If you’re planning to sell capital assets at a loss to offset gains that have been realized during the year, it’s important to beware of the “wash sale” rule. Under this tax rule, if you sell stock or securities for a loss and buy substantially...
The stock market’s roller coaster ride this year, spurred largely by the COVID-19 crisis, has many people craving stability. One way to potentially steady a portfolio is with real estate. This article looks at real estate investment trusts....
Finding ways to defer or minimize taxes on investments is always important. One way to do so — and diversify one’s portfolio, too — is to invest in qualified small business stock. This article describes the tax advantages....
When is a loss actually a gain? When that loss becomes an opportunity to lower tax liability, of course. This article discusses the tried-and-true strategy of using capital losses to counter the potentially costly impact of capital gains....
When investing for retirement or other long-term goals, people usually prefer tax-advantaged accounts. But traditional taxable accounts may still make more sense for certain investments. This article discusses the difference between “taxable” and “tax-advantaged” and which vehicles tend to work the best where. A sidebar...
It’s not uncommon for parents, grandparents and others to make gifts to minors and college students. When considering this idea, taxpayers must beware of the kiddie tax. This tax trap could leave them liable for a substantial amount of tax dollars that they may never...
Every business owner wishes his or her employees worked as if they owned the company. An employee stock ownership plan (ESOP) can make that a reality while offering tax breaks and a smoother path for succession planning. This article discusses how ESOPs work and their...
Many people decide to make donations at the end of the year. When doing so, it’s important to know the rules about whether such contributions will be considered tax deductible for 2017. This brief article discusses two important concepts: delivery dates and qualified charities....