Articles

Some tax-cutting strategies make good financial sense. Others are simply bad ideas, often because tax considerations are allowed to override basic economics. Here's one example of the tax tail wagging the economic dog. Let's say that you operate an unincorporated...

As the owner of your business, you are the decider of salaries for your staff. That's true for your own salary too. While there is no one-size-fits-all formula for determining how much to pay yourself, here are two factors to consider. Regularly review and update your...

How much money did you save last year? If your savings fell short of your goals, don't give up. You can still take charge of your financial future. Here are tips to become a successful saver. Set goals. Give your saving a purpose. Do you want to accumulate an...

Times of crisis, when others are suffering and you want to help most, is also when heartless fraudsters tend to strike. If you're planning a donation, watch for these signs that a charity isn't on the up-and-up. The fly-by-night charity. Every legitimate charitable...

Violent weather can wreak emotional and financial havoc. If your home, vehicle, or other personal property is damaged or destroyed by a sudden, unexpected casualty, an itemized tax deduction may help ease the financial burden. In most cases, you claim a casualty loss...

Once you have extended credit to a customer, you have a stake in continuing the relationship even if you suspect trouble is brewing. You don't want to crack down on a good customer too hard too soon; yet you don't want to be "taken" by a debtor who has become unable...

After your death, the disposition of retirement accounts, life insurance policies, annuities, and accounts at financial institutions are governed by beneficiary designations. If those designations are outdated, unspecific, or wrong, your assets may not be distributed...

Are you thinking of returning to your childhood home to live with your parents? Although heading home after graduation or a divorce may feel like a setback, a temporary return to living with your parents can present opportunities to improve your financial situation....

Are you going to school this fall to earn an advanced degree or to brush up on your work skills? If so, you might be able to deduct what you pay for tuition, books, and other supplies. If you're self-employed or working for someone else, you may be able to claim a...