A key component of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 is the expansion of the standard deduction for U.S. taxpayers. In 2018 standard deductions are $24,000 (married couples filing jointly), $18,000 (heads of household), and $12,000 (all others). These amounts are almost double the respective standard deductions in 2017. However, personal exemptions were eliminated. The new tax law also trims some itemized deductions. Taxpayers can either itemize or use the standard deduction, so some shift to the standard deduction is likely.

Read more about U.S. Tax Reform Makes Home Equity Debt Less Attractive …

It has been widely reported that the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 lowers U.S. federal income tax rates for many people. The highest tax rate, for example, has fallen from 39.6% to 37%. However, there are some quirks in the new tax rates, and some people will actually face higher rates. For example, an unmarried person who had $220,000 of taxable income in 2017 would have been in the 33% tax bracket. With that same income in 2018, this taxpayer will face a 35% tax rate. To find your new tax bracket, refer to the table below.

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The pros and cons of Roth IRAs, which were introduced 20 years ago, are well understood. All money flowing into Roth IRAs is after-tax, so there is no upfront tax benefit. As a tradeoff, all qualified Roth IRA distributions can be tax-free, including the parts of the distributions that are payouts of investment earnings. Read more about Two Five-Year Tests for Roth IRAs …

Many people invest in the bond market through funds because individual bonds can be difficult for non-professionals to analyze, and the trading prices for the small transactions typical of individual investors are often relatively high. When you invest through a fund, experienced portfolio managers make the buy and sell decisions, and your are able to take advantage of the more favorable trade prices that institutional investors enjoy.

Additionally, bond funds may hold dozens or even hundreds of different issues, reducing investors’ exposure to weakness in any one bond. Investing in bond funds rather than individual bonds can reduce risk in the fixed-income portion of your portfolio, but there still are possible pitfalls to consider. Read more about Weighing the Risks of Bond Funds …

If you work for a business, you might incur certain expenses that are related to your job. In some cases, those expenses can be substantial. As of this writing, in late 2017, Congress is considering legislation that would eliminate miscellaneous itemized deductions, but it appears that they will be available on 2017 returns. That said, you may be able to deduct such expenses incurred last year when you file your 2017 federal income tax return.

The process of claiming this deduction for employee business expenses might not be simple. You must go through several steps, and you’ll need relevant records to substantiate the deduction if you’re challenged by the IRS. Read more about Deducting Employee Business Expenses …

Americans hold billions of dollars in annuities, yet they are widely misunderstood. Used properly, an annuity can serve valuable purposes in personal financial planning. On the other hand, some types of annuities are widely criticized, even scorned, by some financial advisers. Read more about Solving The Annuity Puzzle …

As of this writing, it appears that 2018 may be a difficult year for investors who seek relatively safe investments. Yields on bonds, bank accounts, money market funds, and other savings vehicles are extremely low, with questionable prospects for substantial increases. In essence, relatively low-risk places to put your money this year appear to offer scant returns.

Stock market indexes, on the other hand, are at or near record levels. But equity markets have been rising since early 2009, so the chance of a pullback in the broader stock market may be just as great as the possibility of solid gains.

Given this environment, where might investors go for opportunities for respectable returns with some protection against a steep decline? One possibility is in dividend paying stocks. Read more about Investing In 2018: Dividend Stocks …

From East Coast to West Coast, hurricanes and wild fires recently created huge losses of lives, property, and emotional wellbeing. In the middle of the United States, crippling natural disasters can range from blizzards to river flooding to tornadoes. News reports naturally focus on homes and families, but local businesses also are among the victims.

There may be little a small company can do when it’s in the path of record winds or a wall of flames. However, there are steps a business owner can take when things are calm to reduce the impact of catastrophic conditions in the future. Read more about Small Companies Need Plans for Natural Disasters …