Business Owner   Articles     Insuring a business       Business overhead expense insurance       Insuring your home business       Properly insuring your business       Why insure your business?     Starting a business       Advantages and disadvantages of self-employment       Choosing an entity for your business       Record keeping for your own business     Transferring or selling a business       Transferring your family business   Decision Tools     Benefits and retirement plans       401(k) plans       Building a retirement plan for your business     Choosing an entity       Choosing a business entity       Comparison of LLCs, LLPs, and professional corporations       How C Corporations, Limited Liability Companies, and Limited Liability Partnerships Protect Personal Assets     Transferring or selling a business       Business succession strategy analyzer       Buy-sell agreement analyzer       Buy-sell planning questionnaire   FAQs     Employee benefits and other issues       How can I find good employees for my business?       What benefits should I offer to my employees?     Home-based businesses       Can I deduct home office expenses?       If I work at home occasionally, am I entitled to a home office deduction?     Incorporating a business       Can I change my business from a C corporation to an S corporation?       Can I change my business from an S corporation to a C corporation?       Should I incorporate my business?     Partnerships       How does a limited partnership work?     Raising capital       How can I raise capital for my business?     Starting a business       Don't most small businesses fail?       How do I find good advisors such as lawyers and accountants to help with my business?       Is buying a franchise a good way to get into business?       Should I buy an existing business or start from scratch?       Should I buy or lease assets for my business?     Transferring or selling a business       Can I transfer my business through my will?       How can I keep my business in the family?       What are some financing options for selling my business?       What is a buy-sell agreement?       What is a family limited partnership, and will it help reduce estate taxes?   Education Planning   Articles     529 plans       529 plans vs. other college savings options       Choosing a state savings plan       Income tax planning and 529 plans       Opening a 529 account       The ABCs of 529 plans     Education planning basics       Going back to school as an adult       Student loan basics   Decision Tools     529 plans       State savings plans vs. prepaid tuition plans     Determining how much to save for college       College savings analyzer       Finding the funds to pay for a college education       Higher education figures at-a-glance     Financial aid       College application and financial aid calendar       Comparison of federal higher education loans       Financial aid calendar     Tax issues       Comparison of education tax credits and deductions       Qualified education expenses defined       Summary of tax-advantaged college savings options   FAQs     529 plan basics       Do 529 plans include both state savings plans and prepaid tuition plans?       How many states currently have 529 plans?       What's the difference between state savings plans and prepaid tuition plans?     529 plan expenses and fees       Do 529 plan expenses vary among states?       What expenses and fees are generally associated with 529 plans?     529 plans: Making contributions       Can I contribute my own stocks and bonds to the 529 account I've set up for my child?       How much can I invest in a 529 plan?       How often can I make contributions to my child's 529 account?       Should I invest a lump sum, or is there a way to use dollar cost averaging when investing in a state savings plan?     529 plans: Tax issues       Can I deduct my contributions to my 529 account?       Can I use 529 funds to pay my child's college expenses in the same year I take either the Hope credit or the Lifetime Learning credit?       How does the annual gift tax exclusion apply to contributions to a 529 plan?       I know that qualified withdrawals from state savings plans are now exempt from federal income tax. But what about state taxes?       I opened a 529 plan and my child is the beneficiary. If my mother makes a contribution to the plan, is that considered a gift to me or to my child?       I opened a state savings plan sponsored by a different state than my own. Will I get that state's tax benefits?       I'd like to make a lump-sum contribution to my grandchild's 529 account. Will I owe gift tax?       If I cash in Series EE U.S. savings bonds I purchased 10 years ago and contribute the proceeds to a 529 plan, can I still avoid paying tax on the proceeds?       Will I be penalized if the money in my 529 plan isn't used for college expenses?       Will I pay income tax when the money in my 529 plan is withdrawn to pay for college expenses?     Applying to college       How many colleges should my child apply to?       When are college applications due?     Borrowing against your 529 account       Can I use the money in my 529 account as security if I apply for a loan?       I know I can borrow against my 401(k), but can I borrow against the value of my 529 account?     College costs       Are there any ways to lower the cost of college?       What expenses are included in the annual cost of college?       What is the college inflation rate?     Education tax credits       Now that my child is in college, am I entitled to any education tax credits?       What are the Hope credit and the Lifetime Learning credit?     Financial aid       Are there any assets that are not counted for financial aid purposes?       Can anyone get a Pell Grant?       Do colleges offer financial aid?       How do I apply for financial aid?       How do I know if I'm eligible for federal financial aid?       