In 2014, the S&P 500 Index of the stocks of the 500 largest U.S. companies rose 14%. Outside the U.S. it was a different story: the MSCI Europe, Australasia, and Far East (EAFE®) Index of foreign stocks fell almost 5%READ MORE
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The S&P 500 Index of large U.S. companies gained 14% for the year. On the other hand, U.S. small company stocks dropped more than 13% from their summertime high through mid-October and ended the year up only 5%. Outside theREAD MORE
Global stock markets generally fell in the third quarter, although U.S. large company (large cap) stocks bucked the trend with the S&P 500 gaining 1.1%. Smaller company stocks were down 7.4%. Year to date, large cap stocks gained 8.3% versusREAD MORE
Charitable IRA Rollovers (also called Qualified Charitable Distributions, or QCDs), have been allowed by IRS rules off and on since 2006. The most recent extension of the rules expired in 2013, and has not yet been renewed. However, in JulyREAD MORE
Life insurance is often used for alternative purposes, such as borrowing against it, but there’s a catch. When the cash value bleeds down to nothing, the policy generally needs to be cancelled, and that “tax-free” loan you took becomes a taxable distribution of any earnings on the policy. You’re also out the insurance policy you had planned on.