Donating to charity can be one of the best decisions you ever make, from both a personal and financial perspective. But when you claim your charitable contributions on your income tax return, it’s easy to make mistakes. Since these oversights can trigger an audit, or even cause you to be penalized for unpaid taxes, make [...]
Hopefully, you aren’t too surprised by your tax bill each spring. If you have been unpleasantly shocked in the past, you may be looking for ways to reduce your tax burden in the future. But before you act, keep in mind that things may not work out the way you had hoped. Talk to a [...]
Once you enter retirement, you may be living on a fixed income. You might think that your federal income taxes will stay the same or even be lower, but it's important to remember that the IRS taxes different types of income at different rates. As you're planning for retirement, it's a good idea to understand [...]
For years, we have all been hearing the predictions that the Social Security fund will have a difficult time paying full benefits by about 2033. But now researchers from Dartmouth and Harvard have suggested that the actual day of reckoning could arrive sooner than expected. These researchers believe that the actuaries for the Social Security [...]
For Mark Roberts' Use: The average retiree lives on a fixed income, which can sound scary as you're looking toward the future. With careful planning, it is possible to enjoy a generous budget in retirement. But even the most confident retirees and pre-retirees should keep an eye on these four factors, because they can significantly [...]
You've heard a lot about the wage disparity between men and women. So it probably comes as no surprise that retirement savings differ between the genders as well. A 2014 study by the Employee Benefit Research Institute uncovered a significant gap in the savings of men and women. According to the study, the average IRA [...]
For Mark Roberts' Use: The economy shows signs of improvement, and the inflation rate remains extremely low. Even so, many Americans are concerned that their incomes are falling behind the cost of living. Indeed, most of us have noticed fluctuating gas prices and rising food prices over recent years. No matter what the experts say [...]
For Mark Roberts' Use: You may already be aware that many businesses offer discounts to senior citizens. These discounts are often well-known and advertised, so you can't really miss them. But you may not know about many of these hidden discounts at common places of business. They aren't advertised, and in many cases you have [...]
For Mark Roberts' Use: Reverse mortgages are sometimes criticized as being a bad deal for seniors. But for some retirees, a reverse mortgage may be a good idea. The main thing to remember is that a reverse mortgage provide financial relief for some people, in the right situation. So what is a reverse mortgage, and how [...]
For Mark Roberts' Use: Have you ever considered investing in real estate, such as a rental house, vacation home, or apartment building? It may be a good idea to generate income and shelter some of your assets from taxes, but this type of investment typically requires substantial capital. Even if you have the that kind [...]