Investment products

The soaring stock market this year has provided a boon for investors age 65 and over even more than people from other age groups; plus, sales pitches about annuities can distract savers from making an informed investing decision.

Clients should estimate the amount of income they will need to support their lifestyle rather than determining the right size of their nest egg; plus, eight tips for people who will retire in 2015 and why 401(k)s are still a problem.

Decreased creditor protection for inherited IRAs will impact retirement planning next year; plus, the hidden pitfalls of collecting Social Security benefits from an ex-spouse and three dividend stocks for retirees to consider.

Are your clients prepared for the capital gain that many mutual funds are likely to pay out before year-end?

The new approach enables workers to know their income at a specific age based on their plan's current balance; plus, mutual fund firms acting as 401(k) providers that favor their own funds and how your Social Security benefits measure up.

Buying immediate annuities early before retirement may not be a good strategy because the payouts will not account for future inflation; plus, deadlines for retirement plan contributions in 2014 and six things you need to know about Social Security benefits.

The broker involved in the dispute invested 40% of the clients' assets in short positions in U.S. Treasury bonds betting that interest rates and inflation would rise.

An analysis compares portfolios built using 'smart beta' indexes against those whose components are weighted by market cap. See the results.

So-called experts tend to do a lousy job predicting the direction of the economy or the stock market. Here's what advisors should do about it.

The income tax on conversions may not be worth the potential appreciation they will get over a period of time; plus, low-cost holiday gift ideas and ways in which to make your money last in retirement.

The IRS is considering regulations to limit assets in IRAs; plus, six ways to make a penalty-free 401(k) withdrawal and new rules that allow 401(k) rollovers into company pension plans.

Retirees may start their search by visiting Medicare's website where they can compare facilities; plus, a moderate retirement saver portfolio for young investors and eight things investors should be thankful for.

One is to check how much you've contributed to your 401(k) plans and IRAs; plus, how to determine the "funded status" of personal retirement plans and the steps to take to ease post-career anxiety.

Company founder filled account with stock that wasn't publicly traded and used low values to stay technically under the contribution limit; plus, jumbo-loan challenges for retirees and how to avoid the Medicare surcharge.

Madison and Omaha are among the top retirement havens; plus the factors retirees should consider in deciding where to retire and what pre-retirees need to do now.

When spouses or other family members can't agree on where to donate their money, it's time for some diplomacy.

When spouses or other family members can't agree on where to donate their money, it's time for some diplomacy.

The timing is right to put MLPs to work for your client, as long as you fully grasp the nuances of these sometimes confusing and volatile investment vehicles.

Tax benefits of homeownership are overstated, study finds; plus proposed changes that put Roth IRA advantages at risk and five takeaways on retirement from the midterm elections.

Clients report Social Security's employees being uninformed of the agency's rules, or worse, providing wrong information; Plus, the downside of target-date funds