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It’s time to take action on 12(b)-1 fees
This is the year for the SEC to settle the 12(b)-1 issue. Securities and Exchange Commission Chairman Christopher Cox has pledged to examine the fee system, questioning whether the use of 12(b)-1 fees has moved away from the original intent, which was to cover marketing and distribution expenses.
In Roth IRA Conversions Timing Is Everything
If the timing is right, there’s a compelling case for converting a traditional IRA to a Roth IRA, even though Roth conversions are a tough sell.
Change principal-trade rule with caution
The Securities and Exchange Commission must carefully monitor its temporary proposed principal-trade rule, which took effect Sept. 30.
Roth conversion opportunities
Beginning this year, a provision of the Pension Protection Act of 2006 allows participants to convert funds in 401(k)s and other company plans directly to a Roth IRA.
Economy, investors brace for a bumpy ride
The first day of trading in the new year should have served as a warning to investors that 2008 will likely be a tough year for the economy and for investors.
Roth vs. Traditional 401(k): Some of Both May Be Best
The debate about whether the Roth or traditional 401(k) provides the biggest tax savings is not always black…
Dear Santa: Fix the AMT and subprime mess
We have a few items we would like to request from Santa Claus for Christmas — not this Christmas, mind you — we would be happy to receive them by Christmas 2008.
Little-publicized NUA election is taxpayer-friendly, in some cases
There are good reasons to move most of a client’s 401(k) assets into an IRA when they leave…
Let’s put a freeze on mortgage rate resets
The prospect of 2 million homeowners seeing their mortgage rates jump over the next two years as adjustable-rate mortgages reset, possibly triggering hundreds of thousands of foreclosures, has forced the government, lenders and the mortgage-servicing companies to focus on the problem.
PPA supports new business models
Investment advisers can thank the 2006 Pension Protection Act for giving them a new opportunity.
Time to Start Talking About Estate Taxes
The golden age of estate taxation may be coming to an end. Since Congress passed the Economic…
Time for an assault on golden parachutes
It's time for all investors, institutional and individual, to tell boards of directors: "We're mad as hell, and we're not going to take it anymore!"
Do-it-yourself structured notes
As discussed in earlier columns, there are two types of structured-note products — those without a principal guarantee and those that guarantee the return of principal as a worst-case scenario.
SEC should not require climate change risk disclosure
The Securities and Exchange Commission should resist calls for it to require, at this time, greater disclosure of the business risks to companies from climate change.
A reversal of policy on rollovers
The Pension Protection Act of 2006 included a provision that would permit non-spouse plan beneficiaries to transfer assets directly from the plan to a properly titled inherited individual retirement account.
Including health care in financial plans
Health-care spending for people under 65 is growing faster than for those over the "magic" number.
Early Withdrawal of Retirement Assets under Section 72(t)
The section 72(t) tax provision is like a socket wrench: You don’t need one often, but when you…
Skepticism, savvy needed in the boardroom
The subprime-mortgage fiasco has revealed several flaws in the financial system that must be corrected if similar disasters are to be avoided in the future.
Industry airheads inflated the subprime bubble
The subprime-mortgage meltdown, which has triggered a larger meltdown throughout the credit markets, is the latest example of grand-scale faulty logic and short-term thinking.
On being a leader and a fiduciary
When preparing to depart from a meeting or other encounter with a senior officer, it is a still-practiced naval tradition for junior officers to make the request, "By your leave, sir/madam."
