The Short Answer A Second Chance at IRA Contributions Christine Benz Feb 26, 2013 Here's the skinny on IRA recharacterizations.
The Short Answer Derivatives Often Part of Fund Managers' Toolkits Adam Zoll Feb 19, 2013 Many funds use futures, options, and swaps in executing strategies.
The Short Answer How Saving Too Much in Your 401(k) Could Cost You Adam Zoll Feb 12, 2013 Company matches are typically allotted each pay period, meaning those who max out annual contributions early could miss out on extra retirement savings.
The Short Answer A Taxing Dilemma: Foreign Investments and Your Retirement Account Adam Zoll Feb 5, 2013 Investors with IRA and 401(k) accounts still may end up paying foreign income taxes.
The Short Answer Making Sense of Survivorship Bias Adam Zoll Jan 29, 2013 How and when does Morningstar use data from funds that no longer exist?
The Short Answer P/E Methods: Looking Back vs. Looking Ahead Adam Zoll Jan 15, 2013 This popular metric can be calculated different ways, which each have their own shortcomings.
The Short Answer Does Dollar-Cost Averaging Out of a Position Make Sense? Adam Zoll Jan 8, 2013 The method used to purchase stock might not be your best bet when selling.
The Short Answer How Category Changes Affect Fund Metrics Adam Zoll Jan 1, 2013 Learn Morningstar's rules for rankings and star ratings when a fund spends time in more than one group.
The Short Answer Don't Rely on Brokerages or Fund Companies to Fix Your Missing RMDs Adam Zoll Dec 18, 2012 Retirees who don't specify which holdings to sell could be at risk for incurring a heavy tax penalty.
The Short Answer How Are Annuity Payments Taxed? Christine Benz Dec 13, 2012 Uncle Sam's cut depends on the type of annuity as well as how and when you receive payments.
The Short Answer Do Municipal Bonds Have a Place in My Portfolio? Morningstar.com Dec 12, 2012 Consider the tax implications before adding a muni investment to your portfolio.
The Short Answer Dividend Payers Hold Appeal, but Be Mindful of Risks Christine Benz Dec 11, 2012 Don't swap your whole fixed-income position for dividend-paying stocks.
The Short Answer Family-Friendly Tax Breaks at Risk From Fiscal Cliff Adam Zoll Dec 4, 2012 Higher tax rates and government-spending cuts aren't the only potential changes that might affect household finances.
The Short Answer Get the Lowdown on Load-Waived Fund Metrics Adam Zoll Nov 27, 2012 Data differentiate performance for investors who buy load-waived funds through retirement plans and other avenues.
The Short Answer A Key Tool to Measure Profitability Adam Zoll Nov 20, 2012 Return on invested capital is a widely used metric that can help indicate whether a company has an economic moat.
The Short Answer How to Cash In (or Not) on Currency Exposure Morningstar.com Nov 15, 2012 A globetrotting portfolio could have an impact on your bottom line.
The Short Answer How to Trade Foreign Stocks Without Leaving the U.S. Adam Zoll Nov 15, 2012 American depositary receipts provide individual investors with a way to invest abroad using U.S. exchanges and U.S. dollars.
The Short Answer 529 Rollover Can Have Tax Impact--For Good or Bad Adam Zoll Nov 6, 2012 Some states offer tax incentives for transferring funds to in-state plans, and tax penalties for leaving them.
The Short Answer Seeing (Hollow) Stars? Here's Why Adam Zoll Oct 30, 2012 We detail how Morningstar uses extended return data to show historical performance for newer fund share classes.
The Short Answer Is Dollar-Cost Averaging Overrated? Adam Zoll Oct 23, 2012 Investing set amounts at regular intervals can reduce risk but may lead to lower returns compared with the lump-sum approach.
The Short Answer 6 Big Myths About 529 Plans Adam Zoll Oct 16, 2012 We tackle some common misconceptions about the popular college-savings vehicle.
The Short Answer Don't Know an ETN from a CEF? We Can Help Adam Zoll Oct 9, 2012 Here's your guide to making sense of the alphabet soup of investment vehicles.
The Short Answer Navigating the NAV Adam Zoll Oct 2, 2012 Understanding net asset value can be key to understanding how different fund types work.
The Short Answer Should Coverdell Account Owners Run for Cover? Adam Zoll Sep 25, 2012 The education savings vehicle's use for precollege expenses is set to expire at the end of this year.
The Short Answer Grandparents: Study Up on How Best to Help With College Costs Adam Zoll Sep 18, 2012 Options include cash gifts and funding a 529, but beware the financial aid impact.
