Tax filing season is here again. If you haven’t done so already, you’ll want to start pulling things together — that includes getting your hands on a copy of last year’s tax return and gathering W-2s, 1099s, and deduction records. You’ll need these records whether you’re preparing your own return or paying someone else to

Introduction Assembling a mutual fund portfolio isn’t just a matter of looking at performance figures. Each fund in your portfolio should be designed to fill a specific role. Strategies for mutual funds fall into three basic areas: (1) strategies for the timing of your investment(s), (2) strategies for selecting specific mutual funds, and (3) strategies

Answer: It’s seldom easy to achieve a balance between saving for your retirement and saving for the ever-increasing costs of a college education within your present income. Yet it’s imperative that you save for both at the same time. To postpone saving for your retirement means missing out on years of tax-deferred growth and playing

Answer: If you don’t want the money, you can always disclaim (refuse to accept) the inherited IRA or plan funds. But if you’re like most people, you will want the money. Your first thought may be to take a lump-sum distribution, but that’s usually not the best idea. Although a lump sum provides you with