10 Tips for Harvesting Investment Losses

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Somewhere in your portfolio, you probably have a loser -- an investment that is now worth less than what you paid for it. However, all is not lost. If that investment is in a non-retirement account (i.e., not in an IRA, 401(k), or HSA), you can sell it, take the loss, and use it to offset your capital gains and reduce your taxable income. But you have to know the rules. Robert Brokamp discusses what to keep in mind:-The range of investments to consider selling-How not to run afoul of the wash-sale rules-The true value of the $3,000 ordinary income deduction-The default rules for how cost basis and holding period are assigned to different types of investments-The potential downsides of…