Editor's Note: This is the last in our six-part No-Stress Guide to Filing Your Taxes. You can start at the beginning with Part 1: Your Tax Document Checklist. For most taxpayers, completing your tax return simply means mailing off your 1040 … [Read more...]
Special Tax Situations: Audits, Extensions, Payment Plans, and Quarterly Payments
February 23, 2012 by
Need a Tax Break? Here’s a List
February 18, 2012 by
Everybody wants some tax breaks...or a few more. When it comes to taxes these breaks---credits, adjustments, and deductions---are always your friend. They’ll lower your bottom line, reducing the amount you owe or increasing your tax refund. So … [Read more...]
Common Tax Schedules: The No-Stress Guide To Filing Your Taxes, Part 4
February 9, 2012 by
We're in the middle of the "No-Stress Guide to Filing Your Taxes". We've already covered: A tax document checklist: A guide to get you started Choosing the best method to file your return Tax software: When to use and how to choose Today, … [Read more...]
Your Automatic Investment Plan: How to Build a No-Hassle Money Management System, Part 4 of 4
February 7, 2012 by
Over the past couple of weeks, I’ve laid out three steps to help you build a hassle-free money management system: How to manage your spending without a traditional budget. How to create a bank account buffer to eliminate the risk of … [Read more...]
Betterment Review: A Simple Investing Solution
February 1, 2012 by
Update: Betterment just announced lower fees. Their fees have dropped to between 0.15% and 0.35% a year depending on your account balance (as long as you invest $100 a month). This makes them competitive with the lowest-priced mutual funds and ETFs. … [Read more...]
Tax Return Preparation Options: Calculator, Computer, or CPA?
January 26, 2012 by
As you gather necessary tax documents and prepare to start your tax return, it's time to decide how you are going to file. And these days, you have several choices. You can go old school and break out the pencil and paper. You can buy tax … [Read more...]
How to Pick a Mutual Fund
December 27, 2011 by
You shouldn't have to worry about picking mutual funds if you don't want to. That is, if you have zero interest in immersing yourself in fund performance data and anlayst research, you will do best with a simple investing strategy: invest in an … [Read more...]
Understanding What Mutual Funds Cost
December 19, 2011 by
So, you found the perfect mutual fund for your investment goals. Before you invest, do you know how much that mutual fund costs? Last week, I wrote a beginner’s guide to mutual funds. As I said, mutual funds are ideal investments for new … [Read more...]
How Mutual Funds Can Help You Start Investing
December 13, 2011 by
I hope you'll read this post, but I'm nervous you may not. Why? Because the word “mutual fund” is in the headline. I mean, really, even if you’re into investing, talking about mutual funds is about as exciting as watching a turtle cross the … [Read more...]
How to Choose a Financial Advisor
November 11, 2011 by
Occasionally I like to open up the site to guest bloggers to offer perspective on things I can't. Today I've got a post on choosing a financial advisor from Neal Frankle. Neal is a blogging buddy of mine, a Certified Financial Planner in Los Angeles, … [Read more...]
