The end of the year is fast approaching, so now may be a good time to start thinking about steps that could help reduce your 2012 income tax liability. Of course, before you take any specific action, be sure to consult with your tax professional. Consider income timing. Some tax experts recommend deferring income to […]
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In February, Federal Reserve Board Chairman Ben Bernanke coined the phrase “fiscal cliff” to warn Congress about the potentially harmful combination of nearly $600 billion in federal tax increases and spending cuts that are scheduled to take effect on January 1, 2013, unless lawmakers address the deficit, taxes, and government spending. Economists and government officials […]
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The IRS calculates the estate tax due on your gross taxable estate by adding the value of your assets, including your home and/or business, and subtracting any applicable exemptions. Through 2012, the top federal estate tax rate is 35% with a $5.12 million exemption amount. However, in 2013, the top estate tax rate is scheduled […]
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A number of tax provisions are scheduled to expire at the end of 2012, including the highly favorable treatment of federal estate and gift taxes. If you are considering a gift that could be subject to the gift tax, this may be a good time to examine your options. Limits and Exclusions In 2012, you […]
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The first exchange-traded fund (ETF) in the United States debuted in 1993 as an alternative to mutual funds. Interest in ETFs grew slowly at first but increased substantially over the last decade. By May 2012, there were more than 1,200 ETFs available with total assets exceeding $1.1 trillion.1 Even so, ETFs remain somewhat mysterious to […]
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Many people think trusts are only for the rich, but that’s not necessarily the case. Most estates must go through the probate process, which can be costly and time-consuming. And with tax changes scheduled to take effect in 2013, even modest estates could be subject to federal estate taxes. Certain types of properly executed trusts […]
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During the five-year period from 2007 to 2011, the total return of the S&P 500 index (representing large-cap stocks) was a disappointing –1.24%, which may not be surprising considering the impact of the Great Recession. On the other hand, the performance of small- and mid-sized company stocks during this period might surprise you: Total returns […]
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On September 13, the Federal Reserve announced a third round of quantitative easing — dubbed QE3 — aimed at stimulating the still-struggling U.S. economy. In this initiative, the Fed plans to purchase $40 billion in mortgage-backed securities each month until the employment situation shows satisfactory improvement. The central bank also extended “Operation Twist” — an […]
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The share of overall U.S. exports for companies with fewer than 500 employees rose steadily from 27% in 2002 to 34% in 2010. The number of small and midsize enterprises that export also reached a record high of 293,000, and roughly 70% of all exporting companies have 20 or fewer employees.1–2 A relatively weak dollar […]
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In 2012, total health-care costs for an American family of four covered by an employer-sponsored PPO insurance plan averaged $20,728. Employers contributed $12,144 of the total and employees were responsible for $8,584 (through payroll deductions and out-of-pocket expenditures).1 Rising health-care costs are the main reason that more Americans are finding medical plans with higher deductibles […]
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