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

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

An important element to successful investing is to manage investment risk while maintaining the potential for growth.

There are five broad asset classes that you should take into consideration when constructing your investment portfolio.

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

To retain the tax advantages associated with charitable giving, your gift must be made to a qualified organization.

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

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

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

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

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

Required minimum distribution is the annual amount that must be withdrawn from a qualified retirement plan/account.

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

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

Bonds are issued by many entities and share many characteristics, each type of bond has certain benefits and risks.

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

Consider a trustee-to-trustee transfer to an IRA versus a lump-sum distribution from a workplace retirement plan.

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

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

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

Before investing in stocks, it is important to understand some of the basics and the risks involved in owning stocks.

Asset allocation is a method used to help manage investment risk; it does not guarantee a profit or protect against investment loss.

United States tax law is a constantly changing landscape. The latest major piece of tax legislation is the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017.

Bond ratings gauge a bond issuer’s financial ability to repay its promised principal and interest payments.

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

If you believe your estate will be subject to estate taxes, consider how your heirs will pay the bill.

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

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

An A-B trust can be an effective way to help reduce estate taxes and preserve family assets for heirs.

A wealth replacement trust could be used to gift appreciated assets to a charity as well as provide for heirs.

Life insurance can be used to help preserve the value of your estate for your heirs.

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

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

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

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

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

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

Careful estate planning is still one of the most important ways to manage and protect your assets for your heirs.

Changes to the tax code have left a few key deductions for itemizers, like medical, dental and some business expenses.

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

A bond is simply evidence of a debt from a government entity or a corporation and represents a long-term IOU.

It's important to understand the strengths and weaknesses of common stock versus preferred stock.

Charitable lead trusts are designed for people who would like to benefit a charity now rather than later.

The probate process can be lengthy and complex. There are strategies you can use to help avoid the probate process.

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

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

A designated income beneficiary could receive payment of a specified amount from a charitable remainder trust.

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

If you haven't taken steps already, consider planning now for the distribution of the assets of your estate.

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

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

Dollar-cost averaging involves investing a set amount of money on a regular basis, regardless of market conditions.