA fends off Uncle Sam. But what they may not realize is that it's equally effective as an estate-planning tool.
Retirement-Roth IRAs: You Wanted to Know
Answers to topics such as: Lost Interest on a Roth Conversion, Earned Income and Roth Contributions, Making Contributions Past 59 1/2, $100,000 Threshold, Roth IRA Conversions, Non-Working Spouse, Capital Gains, Education IRA Plus Roth IRA, Roths and SEPs, AGI Too High, Roths and 401(k)s, Transferring Stocks to a Roth, Timing for a Roth Conversion
THE BEST OF PERSONAL JOURNAL
HELP, MY 401(K) STINKS!
When faced with a bad 401(k), an Individual Retirement Account, or IRA, can be your retirement strategy's best friend. Here's how to use it.
FAMILY FINANCES - What to Do When Your Rebate Check Arrives April 27, 2008
H&R BLOCK
The Retirement Savings Contribution Credit
Known as the Saver's Credit, allows you to get a credit for up to half of what you contribute to your IRA or other qualified retirement plan. Up to $2,000 of your annual contribution is eligible for the credit.
Common investments that can help extend retirement options.
Individual Retirement Account (IRA)
GATHER
Taxes, What's New for 2008
by Rande Spiegelman, Charles Schwab, April 02, 2008
Even when there are no big changes to the tax laws, annual inflation and previously scheduled adjustments trigger a number of small tax rule changes, including: How much you can contribute to retirement accounts, Eligibility limits based on adjusted gross income (AGI), Income levels that determine which marginal income tax bracket you fall into
TURBO TAX
Tax laws
To help you determine how these tax laws affect your long-term plans, this article explains the changes that come into effect through 2011.
AARP
Catch-Up Savings Secrets
Yes, the stock market slide hit your savings hard. But the dream of retiring on your own terms is still within reach.
Article has links to retirement calculators.
Is an Auto-IRA the Answer to Saving for Old Age? Albert B. Crenshaw September 2007 – AARP Bulletin Today
CNN MONEY
You, too, can have tax-free retirement income - February 14, 2008
The rules of converting to a Roth IRA may be complicated, but staying on top of the latest changes could boost your nest egg, says Money Magazine’s Walter Updegrave.
To Roth or not to Roth 401(k) - January 14 2008: 10:01 AM EST
Money Magazine's Walter Updegrave explains the pros and cons of a Roth 401(k) vs. a regular 401(k).
By Walter Updegrave, Money Magazine senior editor
SOCIAL SECURITY
Social Security Retirement Planner
This planner provides detailed information about your Social Security retirement benefits under current law and points out things you may want to consider as you prepare for the future.
ROTH IRA WEB SITE
Roth IRA Web Site Home Page
The purpose of this site is to provide technical and planning information on Roth IRAs to practitioners and consumers.
FORBES
Investment Guide - Tapping Your IRA Early. By Christopher Steiner 06.02.08
Back To Basics - Saving For Retirement At Any Age. By
Scott Reeves, 09.28.04 Retire right- Investing in your retirement. Includes links to helpful guide for your age bracket
Adviser Soapbox - Building A Portfolio With Staying Power. By
Robert Sweet, Dow Theory Forecasts 05.01.08
While most investors spend their time on individual stock selection, the reality is that long-run investment success depends greatly on how well you construct your overall portfolio.
Retirement Guide - Seven Steps to Saner Savings. By
Ashlea Ebeling 02.25.08
No matter how complicated your situation, these seven steps, along with the table on page 42, should help you tame the savings account insanity.
Retirement Guide - The Great 401(k) Escape. By
Ashlea Ebeling 02.25.08, 12:00 AM ET
If the offerings in your employer's plan aren't so great, put your money elsewhere. Employers and 401(k) plan administrators don't advertise this fact, but most workers 59 and a half and older, and even some younger ones, can roll over 401(k) funds while they're still working and contributing to the plan. In some cases it can provide more attractive investment choices, a better way to leave money to your kids or even a chance (new in 2008) to move 401(k) dollars directly into a Roth IRA.
Young Investors - What Grads Need To Know About Finances. By
Tom L. Potts and William Reichenstein 01.28.08, 6:50 PM ET
A simple story of two young people just entering the workforce and the outcome of their choices to save for retirement.
