HOT TOPIC: Will Federal Reserve Tactics Help the Ailing U.S. Economy?
This article looks at policy tools that the Federal Reserve has used in the past and may use going forward in its attempts to spur economic growth. It also explains the possible implications of a long-term, low-interest-rate environment for investors, savers, and retirees.
Rising Popularity of Roth IRA as Retirement Vehicle
Investment in the Roth IRA has been growing dramatically. Fueling the growth of this popular investment vehicle are tax-free distributions in retirement and no mandatory withdrawals due to age. Compare the trade-offs of Roth IRAs with traditional IRAs, including eligibility limitations, annual contribution limits, and withdrawal considerations.
Insurance for Two Could Benefit Your Heirs
Survivorship life insurance offers a way to help a couple's heirs pay estate taxes, probate costs, and other final expenses — and could be especially important after 2012 when the federal estate tax is scheduled to be significantly higher. Even if the estate tax doesn't apply to an estate, the insurance proceeds could benefit heirs or a favorite charity.
On the Committees
The closely watched "yield curve" has been fairly adept at signaling the onset of U.S. economic recessions. A yield curve inversion would seem to be a fairly straightforward method for ascertaining the direction of the economy, but more often than not it's not so simple.
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