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Business Owner   Articles     Benefits and retirement plans       Benefit plans for small businesses       Key employee life and disability insurance       Understanding individual 401(k) plans     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     Choosing an entity       Choosing a business entity     Tax planning       Accelerating deductions/postponing income       Accelerating income/postponing deductions     Transferring or selling a business       Buy-sell planning questionnaire   FAQs     Advertising a business       How can I get free publicity for my business?       How do I know where to advertise my business?       What is the best form of advertising?     Home-based businesses       Can I deduct home office expenses?     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       Can I borrow money from my wholly owned business?       How can I raise capital for my business?   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     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     Financial aid       College application and financial aid calendar       Comparison of federal higher education loans       Financial aid calendar   FAQs     529 plan basics       Do 529 plans include both state savings plans and prepaid tuition plans?       How long have 529 plans been around?       How many states currently have 529 plans?       What can you tell me about employer-sponsored 529 plans?       What is the Independent 529 Plan?       What's the difference between state savings plans and prepaid tuition plans?       Who can legally offer 529 plans?       Why are these plans referred to as "529" plans?     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?     Selecting a college       How should my child go about selecting a college?   Estate Planning   Articles     Estate planning basics       Estate planning--an introduction       Gift and estate taxes       Trust basics   Decision Tools     Estate planning basics       529 Plan Federal estate tax calculator - (Consumer Version)       Federal estate tax estimator       Steps to estate planning success       Table of federal estate tax brackets and exemption limits   FAQs     Estate planning basics       How often do I need to review my estate plan?       Isn't estate planning only for the rich?       What makes up my taxable estate?   Government Benefits   Articles     Medicare and Medicaid       Coordinating long-term care insurance with government benefits     Social Security       Understanding Social Security   Decision Tools     Social Security       Disability income needs calculator       Social Security Break Even Calculator   FAQs     Military benefits       Can I be buried in a national cemetery even though I got out of the Army years ago?   Investment Planning   Articles     Choosing investment vehicles       Annuity basics       Creating an investment portfolio       Investing in bonds       Investing in stocks     Investment basics       Handling market volatility       Investment planning--the basics       Six keys to successful investing       Taxation of investments       Understanding investment terms and concepts       Understanding risk   Decision Tools     Investment planning basics       Common investment mistakes to avoid       Consumer price index inflation calculator       Growth of annual deposits calculator       Simple rules for investing       Steps to financial planning success       What is your risk tolerance?   FAQs     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?       What's the difference between growth investing and value investing?   Personal Finance   Articles     Buying a car       ABCs of auto insurance       Buying a car       GAP insurance       How safe is that new car?     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     Owning a home       Homeowners insurance quiz       How to save money on your homeowners insurance       Is my home mortgage interest fully deductible?       Less common mortgage options       Mortgage payment calculator       Popular types of mortgages       Should you refinance your mortgage?   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. 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?       My mortgage includes a statement that a penalty may be imposed for early payoff. 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?     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?   Protection Planning   Articles     Annuities       Annuities and retirement planning       Shopping for an annuity     Homeowners insurance       Comparing homeowners policies       Home security tips       Understanding your homeowners policy   Special Situations   Articles     Career planning       Evaluating a job offer       Evaluating an early retirement offer       Health insurance and COBRA: sometimes you can take it with you       Receiving unemployment benefits     Divorce       Dealing with divorce       Health insurance and divorce       Insurance concerns of divorcing couples     Marriage       Establishing a budget       Getting started: establishing a financial safety net       Merging your money when you marry   Decision Tools     Financial basics       Auto loan payment calculator       College funding options analyzer       College savings analyzer       Credit cards--advantages vs. disadvantages       Growth of annual deposits calculator       Loan amortization calculator       Mortgage payment calculator       Net worth calculator       Personal cash flow worksheet       Saving for your retirement       Should you save in a 401(k) or a Roth IRA?   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?     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?       My husband and I are getting divorced. How do we decide whose health insurance policy will cover the children?       What are the tax implications of child support payments?     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?       Should my spouse and I integrate our health insurance benefits?     Raising a family       Can I take the tax credit for child care?       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?       Should I buy life insurance on my child?       What is the difference between the child tax credit and the child and dependent care tax credit?       When do I have to apply for a Social Security number for my newborn?       Who should I name as guardian of my children in case my spouse and I should die at the same time?   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     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?