How does the federal financial aid process work?       Is there anything I can do now so that my child can obtain more financial aid later?       What is a Stafford Loan?     Paying for college       I've heard that a grandparent can pay a grandchild's tuition directly to the college without any gift tax problems. Is this true?       Should I take out a home equity loan to pay for my child's tuition?       Should I use my 401(k) to fund my child's college education?       Should I withdraw money from my IRA to pay for my child's college tuition?     Student loans       Are my student loan payments tax deductible?       Can I refinance my student loan?       How will I ever pay off my student loans?       I'm having trouble paying my student loans. What should I do?       Is student loan interest deductible?       Should I pay off my student loans early with a home equity loan?     Using or withdrawing 529 funds       Can 529 funds be used for general living expenses while at college?       Can the funds in a 529 plan be used for college expenses if my child is only attending part-time?       How do I prove that a distribution request is for my child's college expenses and not for some other purpose?       Must the funds in a 529 plan be used for tuition only, or can they be used for room and board expenses?       My child got a full scholarship to college--now what?       My child is the beneficiary of a 529 plan. Can he use the 529 funds for graduate school?       My child is the beneficiary of a 529 plan. Can he use the 529 funds for vocational school?       My child will be going to college next year and using 529 funds to pay expenses--what do I need to do?       What happens if I need to use the funds in a 529 plan before my child goes to college?       What happens if my child finishes college and there is money left over in the 529 account?       What happens to my 529 plan if my child wants to postpone going to college for a year or two after high school?       What happens to the funds in my 529 account if my child doesn't go to college?   Estate Planning   Articles     Estate planning basics       Estate planning--an introduction       Facing the possibility of incapacity       Gift and estate taxes       Wills--the cornerstone of your estate plan   Decision Tools     Estate planning basics       Common incapacity documents       Estate shrinkage       Federal estate tax estimator       Federal transfer tax exemption amounts under the Tax Act of 2001       Steps to estate planning success       Table of federal estate tax brackets and exemption limits     Trusts       Advantages of trusts       How a grantor retained income trust (GRIT) works       How an irrevocable life insurance trust (ILIT) works       How an irrevocable trust protects assets   FAQs     Estate and gift tax       How can I minimize taxes on my estate?       How will estate taxes be paid if I leave no provision in my will?       I just made a gift. Do I have to file a gift tax return?       The death benefit from insurance on my life will be paid to an irrevocable life insurance trust (ILIT). What if those funds are needed to pay my estate taxes?     Estate planning basics       How often do I need to review my estate plan?       What makes up my taxable estate?     Life insurance and estate planning       Are life insurance proceeds income taxable?       The death benefit from insurance on my life will be paid to an irrevocable life insurance trust (ILIT). What if those funds are needed to pay my estate taxes?       When I die, is my beneficiary required to take a lump-sum payment of my life insurance death benefit?       Will my beneficiaries have to pay taxes on the proceeds of my life insurance policy?     Planning for incapacity       What is an advanced directive for health care, and will it help me avoid court involvement during incapacity?       What is the difference between a power of attorney and a durable power of attorney?     Wills       Can I transfer my business through my will?       Do I need an attorney to prepare my will?       What is the difference between a living will and a living trust?       What will happen if I die without a will?       Who should I name as trustee?   Government Benefits   Articles     Medicare and Medicaid       Coordinating long-term care insurance with government benefits       Health insurance in retirement       Medicaid planning basics       Medicare     Social Security       Social Security retirement benefits       Social Security survivor's benefits       Understanding Social Security   FAQs     Social Security       Are my Social Security benefits subject to income tax?       How do I get disability benefits from Social Security?       I'm getting remarried. How will this affect my Social Security benefits?       My husband and I are divorcing after 30 years of marriage. Will I still be able to receive Social Security retirement benefits based on his earnings record after our divorce?   Investment Planning   Articles     Choosing investment vehicles       Creating an investment portfolio       Investing in bonds       Investing in stocks       Mutual fund basics       Other investments       Understanding mutual fund share classes     Investment basics       Handling market volatility       Investment planning--the basics       Six keys to successful investing       Taxation of investments       Understanding investment terms and concepts       Understanding risk     Investment goals       Retirement planning--the basics   Decision Tools     Creating an investment portfolio       Building an investment portfolio       Common types of mutual funds       Investing for retirement     Investment planning basics       Common investment mistakes to avoid       Simple rules for investing       Steps to financial planning success   FAQs     Creating an investment portfolio       How aggressive should I be when I invest for retirement?       How do I construct an investment portfolio that's right for me?       