What’s the Best Way for a Parent to Help Pay Off Student Loans?

September 2, 2009

Helping your graduate pay off student loans is a great gift. Discussing your payment options and decisions can make the gift even more valuable.

Making Sense of the Gift Tax

August 26, 2009

Gift tax exclusions can be confusing on many levels. Get the facts—then talk to your advisor. 
 

Tax-free Giving Can Be Good for Both Giver and Receiver

June 3, 2009

Want to give a family member a financial boost but worried about taxes? Relax. Monetary gift giving can be tax-free for both giver and receiver. 
 

Get Someone Started on a Lifetime of Investing

May 27, 2009

A hundred bucks may not seem like much for an investment portfolio—but it might be plenty to get a teenager involved in investing and personal finance.

Yours, Mine and Ours: Investing Together—or Not

December 31, 2008
 
Now that you’re married, should you invest together, too? It can be a good idea, but it doesn’t need to be an all-or-nothing proposition.

He Says It’s His; She Says It’s Theirs

September 11, 2008
 
Can a financial "battle of wills" destroy a marriage? Should it?

Marrying Debt: How to Think About It, How to Pay It Off

July 3, 2008
 
What are the best strategies for a young couple facing a mountain of student loan debt?

Teaching Kids Investing Basics

April 23, 2008

How soon can you teach your kids about investing? Start them young and they’ll be ahead of the game. 

You've Started Saving for the Kids: Now What?

April 10, 2008

What should you do with some (modest) savings for children?
 

Leaving the Nest: What Your Young Adults Need to Know About Money

April 12, 2007

Your 'baby' will be a college freshman next fall. What kind of financial tools (and knowledge) will he or she need?
 

What's a Mother to Do?

September 7, 2006

Lots of women leave the workforce to care for their young children. How do you decide when you need to return to work?
 

Grandfather's Gift Creates Discord

August 24, 2006

Aging parents make choices about disposing of their wealth. Do you have a right to know your parents' plans?
 

Should My Teenager Open an IRA?

August 10, 2006
 
Teenagers who work are eligible to open retirement accounts—and they should! Here's how it works.
 

Helping Kids Get Smart About Advertising

June 14, 2006
 
Your kids get daily exposure to hundreds of media messages to buy, buy, buy. You can help them resist the siren call of advertising.
 

Couples and Money: When One Spouse Earns More

May 11, 2006
 
Your wife earns more than you do—and wants to control household finances. But relationships are partnerships, and decisions should be made together.
 

Managing Your Parents' Money Raises Important Questions

May 4, 2006
 
If your elderly parents depend on you to manage their money, having conversations with your folks about their wishes and needs is essential.
 

Raising Money-Wise Kids: What Your Kids Need to Know About Credit

April 20, 2006
 
Good credit habits are essential for tomorrow's consumers: what to teach your kids the prudent use of a powerful tool.
 

Raising Money-Wise Kids: A Special Five-Part Series College Kids and Money: Budgeting 101

April 13, 2006
 
Spend for a new bike or put money into college savings? Basic budgeting concepts your child should know.
 

Raising Money-Wise Kids: A Special Five-Part Series Encouraging Kids to Save Early

April 6, 2006
 
Even small children can understand the concept of saving. Instill the habit (and mindset) of saving in your kids.
 

Raising Money-Wise Kids: A Special Five-Part Series Kids, Money and Values

March 30, 2006

Your kids get bombarded with all kinds of lessons about money from the media, friends, and family. How do you cultivate a sense of values?
 

Caught in the Middle: Dealing With Financial Pressures From All Sides

March 16, 2006
 
he sandwich generation: caring for your kids and your parents can seriously strain your resources. Remember to put own financial health first.
 

Dealing With an "Unfair" Inheritance

February 9, 2006
 
Inheritance issues can tear families apart. But don't wait until the will is read to deal with it: start the conversations today to help you avoid big conflicts.
 

Estate Planning and Family Harmony

January 26, 2006
 
If one child is named trustee of the parents' estate, how do the other siblings feel? Open communication can foster family harmony.
 

Passing the Torch: Helping a Son Become His Own Investor

January 19, 2006
 
Some people simply don't want to deal with money and investing—so don't force it on them (but do give them the resources they'll certainly need).