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Is it legally binding?     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?     Starting a business       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 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 is a family limited partnership, and will it help reduce estate taxes?     Valuing a business       How can I determine what my business is worth for estate and gift tax purposes?   Education Planning   Articles     529 plans       529 plans and financial aid eligibility       529 plans: The ins and outs of contributions and withdrawals       Income tax planning and 529 plans       The ABCs of 529 plans     Education planning basics       ABCs of financial aid       Can I afford to send my child to college?       Education tax credits       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   Decision Tools     529 plans       529 plans vs. Coverdell education savings accounts       529 plans: 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     Evaluating college savings options       Advantages and disadvantages of 529 plans       Advantages and disadvantages of Coverdell education savings accounts       Advantages and disadvantages of U.S. savings bonds for college savings       College savings vehicles compared     Financial aid       Comparison of federal higher education loans     Tax issues       Comparison of education tax credits and deductions       Qualified education expenses defined       Summary of tax-advantaged college savings options   FAQs     529 plan basics       What is the Independent 529 Plan?     529 plan expenses and fees       What expenses and fees are generally associated with 529 plans?     Education tax credits       What are the Hope credit and the Lifetime Learning credit?   Estate Planning   Articles     Assets       Asset protection in estate planning       Estate planning and 529 plans       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     Probate       Bypassing probate       Understanding probate   Decision Tools     Business planning       Business succession planning alternatives       How cross purchase plans work       How entity purchase plans work       Planning for succession of a business interest     Charitable giving       The best property to give to charity     Estate planning basics       Common incapacity documents       Steps to estate planning success   FAQs     Estate and gift tax       How can I determine what my business is worth for estate and gift tax purposes?       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?       I just made a gift. Do I have to file a gift tax return?       If I am the account owner when I die, will the value of my 529 account be included in my estate?       The death benefit from insurance on my life will be paid to an irrevocable life insurance trust (ILIT). 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How do I make sure he gets it?       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 guardian of my children in case my spouse and I should die at the same time?       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 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 worksheet       How earnings affect Social Security       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     Medicare and Medicaid       How do I enroll in Medicare?       How does Medicare Advantage work?       I'm putting money into a 529 plan for my grandchild. 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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       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     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?     Taxes       Capital gains and dividends tax relief   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?     Taxes       How did the Jobs and Growth Tax Relief Reconciliation Act of 2003 change capital gains tax rates?       I have investment property. 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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     Annuities       Annuities and retirement planning       Annuities: traps for the unwary       Annuity basics   Decision Tools     Annuities       Advantages and disadvantages of tax-deferred fixed annuities       Annuities       Fixed vs. variable annuities   FAQs     Long-term care insurance       Is there such a thing as nursing home insurance?       Should I buy long-term care insurance?   Retirement Planning   Articles     Health care issues       Buying supplemental health insurance--Medigap       Health insurance in retirement       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       Annuities and retirement planning       Borrowing or withdrawing money from your 401(k) plan       Choosing a beneficiary for your IRA or 401(k)       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       Taking advantage of employer-sponsored retirement plans       Understanding defined benefit plans       Understanding IRAs     Social Security       Social Security retirement benefits       Understanding Social Security   Decision Tools     401(k) plans       401(k) plans       Should you save in a 401(k) or a Roth IRA?     IRAs       Comparison of traditional IRAs and Roth IRAs   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     Caring for an aging parent       Caring for your aging parents       Housing options for older individuals       The sandwich generation: juggling family responsibilities.     Divorce       Dealing with divorce     Loss of a spouse       Organizing your finances when your spouse has died     Raising a family       And baby makes three       How much life insurance do you need?       Teaching your child about money       Teaching your college-age child about money       Teaching your teen about money     Sudden wealth       Sudden wealth     Terminal illness       Life insurance and terminal illness     Unmarried couples       Financial tips for unmarried couples   Decision Tools     Caring for an aging parent       Tips for caregivers   FAQs     Divorce       Are alimony payments considered taxable income?       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?     Loss of a spouse       How can I find out whether my deceased husband owned any life insurance?       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?     Remarriage       I'm getting remarried. How will this affect my Social Security benefits?       Should I sign a prenuptial agreement to protect my assets when I remarry?   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       Understanding personal tax credits     Taxes and insurance       Income tax tips: business insurance       Tax planning for annuities       Tax planning tips: auto insurance       Tax planning tips: disability insurance       Tax planning tips: life insurance       Tax tips: health insurance       Tax tips: homeowners 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 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?       We just bought our first home. What can we deduct from the settlement statement?     Taxes and home ownership       How do I figure the tax on the sale of my home?       I rent my home out for two weeks each year. Do I have to show this rental income on my federal income 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?