Municipal bonds - often called "MUNIs" for short - can be an attractive investment option. What exactly are MUNIs? They are debt obligations issued by government entities. In effect, investors are lending money to the issuer in exchange for interest
Read moreIf you participate in a 401(k) plan at work, you're probably planning for retirement. But if you need money before retirement, should you borrow from your 401(k)? Whether that's a good idea depends on your personal financial situation - and
Read moreEvery year there are natural disasters that remind us how easily we can lose essential tax and financial records. After a disaster, you're more likely than ever to need certain records to file insurance claims or apply for loans. It's
Read moreWith schools back in session, the IRS has issued a reminder to taxpayers not to overlook available tax credits for education expenses. Tax credits are applied directly against the income tax you owe. Two available credits: the American Opportunity Tax
Read moreConfused about managing paperwork? Here are some tips that will help you keep what's important and toss what you no longer need.Tax Records. Keep tax records for at least seven years. Tax records include copies of income tax returns, documents
Read moreAre you a working parent looking for ways to ease the burden of child care expenses? There are several tax-saving strategies available to you.First, there's the dependent care tax credit, a direct reduction to your tax liability. The amount of
Read moreWhew! The rush is over once your personal income tax return is completed for another year - or so you thought, right up until the moment you discover information you forgot to include.Now what?The action you take depends on the
Read moreWith the frequent occurrence of natural disasters, the IRS has issued a reminder to taxpayers to safeguard their records with a document backup plan. Back records should be stored away from the original set. The IRS News Release suggests scanning
Read moreAre you pondering the question of whether or not to convert your traditional IRA funds to a Roth IRA? While your decision involves many factors, one wrinkle to consider is the five-year holding period for converted assets.The time limit has
Read moreImagine this scenario. Your wealthy Uncle John is something of an art collector, buying paintings and sculptures from promising young artists. When he retires, he moves into a small condo in a retirement community and has to downsize his art
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