IRAs

Anticipation of auto enrollment features is expected to change the way advisers serve their clients.

Here's why filing for Social Security benefits at the wrong time may mean a less fulfilling retirement.

An adviser's strategy puts a distribution to work to potentially lower what clients owe the government for their IRAs and Social Security income. Plus, momentum investing is tempting again (just watch out for the capital gains expense), and a look at the efficiency and payoffs of preferred stocks.

Tax-wise strategies for charitable contributions can take a 180-degree turn when it comes time to create an estate plan.

A typically "balanced" portfolio (with 60% in stocks and 40% in bonds) yielded a return of 4% or more just 66% of the time.

As many as 30% of accounts are either abandoned or lost because many providers can no longer locate the account holders.

Advisers and clients may think it doesn't matter which account makes the distribution, as long as the total calculated amount is taken from some account. They are wrong.

Investing in more bonds for a short period is a good strategy for retirement savers to curb the sequence of return risk.

High front-end fees, complex payouts and a lack of dividend income are among the reasons.

Now may be the best time for retirees to make charitable donations, do a Roth conversion, and incur more qualified medical expenses to meet the threshold and qualify for a tax deduction.