Here’s how to pay for taxes on your Roth IRA conversion, advisors say
Srdjanpav | E+ | Getty Images More from FA Playbook: Here’s a look at other stories impacting the financial advisor business. When a Roth conversion is completed, you’ll owe regular income taxes on the converted balance, based on your current-year taxable income. Ideally, you’re “managing the tax bracket,” said CFP Jim Guarino, managing director at […]
Here’s how to know if active ETFs are right for your portfolio
Izusek | E+ | Getty Images Exchange-traded funds are generally known for passive strategies. But there has been a surge in actively managed ETFs as investors seek lower costs and more precision, experts say. Active ETFs represented just more than 2% of the U.S. ETF market at the beginning of 2019. But these funds have […]
How to invest for a lower interest rate environment
It could be time to rethink popular portfolio strategies for a lower interest rate environment. The Federal Reserve’s half-percent rate cut on Wednesday marked the first time in more than four years it moved to lower the benchmark interest rate. According to VanEck CEO Jan van Eck, investors should start thinking about how the changing […]
How to identify potential cryptocurrency scams
Americans lost billions to cryptocurrency scams in 2023, according to a recent report from the United States Federal Bureau of Investigation. Financial losses “involving the use of cryptocurrency, such as bitcoin, ether or tether” last year totaled over $5.6 billion, per the agency’s 2023 Cryptocurrency Fraud Report. That’s up 45% compared with 2022, according to […]
How to get your Social Security benefit estimate
Klaus Vedfelt | Getty Images For most retirees, Social Security benefits is a major source of income. Yet, just 11% of Americans who aren’t retired say they know exactly how much benefits they stand to receive, according to new research from the National Institute on Retirement Security. At the same time, 24% are “not very […]
How to calculate capital gains taxes when selling your home
Westend61 | Westend61 | Getty Images As home values climb, more Americans owe capital gains taxes when selling property. But knowing how to calculate your home’s profit could reduce your bill, experts say. Most Americans do not owe taxes for selling a primary residence because of a special tax break — known as the Section […]
CPI inflation is still high. How to measure what that means for you
A customer shops at a supermarket in Tokyo on Feb. 27, 2024. Kazuhiro Nogi | Afp | Getty Images New government inflation data released Wednesday came in hotter than expected. That may not be a surprise to consumers who are still feeling the weight of higher prices. Inflation — as measured by the consumer price […]
Social Security benefits for workers who have pensions may be reduced
Richard Stephen | Istock | Getty Images When Joyce Debnam’s husband passed away, she began receiving $1,400 a month in Social Security survivor benefits. Eight months later, that income unexpectedly changed. The trigger: Debnam retired from her job at the United States Postal Service in 2013 after four decades of service. That life change prompted […]