Opinion

Displaying 2102 results
NEWS OPINION NOV 30, 2008
Regulatory reforms needed to fix financial system

The incoming administration should consider the regulatory reforms for the financial markets that it will propose to Congress and the regulatory agencies when it takes office in January.

NEWS OPINION NOV 26, 2008
Retirees need a two-pronged strategy to cover health care costs

Harvesting losses with options
NEWS OPINION NOV 23, 2008
Harvesting losses with options

Investors and their advisers are rightfully concerned about running afoul of the wash sale rule and triggering a taxable event. As you know, a wash sale — as defined in Section 1091 of the Internal Revenue Code — occurs when an investor sells property at a loss and within 30 days acquires "substantially identical" property.

NEWS OPINION NOV 23, 2008
Next up for feds, tonic for hurting homeowners

Job no. 1 for the Federal Reserve Board and the Department of the Treasury was to stabilize the capital markets.

NEWS OPINION NOV 21, 2008
ETFs: The advisers answer for all markets

NEWS OPINION NOV 16, 2008
SEC takes a step backward on disclosure

In a move that has received scant public attention, the SEC this month put into place changes that could harm investors.

NEWS OPINION NOV 09, 2008
Obama must first fix a struggling economy

President-elect Barack Obama deserves congratulations — and a warning to be careful what you wish for in this life.

NEWS OPINION NOV 07, 2008
Act now on 529 plans

NEWS OPINION NOV 02, 2008
Time is ripe to rethink ratings game

Many institutions and individuals share responsibility for the mortgage crisis and the meltdown that followed: Congress, several successive presidential administrations, top executives at Fannie Mae

NEWS OPINION NOV 02, 2008
Maintaining standards in unusual times

By now, even the most ardent advocates of asset allocation have to be asking themselves whether they should just go to cash and wait for saner times.

NEWS OPINION OCT 26, 2008
For now, no more stimulus

Congress is likely to debate another economic-stimulus package soon after it returns to Washington from campaigning for the election, unless the economy shows signs of turning around.

NEWS OPINION OCT 26, 2008
Kudos to the tax writers

The government rescue plan inevitably will produce many villains.

NEWS OPINION OCT 23, 2008
IRA beneficiary designation can be a trap

Advise clients that the choices they make on their beneficiary forms are more important than they might imagine.

NEWS OPINION OCT 19, 2008
The fault, dear Brutus, is in ourselves

It is time for politicians of all stripes to stop blaming the financial crisis on "Wall Street greed" and level with the American public.

NEWS OPINION OCT 12, 2008
Crisis + fear = opportunity for advisers

Now is the time for financial planners and investment advisers to demonstrate that they are what they have always claimed to be: trained, capable, cool-headed professionals.

NEWS OPINION OCT 05, 2008
Congress abdicates its fiduciary duty

Public officials in all branches of government have a fiduciary duty to the citizens of the United States.

NEWS OPINION OCT 05, 2008
A necessary step forward, with caveats

NEWS OPINION OCT 03, 2008
Roth conversion may not make sense for many retirees

NEWS OPINION SEP 30, 2008
Will active ETFs lure investors?

Perhaps, but not without a strong sales job to overcome the inherent inertia

NEWS OPINION SEP 28, 2008
Dividends, withholding, offshore funds

For as long as I can remember, there has been a business in helping investors minimize taxes withheld on dividends.