Articles by Lance Cothern

Lance is a licensed Certified Public Accountant (CPA) in the state of Virginia and he covers money management, budgeting, financial products, and more. He is also the founder of Money Manifesto, a personal finance blog, where he writes about his family's relationship with money. Education: B.B.A. in Accounting from James Madison University.

Indexed Annuities: Comparing the Pros and Cons Learn how indexed annuities work to provide retirement income that is based on the performance of stock market indices, including the pros and cons to consider. Fixed Annuities: How Do They Work? Photo of Lance Cothern Lance Cothern Fixed Annuities: How Do They Work? People looking for a stable source of income often find themselves looking into... What Age is Best for You to Take Social Security Benefits? Photo of Lance Cothern Lance Cothern What Age is Best for You to Take Social Security Benefits? "When should I take my Social Security retirement benefits?" This is a very... Can You Buy a Life Insurance Policy for Someone Else? Find out if you can buy a life insurance policy for someone else based on any potential insurable interest you may have if that person is no longer around. The Financial Planning Guide for Parents With Special Needs Children Find out who parents can plan, financially, for their special needs child--including savings, health insurance, life insurance, and estate planning. Stock Options vs. Restricted Stock Units (RSUs): How Do They Differ? Photo of Lance Cothern Lance Cothern Stock Options vs. Restricted Stock Units (RSUs): How Do They Differ? Stock options and restricted stock units (RSUs) are both forms of equity... The Difference Between Long-Term vs. Short-Term Capital Gains Photo of Lance Cothern Lance Cothern The Difference Between Long-Term vs. Short-Term Capital Gains New investors may not be familiar with the terms: long-term capital gains and... How to Invest in Silver Learn about all the different ways that you can invest in silver, a physical commodity that people use to diversify their investment portfolios. The Roth IRA 5-Year Rule: Ensure that Your Withdrawals Are Tax-Free Learn about the Roth IRA 5-year rule, which may restrict your ability to make tax-free withdrawals of your earnings. How to Invest in IPOs (Initial Public Offerings) Photo of Lance Cothern Lance Cothern How to Invest in IPOs (Initial Public Offerings) You’ve probably heard stories of investors making a ton of money on stocks such as...