How long should I hang on to an investment?       How much of my portfolio should I keep in stocks?       How should I structure my retirement portfolio?       What recourse do I have if I'm unhappy with my state savings plan's investment performance?       What's the difference between how a state savings plan invests and how a prepaid tuition plan invests?     Investing basics       How can I gauge my risk tolerance?       Is there any type of insurance that can protect against losses from investments?       Should I invest my extra cash or use it to pay off debt?       What is asset allocation and how does it work?       What is dollar cost averaging and how do I know if it's right for me?     Mutual funds       What is the difference between an open-end and a closed-end mutual fund?     Savings bonds       Are government savings bonds risk free?       Are savings bonds a good way to save?     Stocks       Should I work with a stockbroker to buy individual stocks?       What is a stock split?     Taxes       Will I have to pay tax on my investment income?   Personal Finance   Articles     Financial basics       Establishing a budget       Getting started: establishing a financial safety net     Managing credit and debt       Choosing a credit card       Contemplating bankruptcy       Credit traps for the unwary       Debt consolidation       How student loans inpact your credit       Understanding your credit report     Owning a home       Applying for a mortgage       Buying a home       Opening the door to homeowners insurance       Refinancing your mortgage       Selling a home       Tapping the equity in your home       Tax benefits of home ownership       Your home as a source of dollars in retirement   Decision Tools     Owning a home       Should you refinance your mortgage?     Saving, spending, and borrowing       Credit cards--advantages vs. disadvantages       Deciding which credit card to get   FAQs     Bankruptcy       I can't pay my bills. Should I declare bankruptcy?       What's the difference between Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 bankruptcy?     Buying a home       Can I buy a house with no money down?       How much house can I afford?       How much money do I have to put down to buy a house?       Should I buy a home or continue renting?       Should my partner and I buy a house together even though we're not married?       We just bought our first home. What can we deduct from the settlement statement?       What is involved in buying a house that's for sale by owner?     Credit basics       How can I get credit if I have no credit history?       How can I reduce my spending?       How can I repair my poor credit?       How long should I keep copies of my tax returns?       How much money should I keep in a savings account for emergencies?       I can't pay my bills. Should I declare bankruptcy?       Should I invest my extra cash or use it to pay off debt?       Will debt consolidation hurt or help my credit rating?     Credit cards       How can I lower the interest rate on my credit card?       How can I pay off my credit card debt?       I get a lot of credit card offers. How can I tell which one is best?       I've finally paid off my credit cards. Should I close the accounts or leave them open with zero balances?     Mortgages       I am behind on my mortgage payments. Will my lender begin foreclosure proceedings?       I'm a first-time homebuyer, and I don't have a lot of cash to put down on a house. What type of mortgage would be best for me?       I'm having a hard time selling my home. Should I take out a reverse mortgage?       Should I choose a mortgage with no points and pay a higher interest rate, or should I put money toward points to lower the interest rate on a mortgage?       Should I pay off my student loans early with a home equity loan?       What's the difference between a home equity line of credit and a second mortgage?       Which mortgage is better--fixed rate or adjustable?     Refinancing a mortgage       Do I need to let my homeowners insurance company know that I'm refinancing a mortgage?       I refinanced my principal home last year and paid points. What are points, and can I deduct them on my tax return?       Should I refinance my home mortgage?     Selling a home       How do I figure the tax on the sale of my home?       I'm having a hard time selling my home. Should I take out a reverse mortgage?       I'm retired now and own my home outright, but I need money to live on. How can I use my home to raise some money without selling it?     Spousal credit issues       Am I liable for my spouse's debts?       I'm marrying someone with bad credit. How will this affect me?       Should I open a joint checking account with my spouse?       What's the difference between an "injured spouse" and an "innocent spouse"?   Protection Planning   Articles     Automobile insurance       ABCs of auto insurance       Auto accident checklist       Buying a new car? Asking these questions might save you money on your auto insurance       Comparing auto insurance policies       Filing an auto insurance claim       No-fault insurance       Policy options       Shopping for auto insurance       State-by-state minimum coverage requirements       Understanding your personal automobile policy       Who's covered under your auto insurance policy?     Health insurance       Comparing health insurance plans       Coping with medical bills       Coping with rising prescription costs       Dental insurance       Health insurance and divorce       Health insurance in retirement       HMOs and PPOs: what's the difference?       Individual health insurance       Limitations, exclusions, and riders       Lowering the cost of health care       Mental health benefits       Prescription plans       Tax tips: health insurance       Trends in managed care       Understanding managed care       Understanding your health insurance policy       Vision care insurance       Where to get health insurance     Life insurance       Cash value life insurance       Claiming life insurance benefits       Comparing life insurance policies       How does cash value in a life insurance policy really work?       