2008 Investment Guide - Got To Have A Plan. By
Soyoung Ho 12.10.07
These days even cocksure baby boomers are looking for retirement advice. How to find the best blueprint for you.
Where to go to get help--whether it be a one-time retirement checkup, specialized tax and estate advice, or continued hand-holding from a pro. Here are some options…
Adviser Soapbox - Rev Up Your IRA. By Shannon Evans, Ed Slott's IRA Advisor 05.08.07, 12:00 PM ET
Why doesn't anyone talk about exactly what investments are allowed in an Individual Retirement Accounts? Although you hardly expect this topic to be exciting chit-chat at a cocktail party, the significance of IRAs as a powerful investment engine has been largely ignored and kept hush-hush by stockbrokers
KIPLINGER’s
STARTING OUT- Why You Need a Roth IRA By Erin Burt March 9, 2006 This article was updated in 2008.
One of the smartest money moves a young person can make is to invest in a Roth IRA. With this indispensable savings tool, your money grows tax-free, you can invest in almost anything and you get several cool perks.
Take Over the Reins of Your IRA
A self-directed IRA allows you to invest in just about anything you want.
SAVING FOR RETIREMENT - Fresh Ideas for Retiring Rich By Mary Beth Franklin
From Kiplinger's Personal Finance magazine, October 2005. Erratic stock-market returns and persistently low interest rates have left a lot of investors worried about the performance of their retirement portfolios. A small but growing number are turning to self-directed IRAs -- accounts with third-party custodians that allow them to diversify their retirement savings beyond the typical mutual fund menu into investments such as real estate and community bank stocks.
SAVING FOR RETIREMENT - Invest Your IRA in Real Estate? By Mary Beth Franklin
From Kiplinger's Personal Finance magazine, March 2005. Success stories prove you can. But it's not for the faint of heart.
Painful memories of the bear market and continued frustration over low interest rates have a lot of investors looking beyond stocks, bonds and mutual funds for their retirement savings. A small but growing number have discovered they can use the money in their IRAs to buy real estate -- from raw land to single-family homes to commercial buildings.
TAXES - A New Direction for Retirement Savings By Kimberly Lankford, Contributing Editor
From Kiplinger's Personal Finance magazine, May 2007. Use a health savings account to supplement your IRA or 401(k).
Looking for another way to benefit from tax breaks on saving for retirement? Then take a gander at the new, improved health savings account.
YOUR RETIREMENT - Take Your Pick From The Retirement Toolbox
August 10, 2007. You've got a number of tools to work with to secure your financial future. Open up the retirement toolbox and take your pick of these tools to secure your financial future:
A CHOICE OF 401(k)s, SEVERAL TYPES OF IRAs, THE BENEFITS OF HSAs, FOR THE SELF-EMPLOYED, FOR EXTRA CASH
WOMEN & MONEY - 12 Retirement Strategies for Women By Janet Bodnar, Deputy Editor, Kiplinger's Personal Finance
November 12, 2007. A checklist to secure your retirement
BUSINESS WEEK
PERSONAL BUSINESS- Blaze Your Own IRA Trail
FEBRUARY 6, 2006.
With a "self-directed" account, your funds can seek out unconventional investments.
CONTRA COSTA TIMES
Self-directed IRAs offer alternatives to the stock market By Eve Mitchell
Article Launched: 03/28/2008 07:58:08 PM PDT
INVESTMENT NEWS
Investors tap retirement savings to make real estate bets By Janet Morrissey
March 31, 2008. Amid housing woes, use of self-directed IRAs is on the rise. Where some see devastation and loss, others see opportunity.At least that is the situation for investors using little-known, self-directed individual retirement savings accounts to invest in the battered real estate market. And for some savvy investors, it has been a windfall.
IRAs outshine defined contribution plans By Lisa Shidler
December 11, 2007. Assets in individual retirement accounts grew 16.5% in 2006 to a record $4.23 trillion, according to a new study released today by Washington-based nonpartisan Employee Benefit Research Institute. The growth in IRA assets has occurred mostly in mutual funds and self-directed brokerage accounts
