Financial Literacy for All Americans

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• Debt Management
  • Use Credit Wisely
    • How do I establish or rebuild my credit?
    • What's on my credit report and how do I order one?
    • Manage Your Debt and Avoid Money Troubles
    • Payday Loans Create Debt Quicksand
    • What are some common credit card and loan scams?
  • Learn about Credit Cards
    • Intro to Credit Cards
    • How to Choose the Right Credit Card
    • Reputation, Not Just Rates, Important When Choosing a Credit Card
    • When You Should and Shouldn't Purchase with Plastic
    • Financial Calculators Provide Quick Answers for Credit Card Users
    • How to Dispute a Credit Card Charge
  • More about Borrowing Money
    • To Borrow or Not to Borrow: Things to Consider Before Taking Out a Loan
    • Which Type of Loan Meets Your Needs?
    • How can I consolidate my debt?
    • Personal Loans Come from Many Sources
    • Careful Shopping Leads to Best Loan
  • Dealing with Creditors and Debt
    • 5 Steps to Getting and Staying Out of Debt
    • Debt Inventory
    • DebtBlaster Calculator
    • What to Do When You Can't Make the Loan Payments
    • Sample Letter to Creditors
    • Credit Counseling Can Help You Deal with Your Debt
    • What is bankruptcy Chapter 7 and 13?
  • Improve Your Credit Score
    • A Good Credit Report Gives You More Financial Muscle
    • Beware of Credit Repair Scams
    • How do I correct errors on my credit report?
    • How do I improve my credit score?
• Estate Planning
  • Survivor Planning
    • 5 Steps to Estate Planning
    • Personal Estate Planning Worksheet
    • How to Choose an Estate Planning Attorney
• Home Ownership
  • Thinking about Buying a Home
    • Renting vs. Buying: Which Is Right for You?
    • What are the tax benefits of owning a home?
    • Tax Break Estimator
    • How do I prepare to buy my first home?
    • 5 Steps to Buying a Home
    • Motivated Homebuyers Can Come Up with a Down Payment
    • Acquiring Your Castle: A Step-By-Step Guide to Buying a Home
    • Save Money by Avoiding Big Home Buying Blunders
    • Real Estate Glossary
  • Mortgages: Secured Loans on Your Property
    • Mortgage Basics for First-Time Homebuyers
    • Mortgage Payment Calculator
    • What should I know about home equity loans?
    • Mortgage Loan Comparison
    • The Costs and Benefits of Home Equity Loans
    • How do I decide if I should refinance my mortgage?
    • Refinance Calculator
    • What is foreclosure?
  • The Escrow Process
    • Escrow Basics for First-Time Homebuyers
    • Understanding the Fine Print of a Purchase Offer Takes the Fear Out of Buying
    • Yours, Mine and Ours: Protect Your Rights by Knowing How to Hold and Transfer Property Title
  • The Tax Benefits of Home Ownership
    • What are the tax benefits of owning a home?
    • Tax Break Estimator
    • Will I have to pay taxes when I sell my house?
  • Existing Homeowners
    • Proactive Home Maintenance and Improvement Pays Off
    • Avoiding the Most Common Homeownership Mistakes
    • What Is Your Home Worth?
    • Does It Pay To Refinance?
    • Refinance Calculator
    • How to Sell Your Home
    • Will I have to pay taxes when I sell my house?
• Identity Theft
  • Protecting Yourself
    • Identity Theft 101
    • Avoid Becoming a Victim of Identity Theft
    • Protecting Your Identity Online
  • What to Do If You Are a Victim
    • What if I am the victim of identity theft?
    • How to Survive Identity Theft
    • Recovering From Identity Theft
  • Tips to Avoid Scams and Identity Theft
    • What to Know About Rent-to-Own
    • Payday Loans Create Debt Quicksand
    • Advance-Fee Loan Scams: Don't Fall Victim to This False Promise
    • Scams 101
    • Beware of Credit Repair Scams
• Insurance
  • General Insurance
    • How to Choose an Insurance Agent
  • Auto Insurance
    • Introduction to Auto Insurance
    • The Different Parts of an Auto Policy
    • Five Things to be Aware of with Auto Insurance
    • The Right Auto Insurance for You
  • Disability Insurance
    • Introduction to Disability Insurance
    • The Different Features of Your Disability Policy
    • Buying the Right Disability Insurance for You
    • Five Things to be Aware About Disability Insurance
  • Health Insurance
    • Introduction to Health Insurance
    • Different Kinds of Health Insurance Policies
    • Choosing the Right Health Insurance Plan for You
    • Health Insurance: Five Things to Watch out For
  • Life Insurance
    • Introduction to Life Insurance
    • How Much Life Insurance Do You Really Need?