Life insurance basics       Life insurance: do you need it?       Types of life insurance policies   Decision Tools     Life insurance       Advantages and disadvantages of term insurance       Comparison of types of life insurance       How traditional whole life insurance works       How universal life insurance works   FAQs     Health insurance       How can I get affordable health insurance if I'm self-employed?       How long am I covered under my parents' health insurance policies?       How much health insurance coverage do I need?       Is prescription drug coverage part of my medical coverage?       My husband and I are getting divorced. How do we decide whose health insurance policy will cover the children?       What is prescription insurance?       Which is better, an HMO or a PPO?       Will Medicare alone be enough to cover my health-care needs in retirement?   Retirement Planning   Articles     Health care issues       Buying supplemental health insurance--Medigap       Coordinating long-term care insurance with government benefits       Health insurance in retirement       Medicare       Should you buy long-term care insurance?       Understanding long-term care insurance     Housing issues       Housing options for older individuals       Your home as a source of dollars in retirement     Saving for retirement       Borrowing or withdrawing money from your 401(k) plan       Deciding what to do with your 401(k) plan when you change jobs       Estimating your retirement income needs       Retirement planning--the basics       Understanding IRAs       What to do after you've been automatically enrolled in your company's retirement plan     Social Security       Social Security retirement benefits       Understanding Social Security   Decision Tools     401(k) plans       401(k) plans     Health care issues       Medicaid eligibility for nursing home care       Medicare figures at-a-glance       Medicare, Medigap, and Medicaid     IRAs       Comparison of traditional IRAs and Roth IRAs     Retirement planning basics       How taxation can affect your retirement funds       Investing for retirement       Saving for your retirement     Social Security       How earnings affect Social Security       Social Security figures at-a-glance       Sources of retirement income: filling the Social Security gap   FAQs     Health care issues       How can I pay for nursing home care?       How can I tell if a nursing home provides high-quality care?       How do I enroll in Medicare?       Should I buy long-term care insurance?     Housing issues       My husband just died. Should I accept my daughter's offer to move in with her?     IRAs       Can I avoid the 10 percent penalty tax for early withdrawals from a traditional IRA?       Can I roll a retirement plan distribution into an IRA?       Can I still have a traditional IRA if I contribute to my 401(k) plan at work?       Can I take money from my IRA without any penalty?       I need money--can I take funds from my IRA?       What are the rules for IRA contributions?     Saving for retirement       How aggressive should I be when I invest for retirement?       How can I plan for retirement if my employer doesn't offer retirement benefits?       How can we possibly save for retirement and our child's college education at the same time?       How much money should I save for retirement?       How should I structure my retirement portfolio?       What should I do if I determine that my income during retirement won't be enough to meet my retirement expenses?     Social Security       Are my Social Security benefits subject to income tax?       I'm getting remarried. How will this affect my Social Security benefits?       Will my children receive money from Social Security when I die?   Special Situations   Articles     Career planning       Receiving unemployment benefits     Caring for an aging parent       Do your parents need long-term care insurance?       Facing the possibility of incapacity       Housing options for older individuals     Divorce       Dealing with divorce       Health insurance and divorce       Insurance concerns of divorcing couples     Loss of a spouse       Claiming life insurance benefits       Organizing your finances when your spouse has died       Social Security survivor's benefits     Marriage       Establishing a budget       Getting started: establishing a financial safety net       Merging your money when you marry     Raising a family       And baby makes three       Saving for retirement and a child's education at the same time       The best ways to save for college     Terminal illness       Life insurance and terminal illness       Viatical settlements     Unmarried couples       Financial tips for unmarried couples   Decision Tools     Caring for an aging parent       Tips for caregivers     Financial basics       Saving for your retirement     Insurance basics       Comparison of types of life insurance       Homeowners insurance quiz     Remarriage       Planning for marriage to someone with children       Remarriage with children: income tax considerations       Remarriage: sharing assets and debts   FAQs     Career planning       I'm getting laid off. How am I going to survive financially until I find another job?     Divorce       Are alimony payments considered taxable income?       How do I protect my assets in the event of a divorce?       My husband and I are divorcing after 30 years of marriage. Will I still be able to receive Social Security retirement benefits based on his earnings record after our divorce?     Loss of a spouse       How can I find out whether my deceased husband owned any life insurance?       My husband just died. Should I accept my daughter's offer to move in with her?       