Darla Mercado

Darla Mercado writes about retirement issues and products, including taxes, annuities and 401(k) plans. She welcomes feedback and tips from readers on interesting topics. Outside of the newsroom, Darla spends her time inline skating, biking, running and swimming. She Tweets at: @Darla_Mercado

Darla Mercado
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Key Supreme Court case leaves union retiree health care benefits up in the air
RETIREMENT RETIREMENT PLANNING JAN 09, 2015
Key Supreme Court case leaves union retiree health care benefits up in the air

Don't assume retiree health care benefits provided by companies are forever.

Unpleasant surprise on Form 1040 for Obamacare participants
RETIREMENT RETIREMENT PLANNING JAN 08, 2015
Unpleasant surprise on Form 1040 for Obamacare participants

This tax filing season is going to be a little more complicated for freelancers and independent contractors who get health care subsidies.

RETIREMENT RETIREMENT PLANNING JAN 08, 2015
'Longevity' in annuities could be the big 2015 focus

New Treasury Dept. guidance pushes insurers to innovate while indexed annuities expected to continue to shine. Darla Mercado reports.

RETIREMENT RETIREMENT PLANNING JAN 05, 2015
Key 401(k) Supreme Court suit will shake up retirement plan advisers

Expect more due diligence on funds and fees, and expect to do it more frequently.

RETIREMENT LIFE INSURANCE AND ANNUITIES JAN 04, 2015
Annuities' use in 401(k) plans gets green light

Will 2015 finally be the year when plan sponsors welcome these insurance products with open arms?

RETIREMENT RETIREMENT PLANNING DEC 30, 2014
Lessons from $1B divorce: How to split business assets

What do a spouse's efforts mean for the valuation of a business and its division in two?

NEWS BROKER DEALERS DEC 29, 2014
2014 big for indexed annuities: Broker-dealer execs

Sales of the products may be cannibalizing those of variable annuities.

RETIREMENT RETIREMENT PLANNING DEC 22, 2014
John Hancock buys New York Life's retirement unit; New York Life acquires block of John Hancock's life insurance biz

In a two-part tradeoff, John Hancock will acquire New York Life's Retirement Plan Services business, and New York Life will take on a block of John Hancock's life insurance business. One deals bolsters John Hancock's retirement reach and the other the other New York Life's insurance reserves.

RETIREMENT TAX DEC 18, 2014
Tips to help make this year less painful for wealthy clients

From charitable giving to capital gains and Roth conversions, ways to ease tax bills.

More advisers are turning to donor-advised funds
INVESTING ETFS DEC 17, 2014
More advisers are turning to donor-advised funds

Popularity is rising among philanthropically inclined investors hoping to offset capital gains taxes.