Retirement can begin at any age, and so can planning for it — the earlier, the better. Assets for retirement can include savings, investment accounts, IRAs, employee retirement plans and pensions, even home equity (accessed through a reverse mortgage), annuities and life insurance policies. One way or another, the focus is usually on maximizing growth, minimizing taxes and managing exposure to risks (e.g., market risks, legal liability).

The solar federal tax incentive, also known as the Investment Tax Credit (ITC), is a federal government incentive program that provides tax credits to individuals and businesses that invest in solar energy systems. The ITC was first introduced in 2006 as part of the Energy Policy Act and has since been extended multiple times.