Business Owners

B1 - Tax Planning for the Self-Employed
As a self-employed individual, you have a number of income tax planning opportunities, some of which are not available to employees. This discussion provides a brief overview of some of the tax planning opportunities you may wish to consider.

B2 - Tax Planning for the Business Owners
When starting a business, you must consider a number of tax-related issues. Although business tax planning is a complicated area, it is essential to understand three major topics: tax consequences when the business is formed, tax consequences when the business generates income or loss, and tax consequences of business distributions. Additionally, you may wish to consider whether your chosen form of business will offer you opportunities to split your income tax liability among family members, thereby potentially lowering your overall family tax bill.

B3 - Employer Retirement Plans for Business Owners
Perhaps you are self-employed or own a small business. Or, you may be directly involved in running a corporation or a tax-exempt organization. In any of these cases, you generally have the option of establishing a retirement plan in which you and/or your employees may participate. One of the main advantages of a retirement plan is that it promotes regular savings for the future. Having a good plan can also help you to attract and retain quality employees, and to maximize employee productivity.
Non qualified deferred compensation plans

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Education Planning

EDP1 - College Savings Options
It is important for parents to start putting money aside for college as early as possible. But where should you put your money? There are many possibilities, each with varied features. For example, some options offer tax advantages, some are more costly to establish, some charge management fees, some require parental income to be below a certain level, and some impose penalties if the money is not used for college.

EDP2 - Saving for College and Retirement
Saving for college can become a retirement planning challenge. With limited resources how should one balance the two goals and what options are available.

EDP3 - Financial Aid
There are different types, different sources, and different formulas for evaluating your child's eligibility. Here are some of the basics to help you get started.
Education Tax Credits and Deductions

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Estate Planning

EP1 - Introduction to Estate Planning
What is estate planning, what does estate planning entail and who should do estate planning.

EP2 - Estate Taxes
An overview of the different taxes that may apply to the transfer of an estate.

EP3 - Trusts
Describes the purpose and uses of numerous types of trusts.

EP4 - Probate
Describes the process and costs associated with passing an estate through probate.

EP5 - Providing for Children of a Previous Marriage
Discusses the challenges of providing for a surviving spouse and providing for the children of a previous marriage and provides possible solutions to the dilemma.

EP6 - Settling an Estate
Outlines the processes and procedures to settle an estate.

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Investment Planning

IP1 - Understanding Risk
Helps you to understand the correlation between risk and return and discussed avenues to mitigate ris.

IP2 - Designing and Managing an Investment Portfolio
Designing and managing an investment portfolio refers to a step-by-step process that helps you to pursue your investment objectives.

IP3 - Market and Investment Evaluation Methods
Attempts to forecast stock prices typically take one of two approaches--the fundamental analysis approach or the technical analysis approach. Whereas fundamental analysis presumes that real factors (such as a firm's profitability) will govern stock prices, technical analysis asserts that market trends can be used to project future prices.

IP4 - Investment Tax Planning
Tax planning can help you reduce the tax cost of your investments. Once you've created an investment plan to work toward your various financial goals, you should take advantage of the tax rules to ensure that you maximize the after-tax return on your investments.

IP5 - Alternative Asset Classes
Beyond the three primary asset classes--stocks, bonds, and cash-- many other types of investments can be used to diversify investment portfolios. The term "alternative assets" is highly flexible. It may include specific physical assets, such as natural resources or real estate, or methods of investing, such as hedge funds or private equity.

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Retirement Planning

RP1 - Saving for Your Retirement
A discussion of major considerations in saving for retirement and an overview of types of vehicles that can be used in saving for retirement.

RP2 - Social Security Retirement Benefits
Outlines the benefits, eligibility of the Social Security system.

RP3 - Optimizing Your Social Security Retirement Benefits
Discusses strategies to get the most out of the Social Security system.

RP4 - Transitioning into Retirement
Outlines financial and non-financial issues and factors to consider when contemplating retirement.

RP5 - Healthcare in Retirement
Outlines and discusses what healthcare benefits are available in retirement.

RP6 - Considering an offer to Retire Early
Outlines items to consider including severance payments, bridging, medical coverage, tax implications of retirement plans and other topics to consider.

RP7 - Net Unrealized Appreciation
If you participate in a 401(k), ESOP or other qualified retirement plan that allows you to invest in your employers stock, you need to know about net unrealized appreciation.

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OTHER

OWPI - Wealth Due to Inheritance
If you're the beneficiary of a large inheritance, you may find yourself suddenly wealthy. Even if you expected the inheritance, you may be surprised by the size of the bequest or the diverse assets you've inherited. You'll need to evaluate your new financial position, learn to manage your sizable assets, and consider the tax consequences of your inheritance, among other issues.

OCAP2 - Caring for an Aging Parent
Caring for your aging parents is something you hope you can handle when the time comes, but something you probably hope you never have to do. Caring for your aging parents means helping them plan for the future, and this can be overwhelming, both physically and emotionally. When the time comes for you to take care of your parents, you may be certain of only two things: Your parents need you, and you need help.

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Timely Topics of Interest

Check here regularly for legislative and tax updates and other timely topics.

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