My spouse just died. Who do I need to notify?       My spouse passed away this year. When I file my taxes, what filing status should I claim?     Marriage       Am I liable for my spouse's debts?       I'm marrying someone with bad credit. How will this affect me?       Should I open a joint checking account with my spouse?     Raising a family       Does it make sense financially for both me and my spouse to work after our child is born?       How do I find quality child care?       How do I pay for child care?       My employer says that after my child is born, I have to come back in six weeks. But doesn't the law say that I'm entitled to three months of leave?       Who should I name as guardian of my children in case my spouse and I should die at the same time?     Remarriage       I'm getting remarried. How will this affect my Social Security benefits?     Terminal illness       Is there any way I can use life insurance to help cover my expenses if I become terminally ill?     Unmarried couples       Should my partner and I buy a house together even though we're not married?       Will my group health insurance cover my partner, even though we're not married?   Tax Planning   Articles     General tax planning       Am I having enough withheld?       Choosing an income tax filing status       Help! I can't pay my tax bill       Surviving an audit       Tax benefits of home ownership       Tax planning for income       Tax planning for the self-employed       Taxation of investments       Year-end tax planning     Tax credits and deductions       Education tax credits       Personal deduction planning       Qualifying for the home office deduction       Understanding personal tax credits     Taxes and insurance       Tax planning tips: life insurance       Tax tips: health insurance       Tax tips: long-term care insurance   Decision Tools     General tax planning       Accelerating deductions/postponing Income       Accelerating income/postponing deductions       Federal individual income tax fundamentals       Remarriage with children: income tax considerations     Tax credits and deductions       Comparison of education tax credits and deductions       General business tax credits       Is my home mortgage interest fully deductible?       Tax credit sampler   FAQs     General tax planning       Am I having enough tax withheld from my paycheck?       Are my Social Security benefits subject to income tax?       Are scholarships and grants subject to federal income tax?       Do I have to file a federal income tax return?       Do I have to pay U.S. taxes when I work abroad?       How did the Jobs and Growth Tax Relief Reconciliation Act of 2003 change capital gains tax rates?       I don't have the cash to pay my taxes. What can I do?       I have investment property. What does basis mean, and how do I determine the basis of my property?       I received a state tax refund last year. Must I include that amount as income on my federal return this year?       My spouse passed away this year. When I file my taxes, what filing status should I claim?       What is my tax bracket?       What is the alternative minimum tax?       What is the basis of property received as a gift?       What is the kiddie tax?       What penalties and interest will I be charged for paying and filing my federal income taxes late?       What's the difference between an "injured spouse" and an "innocent spouse"?       Will I have to pay tax on my investment income?     Tax credits       Can I take the credit for the elderly or disabled?       Can I take the tax credit for child care?       Now that my child is in college, am I entitled to any education tax credits?       What are the Hope credit and the Lifetime Learning credit?       What is the child tax credit?       What is the difference between the child tax credit and the child and dependent care tax credit?       What is the earned income credit and who qualifies for it?     Tax deductions       Can I deduct home office expenses?       Can I deduct premiums paid for long-term care (LTC) insurance?       Can I deduct the cost of improvements or repairs I've made to my home?       How do I deduct and substantiate my gambling losses?       I paid my mother's real estate taxes last year. Can I deduct this on my tax return?       I refinanced my principal home last year and paid points. What are points, and can I deduct them on my tax return?       If I prepay next year's taxes this year, can I deduct them this year?       If I work at home occasionally, am I entitled to a home office deduction?       Is student loan interest deductible?       My spouse and I are filing separate returns. Can we both itemize our deductions? If so, how do we split the deductions?       My town has assessed against me a real estate betterment for new sewer lines installed in my street. May I deduct this amount on my tax return?       We just bought our first home. What can we deduct from the settlement statement?     Taxes and child support/alimony       Are alimony payments considered taxable income?       What are the tax implications of child support payments?     Taxes and home ownership       Can I deduct the cost of improvements or repairs I've made to my home?       How do I figure the tax on the sale of my home?       I refinanced my principal home last year and paid points. What are points, and can I deduct them on my tax return?       I rent my home out for two weeks each year. Do I have to show this rental income on my federal income tax return?       If I prepay next year's taxes this year, can I deduct them this year?       My town has assessed against me a real estate betterment for new sewer lines installed in my street. May I deduct this amount on my tax return?       We just bought our first home. What can we deduct from the settlement statement?     Taxes and insurance proceeds       Are life insurance proceeds income taxable?       I receive disability insurance payments. Are they taxable?