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Business Owner   Articles     Benefits and retirement plans       Benefit plans for small businesses       Health insurance for the self-employed       Life insurance for the self-employed       Understanding individual 401(k) plans       What employers need to know about workers' compensation insurance     Insuring a business       Business automobile insurance basics       Business interruption insurance       Business liability insurance basics       Business overhead expense insurance       Commercial general liability       Do you need crime insurance?       Income tax tips: business insurance       Insurance tips for business travelers       Insuring your home business       Professional liability coverage       Properly insuring your business       Should you self-insure your business?       Understanding your business owners policy       Why insure your business?     Starting a business       Advantages and disadvantages of self-employment       Choosing an entity for your business       Funding a business       Hiring your first employee       Qualifying for the home office deduction       Record keeping for your own business       Starting or buying a business       Tax planning for the self-employed     Transferring or selling a business       Funding a buy-sell agreement with disability insurance       Funding a buy-sell agreement with life insurance       Transferring your family business   Decision Tools     Benefits and retirement plans       401(k) plans       Building a retirement plan for your business       Comparison of types of educational assistance       Individual 401(k) Illustration     Business planning basics       2003 numbers       Net worth calculator     Tax planning       Accelerating deductions/postponing income       Accelerating income/postponing deductions     Transferring or selling a business       Business succession planning alternatives       Business succession strategy analyzer       Buy-sell agreement analyzer       Buy-sell planning questionnaire       How cross purchase plans work       How entity purchase plans work       Planning for succession of a business interest   FAQs     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?     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?       What are the stages of business development?       What should I look for in a business location?     Valuing a business       How can I determine what my business is worth for estate and gift tax purposes?   Education Planning   Articles     Education planning basics       ABCs of financial aid       Can I afford to send my child to college?       Education tax credits       Finding money to pay college bills out of pocket       Going back to school as an adult       Health insurance for college students       Helping your child make the transition from high school to college       How student loans impact your credit       Research tips when choosing a college       Saving for retirement and a child's education at the same time       Sticker shock--creative ways to lower the cost of college       Student loan basics       The best ways to save for college       The college application process   Decision Tools     529 plans       529 plans vs. Coverdell education savings accounts       529 plans: advisor-sold state savings plans       529 plans: direct-sold state savings plans       529 plans: prepaid tuition plans       State savings plan nonqualified withdrawals calculator       State savings plans vs. prepaid tuition plans     Evaluating college savings options       Advantages and disadvantages of 529 plans       Advantages and disadvantages of Coverdell education savings accounts       Advantages and disadvantages of custodial accounts for college savings       Advantages and disadvantages of U.S. savings bonds for college savings       College funding options analyzer       College savings vehicles compared   FAQs     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?     Paying for college       I've heard that a grandparent can pay a grandchild's tuition directly to the college without any gift tax problems. 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What should we do?       How can I save for my child's college education?       How can we possibly save for retirement and our child's college education at the same time?       Should I establish a trust for my child's college education fund?       Should I open a Coverdell education savings account?       Should I save for college in my name or my child's name?       What are the rules for Coverdell education savings accounts?       What is the CollegeSure CD?     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?   Government Benefits   Articles     Medicare and Medicaid       Coordinating long-term care insurance with government benefits       Health insurance in retirement       Medicaid and nursing home care       Medicaid and the principal residence       Medicaid planning basics       Medicare     Other government benefits       Government-sponsored disability insurance programs       Receiving unemployment benefits       What employers need to know about workers' compensation insurance     Social Security       Social Security disability benefits       Social Security retirement benefits       Social Security survivor's benefits       Understanding Social Security   Decision Tools     Medicare and Medicaid       Medicaid eligibility for nursing home care       Medicare figures at-a-glance       Medicare, Medigap, and Medicaid     Social Security       Disability income needs calculator       How earnings affect Social Security       Social Security Break Even Calculator       Social Security disability insurance (SSDI): awards and applications illustrator       Social Security figures at-a-glance       Sources of retirement income: filling the Social Security gap       What are your chances of becoming disabled?   