What are the Penalty-Free IRA Withdrawals?

The contributions you make to your individual retirement account (IRA) are intended to supplement your income during your retirement years. However, as much as you’d like to let your IRAs remain untouched until retirement, unforeseen expenses may force you to withdraw some of those assets early.

You Could Be Hit with Penalty for an Early IRA Withdrawal

Most financial experts would agree that it is rarely, if ever, a good idea to take an early withdrawal from a traditional IRA or Roth IRA. This is due in part to the high cost of penalties that can hit an account holder for an early withdrawal (not to mention losing out on years of potential earnings).

What Should I Know about Beneficiary Designations?

Many people have tens of thousands–even hundreds of thousands–of dollars in their IRAs. If you have an asset that large, shouldn’t you devote more effort to planning for its ultimate disposition?

Do Unmarried Couples Need Estate Planning?

Experts say that creating a plan for what happens to your estate — regardless of how meager or massive your assets — is key for unmarried couples who want their commitment to each other protected in the event of death.