I am suddenly making a grown-up salary, with a retirement plan and everything. I need to talk to a financial professional about optimizing my taxes and retirement and building a perfect(-ish) machine that I don't need to think about too much. I don't actually know what this person is called. Am I looking for an accountant? A financial advisor? A financial planner? Or something else? Please help me overcome my laughable naïveté. Thanks! [more inside]
posted by the brave tetra-pak on Jan 4, 2013 - 9 answers

Quirky Canadian tax question - what's the long term impact of reducing CPP payable? [more inside]
posted by anonymous on Apr 27, 2011 - 2 answers

Can I keep my Roth IRA if I'm not working anymore? [more inside]
posted by lynnie-the-pooh on Feb 7, 2010 - 5 answers

Can I opt out of paying income taxes on inherited retirement benefits in the USA? I won't be filing a tax return, anyway. [more inside]
posted by xanthippe on Jul 22, 2008 - 9 answers

Will opening a Solo 401(k) before year's end reduce my modified adjusted gross income (MAGI)? I'm a 28-year-old freelance worker with a sole proprietorship, and I'd like to be able to fully fund my Roth IRA for 2008 [more inside]
posted by anonymous on Jun 26, 2008 - 1 answer

A tax question. Our family has experienced a drop in income and an emergency (not medical). I have a 40 thousand dollar 401K retirement fund and want to get 16K out of it. Our family makes 91K gross with two dependents. What will be the tax hit on the 15 k from the retirement fund (so we won't be surprised at tax time). [more inside]
posted by anonymous on Jul 21, 2007 - 6 answers

I've several tax-related questions. Background: (a) I just became eligible in my job to participate in the firm's 401K program--the firm makes a 3% contribution--since I'm over 50 (I'm 57), I'm told I can contribute a maximum of $20,500 during 2007; (b) I have a traditional IRA from the past; and (c) I also am self-employed in addition to working for the firm. My questions are: (1) Since I have ample assets, would it not make sense to immediately start contributing my ENTIRE salary into the 401K until I max out the $20,500 limit? (2) Related to #1, would it not make sense to change my withholding so that nothing is withheld, eg so that the entire amount of my gross is contributed to the 401K? (3) Is there any reason why I should not "roll over" my traditional IRA to the 401K? (4) Am I able to make a contribution to my IRA in addition to my contribution to the 401K? (5) If I don't roll over my IRA, should I convert it to a Roth?
posted by america4 on Jul 7, 2007 - 8 answers

Health Savings Accounts (HSA's) ... Can they be used as just another tax-free retirement account after you max out your Roth IRA? [more inside]
posted by MrBCID on May 16, 2007 - 6 answers