Investment Tax Planning
2008 Capital Gains Tax Sep 19, 2008
Capital gains tax is imposed on gains realized from the sale of capital assets such as a home, investments, and business interests. Under the Jobs and Growth Tax Relief Reconciliation Act of 2003 (2003 Tax Act) and the Tax Increase Prevention and Reconciliation Act of 2005 (2005 Tax Act), certain dividends are also taxed at capital gains tax rates. Generally, capital gains tax rates are lower than the rates applied to ordinary income.
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Mutual Fund Basics Sep 8, 2008
A mutual fund is a pool of money managed by a professional investment advisor on behalf of individual investors who have purchased shares of the fund. The fund manager buys securities to pursue a stated investment strategy. By investing in the fund, you'll own a piece of the total portfolio of securities, which could be anywhere from a few dozen to hundreds of stocks. This provides you with both a convenient way to obtain personal money management and instant diversification that would be harder to achieve on your own.
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Tax Planning for Annuities Sep 8, 2008
Favorable tax treatment is one of the main reasons for buying an annuity. But what exactly are the tax benefits? And are there any drawbacks? It's important to know the answers to these questions before deciding whether to purchase an annuity.
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Taxation of Investments Sep 8, 2008
It's nice to own stocks, bonds, and other investments. Nice, that is, until it's time to fill out your federal income tax return. At that point, you may be left scratching your head. Just how do you report your investments and how are they taxed?
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Investing in Bonds Sep 5, 2008
Bonds may not be as glamorous as stocks or commodities, but they are a significant component of most investment portfolios. Bonds are traded in huge volumes every day, but their full usefulness is often underappreciated and underestimated. |
Investing in Stocks Sep 5, 2008
Businesses sell shares of stock to investors as a way to raise money to finance expansion, pay off debt, and provide operating capital. Each share of stock represents a proportional share of ownership in the company. As a stockholder, you share in a portion of any profits and growth of the company. Dividends from earnings are paid to shareholders, and growth is realized by the increase in value of the stock. |
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