American soldiers in a snowy ditch in Belgium during the Battle of the Bulge in 1945. Before the attack, some German troops who were able to speak English disguised themselves as Allied soldiers. They made a point of changing road signs and generally spreading misinformation. (Germans captured engaging in the subterfuge were executed by firing squad.)

Can My 80-Year-Old Dad Give Me Money from His IRA?

Q: My 80-year-old father has a substantial amount in his IRA. Can he give i...
Q: My 80-year-old father has a substantial amount in his IRA. Can he give it to his children right now? -- Roxanne, Brownsville, Texas A: Your dad can't transfer the account directly, says Ed Slott,...

I'm 32 and Expect to Have $1.8M By 67. Am I Set?

Q: I'm 32. I have $125,000. With 8% growth, that'll be $1.8 million at age ...
Q: I'm 32. I have $125,000. With 8% growth, that'll be $1.8 million at age 67. Am I set? -- Brent H., Crystal Lake, Ill. A: Not yet, says Michael Kitces, publisher of Nerd's Eye...

Do I Pay Taxes When I Profit from a Stock Sale?

Q: Say I buy $100 worth of stock. If the price jumps to $125 and I sell $10...
Q: Say I buy $100 worth of stock. If the price jumps to $125 and I sell $100 worth, do I pay taxes? -- David, Middletown, Conn. A: Yes, your gain is taxable, says CPA...

Is a Variable Universal Life Policy Worth Buying?

Q: When is it worth buying a variable universal life policy? -- Christina B...
Q: When is it worth buying a variable universal life policy? -- Christina Bean, Sacramento A: Rarely, says Glenn Daily, an insurance consultant in New York City. VUL, he says, is a poor retirement savings...

Contributing to Charity? Consider a Donor-Advised Fund

Q: I've been thinking about starting a donor-advised fund. What are the pro...
Q: I've been thinking about starting a donor-advised fund. What are the pros and cons? -- Anne G., Fort Worth, Texas A: If you have several thousand dollars you'd like to set aside for charity,...

Investing Beyond Your Target-Date Fund

Q. "I already invest in a target-date retirement fund. What should my next ...
Q. "I already invest in a target-date retirement fund. What should my next fund be?"-- Errick Chiasson, Baldwinsville, N.Y. A. Target-date funds are designed to provide not only a fully diversified portfolio in a single...

Investing Rules of Thumb: Why They Don't Always Work

Q. I've always heard that 100 minus your age gives you the percentage of yo...
Q. I've always heard that 100 minus your age gives you the percentage of your retirement portfolio that you should invest in stocks. Do you recommend that rule of thumb as a good way to...

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