The word carries enough negative connotations that it comes as no surprise when its presence in a conversation about a retiree's future makes all involved uncomfortable. But there's no reason for discomfort on the part of the client or the advisor...

Businesses large and small have found 401(k) retirement plans to be an important benefit to attract and retain a superior workforce. But small-business owners often despite their good intentions rarely find the time or resources to select and...

Special needs trusts (SNTs) trusts created for the benefit of a disabled beneficiary present exciting opportunities for corporate fiduciaries. They also risk sapping fiduciaries' time and emotional energy. Sometimes, the wisest choice is for a...

According to a recent AARP survey of baby boomers, four out of five members of that generation plan on working after they retire from their jobs. Some will do so out of necessity to make up a shortfall in savings, for instance, or to patch...

For years, many opponents have seen the notion of Social Security privatization as a thinly veiled make-work project for Wall Street. Trillions of dollars, they said, would flow into stocks and mutual funds, producing a huge windfall for...

Investors are happy to think about retiring but are reluctant to contemplate what comes next. Such are the separate findings from surveys from AXA Financial and PNC Advisors. The AXA study showed that Americans are more confident about their...

Business people of a certain age probably can remember a plaque that secretaries everywhere once displayed with pride: Poor planning on your part does not constitute an automatic emergency on my part. It's a saying financial advisors should...

Making a profit in smaller qualified retirement plans has been difficult for advisors because of high costs. However, it's gotten easier in the past couple years, thanks to the emergence of shares, or retirement shares. Advisors using A shares...

The year 2004 saw developments in retirement benefits ranging from new final, minimum distribution regulations for defined benefit plans to a crackdown on abusive Roth IRAs. Many of the highlights have been addressed in Trusts & Estates during the...

He knew it wasn't going to be easy: A few years ago, William Bourke took a deep breath, looked his new client in the eye, and asked about succession plans for the small manufacturing business the man had started 20 years before. The owner waved...