Tax-Free Municipal Bonds: Worth It?
Municipal bonds are stable, income-producing vehicles that are used to fund local and state government projects, such as buildings and highways. They are also tax free at the federal level. Are they right for you? What else should you be weighing in your decision about whether to invest in tax-free municipal bonds? How they work […]
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Should You Refinance for a Shorter Term?
As interest rates are still at all-time lows, you’re probably thinking about refinancing your mortgage. When you refinance for a shorter term, you save on interest and pay off your home sooner. Sounds good, but taking out more debt is never a simple proposition. Here are some considerations: Can you afford a higher mortgage payment? […]
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How To Find a Caregiver
What do you do when you or a loved one can’t get through a day without help? It’s a problem most families face sooner or later, and it’s a thorny one. One option is to have an adult child move in with the care recipient or vice versa so that there’s always someone on hand […]
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Filing the Final Tax Return
As a survivor, executor or administrator of an estate, you are obligated to file an income tax return reporting all the deceased’s income up to his or her date of death. You will need to be aware of all the credits and deductions the deceased is allowed as if that person had been alive to […]
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How to Plan Your Funeral in Advance
No one likes to think about his or her own funeral, but it’s something everyone will need. You can let your family and friends concentrate on mourning by making your own arrangements and last wishes known. Advance arrangements are called “pre-need funeral planning.” Pre-need planning enables you to make such choices as whether you want […]
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Staying Busy in Retirement
What do you picture when you picture retirement? Maybe you’ve given the matter some thought after a stressful workday that didn’t seem to have enough hours in it. Obviously, you’d sleep until late in the morning, have a leisurely breakfast and then settle in to watch TV all day. Maybe you’d sit on the porch […]
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How to Handle Common Trust Problems
A trust is an estate planning document that disposes of your assets after your death. Trusts are an effective planning tool for those with detailed plans for their worldly goods. Will your trust achieve the purpose for which it was created? Not if you make one of the following errors: Failure to fund. You have to […]
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What Is the Innocent Spouse Rule?
Sometimes, marriage can stymie the financial life of even the savviest person. You go along living your life, working, eating, sleeping — and suddenly you discover that your household paid far too little in taxes. What’s worse, you signed the joint return. Now what? You can request innocent spouse relief to walk away from paying […]
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Pitfalls You Can Avoid in Your Will
Misunderstandings regarding inheritance can cause disagreements. You don’t want your Will to create any conflicts among family members. That’s why you need to watch out for ambiguous wording. Describe all gifts and bequests clearly so everyone knows exactly what you mean. If you think there might be some fighting, include your reasoning for your decisions. […]
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How to Choose a Good Place to Retire
Posted on December 29, 2021 at 8:30 am. When you retire, your needs change. That’s why many people decide to move to a new city at that point. Perhaps you want to move somewhere you’ve always loved but never lived because there were no jobs in your field nearby. Once you’re serious about moving, the […]
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