Spring Clean Your Finances With a Pro’s Help, States That Won’t Tax Your Death, McDonald's Slump

Latest Fed news. Created for {EMAIL} | [Web Version]( May 2, 2024 CONNECT WITH KIPLINGER  [LinkedIn]( [Facebook]( [X]( [Youtube]( [Instagram]( [SIGN UP]( ⋅ [WEBSITE]( [] Top Story [] [The Best Marijuana Stocks to Buy]( [The Best Marijuana Stocks to Buy]( (Getty Images) The best marijuana stocks have been put through the wringer for years. But with U.S. cannabis sales on the rise, [these picks could finally have their day in the sun](. [] Taxes [] [States That Won't Tax Your Death]( [States That Won't Tax Your Death]( (Getty Images) How much will your children —or other heirs — pay when you die? That depends on whether you live in [a state with no death tax](. [Prepare For Retirement Using a Dividend Growth Investment Strategy]( If you invested in an S&P 500 index fund starting in January 2000 until September 2020 your average annualized return would have been 4.2%, a cumulative return of 136%. But if you reinvested all dividend payments your annualized return would have been 6.2%, a cumulative return of 247%. Just reinvesting dividends would have nearly doubled your gains. [READ MORE]( ADVERTISEMENT [] In the News [] [Fed Moves: What the Experts Are Saying]( [Fed Moves: What the Experts Are Saying]( (Getty Images) The Fed made their highly anticipated May announcement yesterday. While it wasn’t a shock, it did provide some clues of what we could see for the rest of the year. Kiplinger experts provided live analysis and commentary of the day, [see that recap here](. [] Personal Finance [] [Three Easy Ways to Clean Up Your Finances This Spring]( [Three Easy Ways to Clean Up Your Finances This Spring]( (Getty Images) As we’re cleaning around our homes, this is also a great time to spruce up our finances. A [simple check-in of a few key financial items]( can help ensure everything is up to date and you are on the right track to reaching your financial goals, writes financial planner Tony Drake. [How Do I Plan for RMDs?]( If you have tax-deferred retirement accounts, you'll need to take required minimum distributions (RMDs) eventually. If not properly planned for, these distributions could take a tax toll on your retirement nest egg. Find out how to plan for RMDs, so you can help potentially avoid hefty fines. [Learn more]( ADVERTISEMENT Featured Content Sponsored Content from Kiplinger Advisor Collective [Expand Your Influence in the Financial Industry]( Join the Kiplinger Advisor Collective: the ultimate platform for financial experts. Network, build your brand, and share your expertise with readers. [Inquire Now]( [] In Case You Missed It [] [McDonald's Stock Struggles After Rare Earnings Miss]( McDonald's stock is choppy Tuesday after a mixed first-quarter earnings report. Here's what you need to know. [Read More]( [] Cars [] [If Cars With Touchscreens Are Unsafe at Any Speed, Why Do We Have Them?]( Studies show how distracting car touchscreens can be, yet many automakers still use them, perhaps because they’re cheaper to upgrade than physical components, writes attorney H. Dennis Beaver. [Read More]( [Is your money working hard enough?]( It should be! Learn how Betterment's automated investing and savings technology can make your money hustle, while you don't. [LEARN MORE]( ADVERTISEMENT ABOUT KIPLINGER When we write about money, we get it right. So the decisions you make with your dollars are also right. Kiplinger is a trusted provider of unbiased financial advice, objective business and economic forecasts, and practical help to millions of business professionals, investors, and individuals seeking to make more profitable decisions with their money. Our [flagship publications]( include [Kiplinger Personal Finance]( magazine, [The Kiplinger Letter]( [The Kiplinger Tax Letter]( [Kiplinger Retirement Report]( and [Kiplinger Investing for Income.]( All are regarded as the leading publications in their respective fields. Every day, millions of readers rely on our [free e-newsletters]( for help on everything from getting the best rate on a mortgage or car loan, to managing their businesses in an uncertain world, avoiding an IRS audit, building wealth for a secure retirement, or investing wisely in any kind of market. Now it’s your turn to reap all the rewards Kiplinger has to offer. Visit [Kiplinger.com](, your gateway to all of the above and much more. Check in any time for our latest advice on how to make more money, and keep more of the money you make. Stay right on the money, with Kiplinger. [Sign Up]( | [Print Publications]( | [Unsubscribe]( [Privacy Policy]( | [Cookies Policy]( | [Terms and Conditions]( CONTACT US: [FEEDBACK](mailto:mailto:alerts@kiplinger.com) | [ADVERTISE]( [Future]( Future US LLC © Full 7th Floor, 130 West 42nd Street, New York, NY, 10036