Retirement planning

The Treasury Department has launched a new initiative to dramatically increase the number of electronic transactions, including quarterly tax payments, in order to reduce paperwork.

The majority of employers who made changes to their retirement plans during the economic downturn expect to keep those changes in place throughout 2010, according to a new survey.

IMGCAP(1)]The financial planning landscape has dramatically changed over the past five years.

Workers who are offered 401(k) plans, or similar employee-funded arrangements, exhibit more proactive retirement savings behaviors, demonstrate higher levels of knowledge about retirement investing, and are more confident in their ability to retire comfortably, according to a new survey.

As the population ages and the Baby Boomer generation enters retirement, incidents of financial elder abuse are growing more common — and accountants need to be more vigilant than ever in looking after their clients’ interests, according to Randy Werner, a CPA and loss prevention specialist at professional liability insurer CAMICO.

Advisors Trusted Advisor has enhanced its online Roth Conversion Optimizer.

Auto-enrollment of participants in 401(k) plans is likely to be most beneficial to young and low-income workers, according to new research.

An increasing percentage of tax advisors’ client base is now eligible for a Roth IRA, according to a survey of 500 tax advisors.

Wolter Kluwer Law Business has acquired ftwilliam.com, a company that provides online employee benefits software.

The Securities and Exchange Commission has censured Gilman Ciocia and its Prime Capital Services unit for misrepresenting the variable annuities sold to senior citizens in South Florida.

Payroll and benefits outsourcing provider Paychex has opened its Paychex Retirement Services to fee-based advisors, allowing them to perform such functions as direct automated payments, consolidated reporting and tracking.

John is a successful 45-year-old executive with a major real estate management company. His experience in real estate management and intimate knowledge of the South Florida marketplace has convinced him that he has found a $300,000 condo that may be the bargain of a lifetime.

Americans' confidence in their ability to retire appears to be stabilizing, but their preparations for retirement continue to erode, according to a new survey.

Women are more likely than men to seek help in financial planning, according to a new survey.

Archimedes Systems and Convergent Retirement Plan Solutions have introduced CPAroth.com, a portal for planning Roth IRA conversions.

What’s not to like about a Roth IRA? As with traditional IRAs, earnings accumulate tax free. But unlike the traditional IRA, withdrawals are tax-free and minimum distributions after age 70 ½ are not mandatory. Add to this the 2010 special incentives to convert a traditional IRA to a Roth IRA, and it’s a wonder taxpayers aren’t lining up to do the conversion.

Many U.S. employers intend to restore company 401(k) matches that were suspended or reduced during the market downfall, according to a new survey by HR consultancy Hewitt Associates.

The American Institute of CPAs is offering a CPA-oriented guide on Roth IRA conversions now that the old $100,000 income limit for converting a traditional IRA to a Roth IRA no longer applies.

President Barack Obama and Vice President Joe Biden previewed some of the major themes in the president’s upcoming State of the Union address, including a proposal to increase some tax credits for middle-class families.

Many wealthy Americans are rethinking their vision of retirement planning, according to a new survey of the affluent.