What happens to my retirement benefits if my employer goes out of business?

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If your employer goes out of business, your retirement benefits plan that your employer sponsored will be terminated. If the plan is a 401(k) or other defined contribution plan, your benefits are held in trust, apart from your employer’s assets, and you’ll generally be entitled to receive your full account balance in a lump sum. [...]

529 Plans and Financial Aid Eligibility

529 plans and financial aid

If you’re thinking about joining a 529 plan, or if you’ve already opened an account, you might be concerned about how 529 funds will affect your child’s chances of receiving financial aid. Of all the areas related to 529 plans, financial aid is perhaps the most uncertain, and the one most likely to change in [...]

Trust Basics – What is a Trust?

what is a trust

Whether you’re seeking to manage your own assets, control how your assets are distributed after your death, or plan for incapacity, trusts can help you accomplish your estate planning goals. Their power is in their versatility–many types of trusts exist, each designed for a specific purpose. Although trust law is complex and establishing a trust [...]

Non-Equity Alternatives to Rock-Bottom Yields

non-equity alternatives to rock-bottom yields

As interest rates have fallen to record lows and stayed there in recent years, the yield on your savings may be stuck in neutral. If you’ve focused on capital preservation and kept your assets in U.S. Treasuries, a money market account, or certificates of deposit, you may have minimized the chance of the financial equivalent [...]

Hidden Taxes: What Is Your True Cost?

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We are pretty well aware of the taxes we must pay as U.S. citizens; income taxes, payroll taxes, sales taxes, property taxes, and gift and estate taxes, to name a few. We can easily see these taxes on our pay stubs, tax bills, and sales receipts. But there are other taxes imposed on us that [...]