The Help Desk

Should I invest now or wait for a market pullback?

I see the markets have had a run. I've been on the sidelines and wonder if it's too late to start investing. Should I wait for a pullback in the market? — Joshua R.

Your chances of timing the market successfully are somewhere between slim and none. "Even the best advisors with the best computers can't do it," says Jason Lampert of New York City-based MTP Advisors. His suggestion: Adopt an MORE

Can I lower my self-directed IRA fees?

In 2006 I invested $100,000 in a self-directed IRA with three other people. Money was invested in land which could be developed into building sites. We anticipated appreciation but in 2008 the land value dropped and we haven't been able to find a buyer. The custodian is charging $460 a year. Is that fee reasonable? Any recourse or recommendations? – Doug H.

According to Tom Fisher, founder of Boston-based Fisher Financial MORE

Should I sell stock now to avoid higher taxes in 2013?

Both of my daughters own Home Depot stock that my father gave them. With the pending tax changes in 2013, should I sell their stock now and place the money into their 529s? One starts college in the fall of 2014, and the other in 2016. —Kathi L.

Long-term capital gains rates are set to rise from 15% to 20% in 2013 (though President Obama and Congress may end up agreeing MORE

What are the downsides of limited partnerships?

Are there any downsides to investing in a limited partnership, as opposed to stocks? — Mike Davis, California

In a nutshell, yes. Though master limited partnerships — which earn income chiefly from real estate, natural resources, and commodities — often yield more than shares of their plain-vanilla corporate cousins, they have their drawbacks.

Legal intricacies make filing your tax return confusing and time consuming. MLP income over $1,000 in a retirement account is MORE

How do I start investing?

I am a 21-year-old college student, and I feel overwhelmed by all the financial advice out there. It seems that a lot of advice is geared toward people who already have a lot of money. But what should a young adult do to start investing? – Manuel P.

Step one: Don't wait. There are a lot of benefits of to starting to save and invest at a young age. For starters, MORE

Is my portfolio on the right track?

My husband and I are 44. We moved to this country and started to save aggressively for retirement six years ago. Each year my husband puts about $10,000 in his Oregon state government employment-based retirement fund. I put $5,000 in my Roth IRA and about $10,000 in my SEP IRA. How should I invest my retirement funds? Right now I have all of my savings in Fidelity's Freedom Funds 2040. MORE

Is my IRA protected by SIPC?

I have an IRA worth $225,000, which is mostly in cash at a well-known brokerage firm. I know SIPC covers up to $500,000 for brokerage firms with SIPC insurance, but I think it only covers $250,000 for cash values. Can I split my IRA to another firm? — Richard P.

Your total is currently below the $250,000 coverage limit on cash, so Securities Investor Protection Corporation insurance -- which protects assets MORE

Should I cash out my pension?

My company is offering a lump sum payout of my pension. The payout is $261,000 and can be rolled over to a traditional or Roth IRA. Will I have to pay taxes on a Roth rollover? If I don't take the payout, one option is to receive $1,577 monthly in a single-life annuity starting at age 60. I will turn 60 in December and my wife is one year younger. MORE

Will my Social Security benefit increase next year?

Will Social Security get a raise in 2013? — Gary B.

The Social Security Administration just announced a cost of living adjustment (COLA) of 1.7% for 2013. The increases will take effect on Dec. 1, 2012 and will appear in benefit payments starting Jan 1, 2013.

The COLA allows Social Security benefits (as well as federal and military pensions) to keep pace with inflation so the buying power of those payments holds MORE

Does my employer match count toward my 401(k) cap?

I am under 50, so my 401(k) contributions are capped annually at $17,000. My company matches 4% of my salary. Does that amount count toward the $17,000 cap? Also, can I save an additional $5,000 annually in a Roth IRA, or would that amount be under the cap as well? Can my wife do the same? — Brian B.

Good news: Your employer's matching contribution does not count toward the $17,000 MORE