investments

Q. How can I decide if I should have municipal bonds? Is there a formula or something?

Q. I am getting ready for a big long discussion with my stock broker. He wants to change some mutual funds.

Q. Sector funds used to be really popular. Are they still, and can they make sense in a portfolio for diversity? Or are they just more expensive than other kinds of funds?

Q. When I give stocks to my grandson, what does he start with for a cost basis: the price of it when I give it to him or the price when I purchased it?

Q. My son is switching to a new job and he’s thinking of taking the money out of his first 401(k) to help pay moving costs. I’m saying it’s a bad idea. Can you help me explain why?

Q. I’ve heard that commodities are a good alternative investment. What’s the best way to buy? How do I know which ones are the best for this market?

Q. My dad recently died, and I just learned I have an UTMA that my parents started when I was a teenager. I’m now 47, and I don’t think taxes were ever paid on this account. What can I do about it?

Q. I have $500,000 in retirement accounts, basically each 25 percent in international, large U.S. stocks, small U.S. stocks and long-term bonds, all through index funds. I hope to retire in two years. How can I decide if I’ll have enough, and how I should be invested

Q. My girlfriend says she’s seen news reports that say women are better long-term investors than men. I don’t think there should be a difference. Can you explain why?

Q. As a sole proprietor, it is my understanding that the “advisory fees” of my managed portfolio are deductible expenses on my year-end tax return as bank fees. This makes these high fees of an advised account much more palatable to me, though I wonder about indexing in retirement, which I am about five to 10 years away from.