Federal tax rules for retirement income are pretty straightforward—state rules, not so much. Depending on where you live, you could pay as much as 4.7% of your annual income in state income taxes. Or as little as 0%. Some states tax almost all forms of retirement income, while others don’t levy any income taxes. Since…

A cash-out refinance might be a great option if you have equity in your home and need a lump sum of cash. This type of loan replaces your existing mortgage with a new one at a higher amount than you currently owe. The difference between what you owe and the larger refinance amount will be…

Opening your own credit card can be a challenge when you’re first starting out or if you have damaged credit. In both scenarios, the issuer takes on a fair amount of risk. With no credit history to check, they won’t know what kind of borrower you are. If you have bad credit, it will be…

Imagine if your mortgage lender paid you instead of you paying your lender. With a reverse mortgage, that’s exactly what happens. However, you don’t just get free money each month. There are some important caveats to be aware of with reverse mortgages, and these loans are only available to select borrowers. If you’re considering a…

A Roth IRA is a type of individual retirement account (IRA) that allows retirement savers to contribute money on an after-tax basis. Money grows tax-free inside of the account and can be withdrawn tax-free if certain requirements are met. Looking for financial advice regarding your retirement accounts? Consult with Empower’s team of experts Empower Financial…