What is generating tax-free income? Although income is usually taxable, there are a number of vehicles that can produce tax-free income. Examples of tax-free income can include: Roth IRA distributionsCoverdell education savings account and 529 plan distributionsTax-exempt bond interestInterest on Series EE savings bonds used for educationLife insur...
As the end of the year approaches, it's time to consider strategies that could help you reduce your tax bill. But most tax tips, suggestions, and strategies are of little practical help without a good understanding of your current tax situation. This is particularly true for year-end planning. You can't know where to go next if you don't know where...
We’re halfway through the year, and our newly released Midyear Outlook 2026: Policy, Buildouts, & Bottlenecks helps you cut through the noise and understand what’s shaping the economic and market landscape right now. It also provides important context for what these developments could mean as conditions continue to evolve, building on the theme...
What is the forecast for college cost increases? A college education is expensive. All those benefits of personal growth, expanded horizons, and increased lifetime earning power come at a price, a price that increases every year. According to the College Board's annual Trends in College Pricing Report, for the 2025-2026 academic year, the average c...
It depends on several factors. Your LTCI contract must be a qualified one, you must itemize deductions on Schedule A of IRS Form 1040, and the total of your medical expenses (including your LTCI deduction) must exceed 7.5% of your adjusted gross income (AGI). Qualified LTCI premiums are deductible as medical expenses (subject to the 7.5% of AGI flo...
What is a spousal individual retirement account (IRA)? If you meet certain conditions, you can set up and contribute to an IRA (traditional or Roth) for your spouse, even if he or she receives little or no taxable compensation for the year of the contribution. Such an IRA is commonly referred to as a spousal IRA. A spousal IRA is not, however, a sp...
If your employer-sponsored 401(k) or 403(b) plan offers pre-tax, Roth, and/or non-Roth after-tax contributions, which should you choose? How do you know which one might be appropriate for your needs? Start by understanding the features of each. Pre-tax: For those who want lower taxes now With pre-tax contributions, the money is deducted from your p...
It's a fact: People today are living longer. Although that's good news, the odds of requiring some sort of long-term care increase as you get older. And as the costs of home care, nursing homes, and assisted living escalate, you probably wonder how you're ever going to be able to afford long-term care. One common solution is long-term care insuranc...