Here are some articles, decision tools and frequently asked questions on a variety of business-related and personal financial planning topics.

Business Owner   Articles     Benefits and retirement plans       Benefit plans for small businesses     Starting a business       Advantages and disadvantages of self-employment       Choosing an entity for your 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     Benefits and retirement plans       Building a retirement plan for your business     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     Employee benefits and other issues       What are health reimbursement arrangements?       What benefits should I offer to my employees?     Incorporating a business       Can I change my business from a C corporation to an S corporation?       Can I change my business from an S corporation to a C corporation?       Should I incorporate my business?     Starting a business       Is buying a franchise a good way to get into business?       Should I buy an existing business or start from scratch?       Should I buy or lease assets for my business?       What should I look for in a business location?   Education Planning   Articles     529 plans       529 plans vs. other college savings options       529 plans: The ins and outs of contributions and withdrawals       Choosing a state savings plan   Decision Tools     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 custodial accounts for college savings       Advantages and disadvantages of U.S. savings bonds for college savings       College funding options analyzer       College savings vehicles compared   FAQs     Paying for college       Should I take out a home equity loan to pay for my child's tuition?       Should I use my 401(k) to fund my child's college education?       Should I withdraw money from my IRA to pay for my child's college tuition?   Estate Planning   Articles     Estate planning basics       Estate planning--an introduction       Gift and estate taxes       Wills--the cornerstone of your estate plan   Decision Tools     Charitable giving       How a charitable lead trust works       How a charitable remainder trust works       The best property to give to charity     Estate planning basics       Federal estate tax estimator       Steps to estate planning success       Table of federal estate tax brackets and exemption limits     Life insurance       Life insurance needs analyzer     Probate       The probate process: 3 to 9 months after death       The probate process: 9 to 12 months after death       The probate process: initial tasks       Types of post-mortem elections   FAQs     Estate planning basics       Isn't estate planning only for the rich?       What makes up my taxable estate?   Government Benefits   Decision Tools     Social Security       How earnings affect Social Security       Social Security figures at-a-glance   Investment Planning   Articles     Investment basics       Investment planning--the basics       Taxation of investments       Understanding investment terms and concepts   Decision Tools     Creating an investment portfolio       Common types of mutual funds       Investing for retirement       Major asset classes     Investment planning basics       Common investment mistakes to avoid       Growth of annual deposits calculator       Simple rules for investing       What is your risk tolerance?   Personal Finance   Articles     Buying a car       Buying a car     Financial basics       Establishing a budget     Owning a home       Applying for a mortgage       Buying a home       Refinancing your mortgage       Selling a home   Decision Tools     Owning a car       Auto loan payment calculator       Should you buy or lease your car?     Owning a home       How to save money on your homeowners insurance       Is my home mortgage interest fully deductible?       Less common mortgage options       Mortgage payment calculator       Popular types of mortgages       Should you refinance your mortgage?   Retirement Planning   Decision Tools     IRAs       Comparison of traditional IRAs and Roth IRAs       IRA eligibility flowchart: 2005       Roth IRA future value calculator       Roth IRA: how much can you contribute in 2005?       Traditional IRA future value calculator       Traditional IRA required minimum distribution illustrator       Traditional IRA: how much can you contribute and deduct in 2005?     Retirement planning basics       Building an investment portfolio       Growth of annual deposits calculator       How taxation can affect your retirement funds       Investing for retirement       Net worth calculator       Personal cash flow worksheet       Saving for your retirement       What is your risk tolerance?     Social Security       How earnings affect Social Security       Social Security figures at-a-glance       Sources of retirement income: filling the Social Security gap   Special Situations   Articles     Caring for an aging parent       Caring for your aging parents       Facing the possibility of incapacity       Housing options for older individuals       Medicaid and nursing home care       Medicaid and the principal residence       Medicaid planning basics     Divorce       Dealing with divorce     Loss of a spouse       Organizing your finances when your spouse has died     Marriage       Establishing a budget       Getting started: establishing a financial safety net       Merging your money when you marry     Raising a family       And baby makes three       Saving for retirement and a child's education at the same time   Decision Tools     Caring for an aging parent       Housing options for aging parents       Tips for caregivers     Financial basics       Auto loan payment calculator       College funding options analyzer       College savings analyzer       Credit cards--advantages vs. disadvantages       Growth of annual deposits calculator       Loan amortization calculator       Mortgage payment calculator       Net worth calculator       Personal cash flow worksheet       Saving for your retirement       Should you save in a 401(k) or a Roth IRA?     Remarriage       Planning for marriage to someone with children       Providing for children from a previous marriage       Remarriage with children: income tax considerations       Remarriage: sharing assets and debts   FAQs     Caring for an aging parent       How can I pay for nursing home care?       How can I tell if a nursing home provides high-quality care?       How do I talk to my elderly parents about their finances?       I paid my mother's real estate taxes last year. Can I deduct this on my tax return?       I'm thinking about placing my mother in a nursing home. Will Medicaid pay for her care?       My parents can't manage alone anymore. What should I do?       What types of nursing care does long-term care insurance cover?     Divorce       Are alimony payments considered taxable income?       How do I protect my assets in the event of a divorce?       What are the tax implications of child support payments?     Loss of a spouse       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?       Should I open a joint checking account with my spouse?       Should my spouse and I integrate our health insurance benefits?     Raising a family       Can I take the tax credit for child care?       Does it make sense financially for both me and my spouse to work after our child is born?       How do I pay for child care?       My employer says that after my child is born, I have to come back in six weeks. But doesn't the law say that I'm entitled to three months of leave?       Should I buy life insurance on my child?       What is the difference between the child tax credit and the child and dependent care tax credit?       When do I have to apply for a Social Security number for my newborn?       Who should I name as guardian of my children in case my spouse and I should die at the same time?   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       Year-end tax planning     Tax credits and deductions       Education tax credits       Personal deduction planning       Qualifying for the home office deduction       Understanding personal tax credits   Decision Tools     General tax planning       Federal individual income tax fundamentals       Remarriage with children: income tax considerations     Tax credits and deductions       Comparison of education tax credits and deductions       Tax credit sampler