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It’s important to understand mutual fund loads, or sales charges, and exactly what they entail so you can make informed investing decisions.

An annuity is a flexible financial vehicle that can help protect against the risk of living a long time because it provides an option for a lifetime income.

The labels growth and value reflect different approaches that can be used when making investment decisions.

Understanding different types of investment risk can help investors manage their money more effectively.

Stock market indexes can be useful benchmarks for gauging the performance of an investment portfolio over time.

Mutual fund taxes can be cumbersome, but there are ways to help mitigate the amount of taxes you may owe.

Both fixed and variable annuities could be appropriate options for an individual interested in purchasing an annuity.

529 plans are tax-advantaged savings plans that generally allow people of any income level to contribute.

A mutual fund is a collection of stocks, bonds, and other securities with certain benefits and risks.

It is important to understand how dividends (taxable payments to shareholders) fit with your long-term goals.

The difference between purchasing an individual stock versus shares in a mutual fund to potentially earn dividends.

ETFs have unique attributes and attempt to track all types of indexes, industries, or commodities.

There are several funding methods for a child's college education including mutual funds and Section 529 plans.

There are other ways to invest in stocks and bonds besides owning individual shares or bonds.

Company-owned life insurance is one way to help protect a business from financial problems caused by the death of a key employee.

A sound cash management program uses a disciplined approach: accounting, analysis, allocation, and adjustment.

Medicare is the federal health insurance program for those persons age 65 and over. But what does it cover?

Here are some smart ways to refinance your home.

As a business owner, a disability can create an economic hardship putting both your personal finances and business at risk.

When selecting a life insurance policy, examine all your options, as well as the positives and negatives of each type.

Couples who want to help protect their legacy from estate taxes could consider last-survivor life insurance.

There are numerous investment alternatives available to help provide liquidity.

It's important to understand the options, such as financial aid grant programs, when having to pay for college.

Property and casualty insurance can help protect a variety of assets. Find out what it does and doesn’t cover.

Several factors could undermine the financial security provided by the proceeds of your life insurance policy.

To help you choose insurance wisely, determine how much coverage and what kind of policy is best for your situation.

A business owner policy is an insurance package that assembles the basic coverages required by a business owner in one bundle.

An annuity is a contract between you and an insurance company to pay you future income in exchange for premiums you pay.

If you have a family who relies on your income, it is important to have life insurance protection.

Split-dollar life insurance is an arrangement to purchase and fund life insurance between two parties.

Allocating too much of your retirement investments to one company, even your own, can be a risky proposition.

A split-annuity strategy can generate immediate income while potentially stretching some retirement savings.

A 403(b) plan is a tax-deferred retirement savings plan that can only be offered by a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt entity.

Living benefits can help protect variable annuity owners from running out of money in retirement.

If you leave a job or retire, you should consider your options regarding your employer retirement plan assets.

A money purchase plan is a retirement plan where employer contributions are based on a fixed percentage of compensation.

Many realize it’s important to save for retirement, but knowing exactly how much to save is another issue altogether.

If you do not participate in an employer-sponsored retirement plan, you might consider a traditional IRA.

Profit-sharing plans give employees a share in the profits of a company and can help to fund their retirements.

With the changing pension landscape, it is important to take charge of your own retirement security.

There are key dates after you turn 59½ that can impact your taxes, Medicare eligibility, and retirement benefits.

401(k) employer-sponsored retirement plans have many benefits, including that the funds accumulate tax-deferred.

The SIMPLE plan may appeal to small business owners as it is easy to set up, administer, and allows for a tax deduction.

A Section 1035 exchange is a tax-free exchange of an existing annuity contract or life insurance policy for a new one.

Tax-deferred retirement plans for self-employed individuals have higher contribution limits than IRAs.

There are a variety of retirement planning options that could help meet your needs. Here are some of the most popular.

Qualified Roth IRA distributions in retirement are free of federal income tax and aren’t included in gross income.

Annuities, an insurance-based financial vehicle, can provide many benefits that retirement investors might want.

A Roth 401(k) is funded with after-tax money, and allows for tax- and penalty-free withdrawal of earnings if requirements are met.

A SEP IRA is a type of plan under which the employer contributes (up to a certain limit) to an employee’s IRA.

For the grantor, there are a few potential tax benefits that can come with setting up a charitable trust.

Want to keep more of your mutual fund profits? You may be interested in strategies to help lower your tax liability.

IRAs and employer-sponsored retirement plans are subject to annual contribution limits set by the federal government.

A 1035 exchange allows you to exchange your life insurance policy for one from another company without tax liability.

With traditional IRAs and most employer-sponsored retirement plans, taxes are not payable until funds are withdrawn.

Capital gains are profits realized from the sale of assets; a tax is triggered only when an asset is sold, not held.

Required minimum distribution is the annual amount that must be withdrawn from a qualified retirement plan/account.

The federal gift tax applies to gifts of property or money while the donor is living.

Tax-deferred retirement account withdrawals before age 59½ generally trigger a 10% federal tax penalty.

Everything you own, whatever the form of ownership, is subject to federal, and possibly state, estate taxes.

A living trust can help control the distribution of your estate upon death.

Wills and trusts allow you to spell out how you would like your property distributed, but they also go beyond that.

Sole ownership, joint tenancy, tenancy in common, and community property have special benefits for property owners.

Compare the advantages and disadvantages of different gifting strategies available for planned giving.

One estate planning strategy that families with closely held businesses could consider is the family limited partnership.