Planning Tools Access online content and solutions that facilitate the communication of   financial planning knowledge and advice that is current, concise, and compliant. Articles offer up-to-date information on a variety of business-related and financial planning topics. Frequently asked questions provide a comprehensive library of common issues and sound advice

Business Owner   Articles     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     Transferring or selling a business       Transferring your family business   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     Tax planning       Accelerating deductions/postponing income       Accelerating income/postponing deductions     Transferring or selling a business       Business succession planning alternatives       Business succession strategy analyzer       Buy-sell agreement analyzer       Buy-sell planning questionnaire       How cross purchase plans work       How entity purchase plans work       Planning for succession of a business interest   FAQs     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       Don't most small businesses fail?       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 an existing business or start from scratch?       Should I buy or lease assets for my business?       What are the stages of business development?       What should I look for in a business location?     Transferring or selling a business       Can I transfer my business through my will?       How can I keep my business in the family?       What are some financing options for selling my business?       What is a buy-sell agreement?       What is a family limited partnership, and will it help reduce estate taxes?   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       Choosing a state savings plan       Estate planning and 529 plans       Income tax planning and 529 plans       Making changes to your 529 account       Opening a 529 account       The ABCs of 529 plans     Education planning basics       ABCs of financial aid       Can I afford to send my child to college?       Education tax credits       Finding money to pay college bills out of pocket       Going back to school as an adult       Health insurance for college students       Helping your child make the transition from high school to college       How student loans impact your credit       Research tips when choosing a college       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       The college application process   Decision Tools     529 plans       529 plans vs. Coverdell education savings accounts       529 plans: advisor-sold state savings plans       529 plans: direct-sold state savings plans       529 plans: prepaid tuition plans       State savings plan nonqualified withdrawals calculator       State savings plans vs. prepaid tuition plans   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   Decision Tools     Business planning       Business life insurance needs       Business succession planning alternatives       Choosing a business entity       How cross purchase plans work       How entity purchase plans work       Number of policies needed with a cross purchase plan       Planning for succession of a business interest     Estate planning basics       529 Plan Federal estate tax calculator       529 Plan Federal estate tax calculator - (Consumer Version)       Common incapacity documents       Estate shrinkage       Federal estate tax estimator       Federal transfer tax exemption amounts under the Tax Act of 2001       Steps to estate planning success       Table of federal estate tax brackets and exemption limits     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 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). What if those funds are needed to pay my estate taxes?       What is a family limited partnership, and will it help reduce estate taxes?       What is the applicable exclusion amount?       Will the value of my 529 account be included in my estate or my beneficiary's estate?   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. But are the 529 assets subject to Medicaid spend-down requirements?       I'm thinking about placing my mother in a nursing home. Will Medicaid pay for her care?       If I'm covered by Medicare, should I have additional health insurance?     Social Security       Are my Social Security benefits subject to income tax?       Does my 16-year-old have to pay Social Security tax on her earnings?       How can I get an estimate of my Social Security benefits?       How do I get disability benefits from Social Security?       I'm getting remarried. How will this affect my Social Security benefits?       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?       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?   Personal Finance   Articles     Financial basics       Establishing a budget       Getting started: establishing a financial safety net       Working with a financial advisor     Managing credit and debt       Choosing a credit card       Contemplating bankruptcy       Credit traps for the unwary       Debt consolidation       How student loans inpact your credit       Understanding your credit report   Decision Tools     Owning a home       Homeowners insurance quiz       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?   FAQs     Bankruptcy       Can I buy a house even though I declared bankruptcy?       I can't pay my bills. Should I declare bankruptcy?       What's the difference between Chapter 7 and Chapter 13 bankruptcy?     Credit basics       How can I correct errors on my credit report?       How can I figure out my net worth?       How can I get credit if I have no credit history?       How can I protect myself against identity theft?       How can I reduce my spending?       How can I repair my poor credit?       How do I get a copy of my credit report?       How long should I keep copies of my tax returns?       How much money should I keep in a savings account for emergencies?       I can't pay my bills. Should I declare bankruptcy?       Should I invest my extra cash or use it to pay off debt?       Will debt consolidation hurt or help my credit rating?     Credit cards       How can I lower the interest rate on my credit card?       How can I pay off my credit card debt?       I get a lot of credit card offers. How can I tell which one is best?       I've finally paid off my credit cards. Should I close the accounts or leave them open with zero balances?   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     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)       Closing a retirement income gap       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       Saving for retirement and a child's education at the same time       Taking advantage of employer-sponsored retirement plans       Understanding defined benefit plans       Understanding IRAs       What to do after you've been automatically enrolled in your company's retirement plan     Social Security       Social Security retirement benefits       Understanding Social Security   Decision Tools     401(k) plans       401(k) plans       Individual 401(k) Illustration       Should you save in a 401(k) or a Roth IRA?     Health care issues       Medicaid eligibility for nursing home care       Medicare figures at-a-glance       Medicare, Medigap, and Medicaid     IRAs       Comparison of traditional IRAs and Roth IRAs       IRA eligibility flowchart: 2004       IRA eligibility flowchart: 2005       Roth IRA future value calculator       Roth IRA: how much can you contribute in 2004?       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 2004?       Traditional IRA: how much can you contribute and deduct in 2005?     Retirement planning basics       Building an investment portfolio       Consumer price index inflation calculator       Growth of annual deposits calculator       How taxation can affect your retirement funds       Investing for retirement