    • Life Insurance Needs Worksheet
    • What Kind of Life Insurance Policy is Right for You?
    • Life Insurance: Five Things to Watch out For!
  • Long-term Care Insurance
    • Introduction to Long-Term Care Insurance
    • The Features of a Long-Term Care Policy
    • The Right Long-Term Care Insurance Policy for You
    • Five Things to Consider About Long-Term Care Insurance
• Investing
  • Learn the Basics
    • Intro to Asset Allocation: The Right Balance Positions Your Portfolio for Prosperity
    • Risk Tolerance Profile and Asset Allocation Worksheet
    • With Dollar-Cost Averaging, Time Is on Your Side
    • When (and How) Should You Rebalance Your Portfolio?
    • An Introduction to Mutual Funds
    • Quick Reference Guide to Stocks, Bonds and Mutual Funds
    • 5 Steps to Smart Investing
    • How To Choose a Financial Planner?
    • Glossary of Investment Terms
  • Making Investment Choices
    • An Overview of Mutual Fund Types
    • Mutual Fund Prospectus Answers Questions for Prospective Investors
    • An Intro to Index Funds
    • Bond Funds Offer Investors Income and Stability
    • What is an annuity?
  • Evaluate and Monitor Choices
    • Diversification Allows Investors to Improve Returns, Reduce Risk
    • Choosing the Right Funds for Your Portfolio
    • Fine-Tune Your Portfolio with Sector Funds
    • Your Mutual Fund Statement Is Not Junk Mail!
    • Stay In or Bail Out? Monitoring Your Mutual Funds
  • Investing and Taxes
    • Taxing Matters for Mutual Fund Investors
    • What to Know Before You Redeem Fund Shares
    • Be a Tax-Savvy Investor!
• Investing in Real Estate
  • Making Sound Investment Decisions
    • What are the pros and cons of investing in rental real estate?
    • Location, Location, Location: How to Choose a Rental Property
    • 5 Mistakes Real Estate Investors Make
    • Don't Want to Go it Alone? A Real Estate Investment Trust or REIT may be the Answer for You
  • Real Estate Investment Tips
    • Not Just for the Rich and Famous: Buying a Second Home or Vacation Condo
    • Buying Foreclosed Property: a Good Investment or a Financial Nightmare?
    • How Property Developers Do It: Inside Tips for Generating Profits in Real Estate
  • Taxes and Investment Property
    • Yes, You Can Write That Off: Top Tax Tips for Real Estate Investors
    • How to Postpone Capital Gains Taxes in Real Estate
• Kids & Money
  • Teaching Kids Money Basics
    • From Toddler to Teen: Age-Appropriate Money Lessons for Kids
    • The Best Lesson for Kids is Experience
    • Teach Kids the Basics of Borrowing
    • Credit for Your Kids: Financial Tool or Debt Sentence
  • Tips for Kids and Money
    • Make Investing a Part of Your Kids' Financial Education
    • Charity Begins at Home: Teaching Kids to Give
    • Is Your Child Ready for a Job?
    • Summer Jobs Teach Kids About Taxes
  • College Planning
    • 5 Steps to Education Planning
    • College Savings Plans
    • Education Savings Estimator
  • Resources for Parents
    • Parents Are in a Unique Position to Teach Financial Lessons That Last a Lifetime
    • A Parents' Guide to Allowances
    • Saving for Goals Calculator
• Money Management
  • Take Control of Cash
    • How do I create a budget?
    • Expense Tracker
    • Easy Spending Plan
    • (Mostly) Painless Ways to Save Money
    • Five of the Most Common (and Harmful) Money Mistakes
    • 5 Steps to Successful Money Management
  • Tips for Budgeting and Saving
    • Tips on Paying Yourself First
    • (Mostly) Painless Ways to Save Money
    • Tips for Managing Money with Your Spouse
    • Should You Save or Pay Off Your Debt?
