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Business Owner   Articles     Benefits and retirement plans       Benefit plans for small businesses       Disability income insurance for the self-employed       Group health insurance: a valued employee benefit       Group term life insurance       Health insurance for the self-employed       Key employee life and disability insurance       Life insurance for the self-employed       Offering group disability insurance       Retirement plans for small businesses       Split dollar insurance plans       Understanding individual 401(k) plans       What employers need to know about workers' compensation insurance     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   Decision Tools     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   FAQs     Home-based businesses       Can I deduct home office expenses?       If I work at home occasionally, am I entitled to a home office deduction?     Partnerships       How does a limited partnership work?   Education Planning   Articles     529 plans       529 plans and financial aid eligibility       529 plans vs. other college savings options       529 plans: The ins and outs of contributions and withdrawals       College savings plans vs. prepaid tuition plans       Estate planning and 529 plans       Income tax planning and 529 plans       Making changes to your 529 account       The ABCs of 529 plans   Decision Tools     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 plans: Making contributions       Can I transfer my child's UGMA/UTMA custodial account to a 529 plan?       How much can I invest in a 529 plan?       How often can I make contributions to my child's 529 account?       I'm putting money into a 529 plan for my grandchild. But are the 529 assets subject to Medicaid spend-down requirements?       Should I invest a lump sum, or is there a way to use dollar cost averaging when investing in a state savings plan?   Estate Planning   Articles     Beneficiary designations       Choosing a beneficiary for your IRA or 401(k)       Designating a beneficiary for life insurance     Estate planning basics       Estate planning--an introduction       Gift and estate taxes       Trust basics       Wills--the cornerstone of your estate plan     Medicaid planning       Medicaid and nursing home care       Medicaid planning basics   Decision Tools     Business planning       Business succession planning alternatives       Choosing a business entity       Planning for succession of a business interest   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?       What is a family limited partnership, and will it help reduce estate taxes?     Estate planning basics       How often do I need to review my estate plan?       What makes up my taxable estate?     Probate       Does property owned jointly avoid probate?       What is probate and why do I want to avoid it?     Trusts       What is a living trust?     Wills       Can I transfer my business through my will?       Do I need an attorney to prepare my will?       How will estate taxes be paid if I leave no provision in 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?   Investment Planning   Articles     Investment basics       Investment planning--the basics       Six keys to successful investing       Understanding investment terms and concepts       Understanding risk     Investment goals       Can I afford to send my child to college?       Common investment goals       Retirement planning--the basics   Decision Tools     Taxes       Capital gains and dividends tax relief   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?       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?       Should I invest my extra cash or use it to pay off debt?       What's the difference between growth investing and value investing?   Personal Finance   Articles     Financial basics       Establishing a budget       Getting started: establishing a financial safety net       Working with a financial advisor     Managing credit and debt       Contemplating bankruptcy       How student loans inpact your credit       Understanding your credit report   Decision Tools     Managing credit and debt       Debt Consolidation Calculator     Saving, spending, and borrowing       Net worth calculator       Personal cash flow worksheet   FAQs     Bankruptcy       What's the difference between Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 bankruptcy?     Credit basics       How can I figure out my net worth?       How can I protect myself against identity theft?       How do I get a copy of my credit report?       How long should I keep copies of my tax returns?       I can't pay my bills. Should I declare bankruptcy?       Will debt consolidation hurt or help my credit rating?     Mortgages       Can my mortgage lender require me to have an escrow account?       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 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'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       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?       Should I sell or rent out my present home?   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     Saving for retirement       401(k) plans       Annuities and retirement planning       Borrowing or withdrawing money from your 401(k) plan       Closing a retirement income gap       Estimating your retirement income needs       The Roth 401(k)       Understanding defined benefit plans       Understanding IRAs   Decision Tools     Health care issues       Medicaid eligibility for nursing home care       Medicare figures at-a-glance       Medicare, Medigap, and Medicaid   FAQs     Evaluating an early retirement offer       Should I accept my employer's early retirement offer?   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