Articles, FAQs, Assessments Please view the topics below to find answers to many of the questions we get asked daily.  As always, we stand ready to assist you with any of your personal or business needs and questions.

Business Owner   Decision Tools     Benefits and retirement plans       401(k) plans       Building a retirement plan for your business     Choosing an entity       How C Corporations, Limited Liability Companies, and Limited Liability Partnerships Protect Personal Assets   FAQs     Valuing a business       How can I determine what my business is worth for estate and gift tax purposes?   Education Planning   Articles     Education planning basics       Can I afford to send my child to college?       Education tax credits       How student loans impact your credit       Sticker shock--creative ways to lower the cost of college   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   Estate Planning   Articles     Assets       Asset protection in estate planning       Transferring your family business     Charitable giving       Charitable giving       Life insurance and charitable giving     Estate planning basics       Estate planning--an introduction       Facing the possibility of incapacity       Gift and estate taxes       Trust basics       Wills--the cornerstone of your estate plan   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 intend to make tuition payments directly to my grandchild's college, and I know this will reduce my estate. But would it be better to contribute to a 529 plan instead?       What is a family limited partnership, and will it help reduce estate taxes?     Trusts       What is a living trust?   Government Benefits   Decision Tools     Medicare and Medicaid       Medicaid eligibility for nursing home care       Medicare figures at-a-glance   FAQs     Social Security       Are my Social Security benefits subject to income tax?       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 is SSI?       When do I have to apply for a Social Security number for my newborn?   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       Understanding mutual fund share classes   FAQs     Creating an investment portfolio       Does a state savings plan allow me to choose my own investments?       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?   Personal Finance   Articles     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   Decision Tools     Saving, spending, and borrowing       Consumer price index inflation calculator       Credit cards--advantages vs. disadvantages       Deciding which credit card to get       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?       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?   Protection Planning   FAQs     Annuities       Can I change my annuity for one with a better interest rate?       I bought an annuity a few years ago, but I don't want it anymore. Is there a way to get rid of it?       I can choose a single life annuity for my pension or a joint and survivor annuity that makes payments to my spouse when I die. Which is better?       I'm confused--is an annuity an investment vehicle or an insurance policy?       What is an annuity?   Retirement Planning   Articles     Health care issues       Health insurance in retirement       Should you buy long-term care insurance?       Understanding long-term care insurance   Decision Tools     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       Investor Profile and Asset Allocation Calculator       Net worth calculator       Personal cash flow worksheet       Saving for your retirement   FAQs     IRAs       Can I avoid the 10 percent penalty tax for early withdrawals from a traditional IRA?       Can I contribute to a Roth IRA?       Can I roll a retirement plan distribution into an IRA?       Can I set up a traditional IRA?       Can I shift my traditional funds to a Roth 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?       It's January, and I forgot to contribute to my IRA. Is it too late?       Should I invest in a Roth IRA or a traditional IRA?       Should I withdraw money from my IRA to pay for my child's college tuition?       What are my options if I inherit an IRA or employer-sponsored plan?       What are required minimum distributions and how are they calculated?       What are the rules for IRA contributions?       What's a premature IRA distribution, and what happens if I make one?   Special Situations   Articles     Loss of a spouse       Claiming life insurance benefits       Organizing your finances when your spouse has died       Social Security survivor's benefits     Raising a family       Planning a family? Get to know your health insurance policy       Saving for retirement and a child's education at the same time       Teaching your child about money       When your child has special needs   Tax Planning   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       What is my tax bracket?       What is the alternative minimum tax?