FAQs     Social Security       Are my Social Security benefits subject to income tax?       Does my 16-year-old have to pay Social Security tax on her earnings?       How can I get an estimate of my Social Security benefits?       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?       Should I retire now at age 62 and collect Social Security benefits, or should I wait until age 65?       What happens if I start collecting Social Security after age 65?       What is SSI?       When do I have to apply for a Social Security number for my newborn?       When I retire, how much will I receive from Social Security?       Will my children receive money from Social Security when I die?   Investment Planning   Articles     Choosing investment vehicles       Annuity basics       Creating an investment portfolio       Investing in bonds       Investing in stocks       Mutual fund basics       Other investments       The best ways to save for college       U.S. Savings Bonds: A U.S. Tradition       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       Asset Allocation       Can I afford to send my child to college?       Common investment goals       Dollar cost averaging       Retirement planning--the basics   Decision Tools     Creating an investment portfolio       Annuities       Asset allocation pie chart illustrator       Building an investment portfolio       College funding options analyzer       Common types of mutual funds       Exchange traded funds and mutual funds compared       Investing for retirement       Major asset classes     Investment planning basics       Common investment mistakes to avoid       Consumer price index inflation calculator       Growth of annual deposits calculator       Impact of Inflation on Investment Returns Calculator       Simple rules for investing       Steps to financial planning success       Taxable vs. Tax-Free Bonds Calculator   FAQs     Taxes       How did the Jobs and Growth Tax Relief Reconciliation Act of 2003 change capital gains tax rates?       I have investment property. What does basis mean, and how do I determine the basis of my property?       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       Working with a financial advisor     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       Buying a home both you and your insurer will love       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     Managing credit and debt       Credit cards--advantages vs. disadvantages       Debt Consolidation Calculator       Deciding which credit card to get     Saving, spending, and borrowing       Consumer price index inflation calculator       Growth of annual deposits calculator       Loan amortization calculator       Net worth calculator       Personal cash flow worksheet   FAQs     Mortgages       Can I use a piggyback mortgage as an alternative to private mortgage insurance?       Can my mortgage lender require me to have an escrow account?       I am behind on my mortgage payments. 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What does that mean?       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?       Should I take out a home equity loan to pay for my child's tuition?       What are the advantages of making biweekly mortgage payments?       What's involved in getting a VA mortgage?       What's the difference between a home equity line of credit and a second mortgage?       Which mortgage is better--fixed rate or adjustable?       Why do I have to purchase homeowners insurance in order to obtain a mortgage?   Protection Planning   Articles     Business insurance       Business automobile insurance basics       Business interruption insurance       Business liability insurance basics       Business overhead expense insurance       Commercial general liability       Disability income insurance for the self-employed       Do you need crime insurance?       Funding a buy-sell agreement with disability insurance       Funding a buy-sell agreement with life insurance       Group health insurance: a valued employee benefit       Group term life insurance       Health insurance for the self-employed       Income tax tips: business insurance       Insurance tips for business travelers       Insuring your home business       Key employee life and disability insurance       Life insurance for the self-employed       Offering group disability insurance       Professional liability coverage       Properly insuring your business       Should you self-insure your business?       Split dollar insurance plans       Understanding your business owners policy       What employers need to know about workers' compensation insurance       Why insure your business?     Health insurance       Alternative therapies       Archer medical savings accounts       Buying short-term health insurance       Comparing health insurance plans       Coping with medical bills       Coping with rising prescription costs       Dental insurance       Getting health insurance when you're hard to insure       Group health insurance       Health insurance and COBRA: sometimes you can take it with you       Health insurance and divorce       Health insurance for college students       Health insurance for travelers       Health insurance in retirement       Health insurance made simple       HMOs and PPOs: what's the difference?       