    • Money Management Tips That Work
  • Save for Goals
    • Setting SMART Goals Worksheet
    • Saving for Goals Calculator
    • November 2007: Saving $1 a Day Can Help Your Finances
    • Daily Savings Calculator
    • How do 401(k) contributions lower my income taxes?
    • May 2008: Your Debt Free Summer Vacation
  • Life Changes
    • How do I handle my finances if I lose my job?
    • Financial Management Tips for the Single Parent
    • Bouncing Back Financially from a Divorce
    • Financial Tips for Widows or Widowers
• Retirement Planning
  • Accumulating Your Nest Egg
    • Intro to Retirement Planning: Basics Are Key to Achieving the Dream
    • How Much Will You Need to Retire the Way You Want?
    • Which Retirement Accounts Are Right for You?
    • Retirement Plan Estimator
    • How to Retire Early
    • Late Starters Can Achieve Their Retirement Dream
    • How do I prepare for retirement?
  • Taking Distributions
    • Six Steps to Making the Right Choice for a Retirement Plan Distribution
    • Understanding the Choices Your Beneficiaries Have With Your Retirement Accounts
    • Distribution Rules for Retirement Accounts
    • How Long Will My Money Last?
    • What if I retire before age 59 1/2?
    • Tax Issues for Retirement Planning
    • What are the taxes and penalties for withdrawals from a retirement account?
    • When should I withdraw money early from my retirement plan?
    • Exceptions to Penalties on Retirement Plan Distributions
    • Avoid Big Costs When Moving Your Retirement Plan
  • Company Sponsored Plans
    • What is a 401(k) and why should I participate?
    • What is a 403(b) and why should I participate?
    • 7 Secrets of 401(k) Success
    • 457 Plan Basics
    • SEP, SIMPLE, and Qualified Plans Provide Small-Company Workers with Big Retirement Benefits
    • Qualified Plan Calculator
    • What are the advantages and disadvantages of taking a retirement plan loan?
    • What is a financial hardship withdrawal?
    • What can I do with my 401(k) if I leave my job?
  • Individual Retirement Plans
    • IRA Basics: Is the Traditional or Roth Right for You?
    • How Do You Decide Which Type of IRA to Invest in?
    • Should You Convert Your Traditional IRA to a Roth?
    • What is an IRA rollover and how does it work?
    • IRA Calculator
• Small Business
  • Start Your Business Right
    • Starting Your Business: A Checklist
    • 13 Sources of Funding for Your Small Business
    • Show Me the Money: Three Steps to Getting a Small Business Loan
    • Creative Benefits to Help You Attract and Keep Great Employees
  • Keep It Running Smooth
    • Understand Your Company's Fiscal Health with Accurate Financial Statements
    • The Pros and Cons of Leasing Business Equipment
    • 7 Ways to Keep Your Business on a Profitable Path
  • Take Advantage of Tax Breaks
    • Small Business Tax Basics
    • Turning Your Home-Based Business into a Tax Shelter
  • Save for Retirement
    • Employee Benefits for Your Small Business
    • Profit Sharing Plans for Beginners
    • Money Purchase Pension Plans for Beginners
    • Big Retirement Plans for Small Businesses
    • Self-Employed Needn't Say Good-bye to Benefits
    • Comparison Chart of Retirement Plans
  • Provide Great Benefits
    • Paid Time Off Merits a Closer Look
    • Workers' Compensation Protects Injured Employees
    • Understand Your Healthcare Benefits, Make Better Choices
    • Employer's Life and Disability Insurance Provide Crucial Protection
    • Flexible Spending Accounts Offer Tax Savings for Workers
    • Troubles? Worries? Your Company's EAP Can Help You Cope
    • Parental Leave Law Makes Time for Families
    • How Does Your Benefits Package Stack Up?