The Short Answer Get a Tax-Smart Plan for In-Retirement Withdrawals Christine Benz Sep 13, 2012 Consider these strategies to stretch out your tax savings during your retirement years.
The Short Answer 12 Questions to Ask When Saving for Retirement Adam Zoll Sep 11, 2012 Knowing how much to sock away for your golden years requires understanding these variables.
The Short Answer S&P 500 vs. Total Stock Market: Which Is Right for You? Adam Zoll Sep 4, 2012 Understanding the differences and similarities between these two popular indexing strategies can affect your portfolio planning.
The Short Answer How Much Will My RMDs Be? Adam Zoll Aug 28, 2012 Calculating required minimum distributions is relatively straightforward, but beware of complications.
The Short Answer How Are Annuity Payments Taxed? Christine Benz Aug 21, 2012 Uncle Sam's cut depends on the type of annuity, as well as how and when you receive payments.
The Short Answer A Gift Tax Loophole for 529 Plans Adam Zoll Aug 7, 2012 Tax rules allow a giver to contribute up to $65,000 to an individual’s college savings account in a single year without incurring tax consequences.
The Short Answer Is Working Past Age 65 a Realistic Option? Adam Zoll Jul 31, 2012 More seniors are remaining in the workforce, but saving remains an essential safeguard against unforeseen circumstances.
The Short Answer Preferred Stock May Not Be Your Best Choice Adam Zoll Jul 24, 2012 This asset class has its own share of drawbacks, and new federal regulations add uncertainty.
The Short Answer How Safe Is Your Life Insurance Policy? Adam Zoll Jul 17, 2012 The insurance company's financial rating and your state's guaranty limits are among considerations to make when buying.
The Short Answer What Happens to Your Target-Date Fund When You Retire? Adam Zoll Jul 10, 2012 Knowing whether your fund uses a 'to' or 'through' glide path may affect how you invest.
The Short Answer Same Index, Different Returns Adam Zoll Jul 3, 2012 Some index funds and ETFs tend to outperform their peers for a handful of reasons.
The Short Answer Step Into the Fair Value Time Machine Adam Zoll Jun 26, 2012 Premium users can find helpful stock data from the past using these site tricks.
The Short Answer Consolidating Student Loans Is Not a No-Brainer Adam Zoll Jun 19, 2012 Putting all your student debt in one basket is primarily a convenience, but it could end up costing you money.
The Short Answer 7 Key Questions to Ask Before You Refinance Adam Zoll Jun 12, 2012 Monthly savings shouldn't be the only consideration in determining whether to take advantage of today's rock-bottom rates.
The Short Answer What's the Difference Between 'Maturity' and 'Duration'? Adam Zoll Jun 5, 2012 Each measure plays a key role in helping bond investors evaluate interest-rate risk, but duration is the more complex of the two.
The Short Answer Moat Ratings Useful for Fund Investors, Too Adam Zoll May 29, 2012 Morningstar.com rating lets you size up the competitive advantages of a fund's portfolio of stocks.
The Short Answer Is Your Fund Loaning Out Its Shares? Adam Zoll May 22, 2012 Securities lending to short-sellers and others can help mutual funds lower expenses, but it's not without risk.
The Short Answer Mind if I Borrow Your Shares? Adam Zoll May 15, 2012 Under margin account rules, brokerages may loan out customer shares to cover other customers' short sales.
The Short Answer Don't Discount Value of Low Fees Over the Long Term Adam Zoll May 8, 2012 Small differences in expense ratios can mean big bucks down the road.
The Short Answer Estimating Stocks' Fair Values a Complex Process Adam Zoll May 1, 2012 Morningstar analysts take into account multiple factors in determining a company's intrinsic worth.
The Short Answer When Mom and Dad Help With Housing Adam Zoll Apr 24, 2012 Whether giving money for a down payment or providing a loan, make sure you know the rules when helping kids buy a home.
The Short Answer Watch Your Weightings When Investing in Index Funds Adam Zoll Apr 17, 2012 Various indexing methodologies offer different strengths and weaknesses you should keep in mind.
The Short Answer When Investors Cross Borders Adam Zoll Apr 10, 2012 Investing in funds based in other countries carries with it a variety of pitfalls.
The Short Answer Dos and Don'ts of College Savings Adam Zoll Apr 3, 2012 Knowing financial aid rules is key given the rising cost of higher education.
The Short Answer What Happens if My Broker Goes Bust? Adam Zoll Mar 27, 2012 When the unthinkable occurs, the Securities Investor Protection Corporation steps in to help investors.