Individual health insurance       Limitations, exclusions, and riders       Lowering the cost of health care       Making the most of your group health benefits       Mental health benefits       Planning a family? Get to know your health insurance policy       POS plans       Prescription plans       Preventing sports injuries       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       Credit life insurance       Designating a beneficiary for life insurance       How does cash value in a life insurance policy really work?       How much life insurance do you need?       Life insurance and charitable giving       Life insurance and estate planning       Life insurance and terminal illness       Life insurance at various life stages       Life insurance basics       Life insurance for children       Life insurance: do you need it?       Life insurance: the application process       Making policy loans and withdrawals       Planning ahead for life insurance proceeds       Reading and understanding your life insurance policy       Shopping for life insurance       Surrendering your life insurance policy       Tax planning tips: life insurance       Term life insurance       Term vs. cash value life insurance       The ins and outs of policy ownership       Traditional whole life insurance       Types of life insurance policies       Understanding insurance company illustrations       Universal life insurance       Variable life insurance       Variable universal life insurance       Viatical settlements   Retirement Planning   Articles     Saving for retirement       401(k) plans       Annuities and retirement planning       Borrowing or withdrawing money from your 401(k) plan       Choosing a beneficiary for your IRA or 401(k)       Closing a retirement income gap       Deciding what to do with your 401(k) plan when you change jobs       Estimating your retirement income needs       Evaluating an early retirement offer       Retirement planning--the basics       Saving for retirement and a child's education at the same time       Taking advantage of employer-sponsored retirement plans       The Roth 401(k)       Understanding defined benefit plans       Understanding IRAs       What to do after you've been automatically enrolled in your company's retirement plan   Decision Tools     401(k) plans       401(k) plans       Differences Between a Roth 401(k) and a Roth IRA       Individual 401(k) Illustration     IRAs       Comparison of traditional IRAs and Roth IRAs       IRA eligibility flowchart: 2009       IRA eligibility flowchart: 2010       Roth IRA 2010 Conversion Calculator       Roth IRA future value calculator       Roth IRA: how much can you contribute in 2009?       Roth IRA: how much can you contribute in 2010?       Traditional IRA future value calculator       Traditional IRA required minimum distribution illustrator       Traditional IRA: how much can you contribute and deduct in 2009?       Traditional IRA: how much can you contribute and deduct in 2010?       Traditional vs. Roth IRA Calculator     Retirement planning basics       Building an investment portfolio       Consumer price index inflation calculator       Growth of annual deposits calculator       How taxation can affect your retirement funds       Investing for retirement       Net Unrealized Appreciation (NUA) Calculator       Net worth calculator       Personal cash flow worksheet       Retirement Savings Calculator       Retirement Savings Multi-Scenario Calculator       Saving for your retirement   FAQs     Employer-sponsored retirement plans       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?       Does the federal government insure pension benefits?       How can I plan for retirement if my employer doesn't offer retirement benefits?       I teach at a school that has a 403(b) plan. Is this type of plan a good way to save for retirement?       My company has a profit-sharing plan. How do these plans work?       Should I contribute to my 401(k) plan at work?       Should I use my 401(k) to fund my child's college education?       What are my options if I inherit an IRA or employer-sponsored plan?       What does the term "qualified plan" mean?       What is vesting?   Special Situations   Articles     Caring for an aging parent       Caring for your aging parents       Do your parents need long-term care insurance?       Facing the possibility of incapacity       Housing options for older individuals       Medicaid and nursing home care       Medicaid and the principal residence       Medicaid planning basics       The sandwich generation: juggling family responsibilities.   FAQs     Career planning       I'll be changing jobs next month, and I'm pregnant. Will I qualify for health insurance coverage with my new employer?       I'm getting laid off. How am I going to survive financially until I find another job?       I'm looking for a job. How can I tell if an employer is offering a good insurance benefit package?       If I leave my company, can I take my life insurance policy with me?       If I leave my job, will I lose my employer-sponsored health insurance?       If my employer goes out of business and discontinues its health insurance plan, am I still eligible for COBRA benefits?     Consumer protection       How can I protect myself against identity theft?       How do I stop those annoying telemarketing calls?       My radio broke two months after I bought it. I tried to return it to the store, but it won't give me a refund. What can I do to get my money back?   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       Income tax planning and 529 plans       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   Decision Tools     General tax planning       Accelerating deductions/postponing Income       Accelerating income/postponing deductions       Federal individual income tax fundamentals       Remarriage with children: income tax considerations   FAQs     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?     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?