    • What to Do With Your Benefits When You Leave Your Job
  • Use Company Stock
    • Intro to Employee Stock Purchase Plans (ESPPs): Key Facts You Need to Know
    • ESOP Basics: How You Become An Owner of the Company
    • Company Stock Is an Employee Benefit with Potential
    • Taking Care of Taxes and Your Employee Stock Purchase Plan (ESPP)
• Stock Options
  • Understanding Stock Options
    • Intro to Employee Stock Options: Start With the Basics
    • What You Need To Know About Non-qualified Stock Options (NQSOs)
    • All About ISOs; Understanding Incentive Stock Options
    • How Life Events Can Impact Your Employee Stock Options
  • Stock Option Tips
    • Get Some (Stock Options) Exercise
    • Six Smart Financial Planning Moves For Employee Stock Options
  • Taxes and Stock Options
    • Alternative Minimum Tax (AMT) Can Be a Part of Your Incentive Stock Option Package
    • Non-Qualified Stock Option (NQSO) Calculator
• Taxes
  • Filing the Forms
    • The ABCs of Filing Your Taxes
    • Computers Make Tax Filing a Do-It-Yourself Project
    • When Your 1040EZ Is Too Hard: Getting Help from the Tax Pros
    • Helpful Tax Resources
    • What filing status should I use if my marital status has changed?
    • What if I need to file for an extension?
    • What tax issues do I have as a non-citizen or non-resident?
    • How can I estimate the right amount of tax withholding?
    • 2009 Form W4
    • Tax Basics Glossary
  • Paying Your Bill
    • Correct Withholding Means No Tax Bill and No Interest-Free Loan
    • How to Settle with the IRS When You Can't Pay Your Tax Bill
  • Planning for Savings
    • 5 Steps to Tax Planning
    • Avoiding the Most Common Homeownership Mistakes
    • Five Strategies for Reducing Your Tax Bill
    • Adjustments, Exemptions, Deductions and Credits Reduce Your Tax Bill Four Ways
    • The Tax Consequences of Being a Couple
    • Tax Breaks for Homeowners and Parents
    • Tax Break Estimator
    • Tax Issues for Retirement Planning
    • Pre-Tax Savings Calculator
    • Be a Tax-Savvy Investor!
  • Updating Your Information
    • Latest Tax Code Update
    • Current Tax Rate Table
    • Tax Records: To Save or Not to Save
    • "A" Is for "Audit" and How to "Avoid" One
    • Life Event Tax Chart
    • Helpful Tax Resources

• Your Money Minute #46: The Best of Your Money Minute (December 1, 2011)
• Your Money Minute #45: Extreme Retirement Planning Part 3: 4 Keys to Saving While Spending (November 1, 2011)
• Your Money Minute #44: Extreme Retirement Planning Part 2: Tips for Extreme Saving
• Your Money Minute #43: Extreme Retirement Planning part 1
• Your Money Minute #42: 5 Tips for a More Fulfilling Retirement
• Your Money Minute #41: Investing for Retirement: The 3 Things You Really Need to Know (part 3 of 3)
• Your Money Minute #40: Investing for Retirement: The 3 Things You Really Need to Know (part 2 of 3)
• Your Money Minute #39: Investing for Retirement: The 3 Things You Really Need to Know (part 1 of 3)
• Your Money Minute #38: 3 Things Every Parent Should Teach Their Kids about Good Money Habits
• Your Money Minute #37: Dos and Don’ts for Using the Internet in Home Buying
• Your Money Minute #36: Smart Strategies to Get a College Degree without Going Broke
• Your Money Minute #35: A Growing Threat of Financial Illiteracy in America
• Your Money Minute #34: Delayed Gratification Can Be a Money Saving Technique
• Your Money Minute #33: 5 Simple Steps to Sell Your Gold for Extra Cash
• Your Money Minute #32: Simple Money Saving Tips
• YMM31: Fixing Your Credit History … for Good (September 1, 2010)
• YMM30: Maximize Your Spare Time to Fulfill Your Dreams (August 1, 2010)
• YMM29: Win Your Battle against Debt (July 1, 2010)
• YMM28: Home Buying Opportunities and How to Take Advantage of Them (June 1, 2010)
• YMM27: Credit Counseling: Savior or Scam? (May 1, 2010)
• YMM26: 3 Common, Easily Avoidable, Tax Preparation Mistakes (April 1, 2010)
• YMM25: The Hard Truth about Hardship Withdrawals (March 1, 2010)
• YMM24: Making Your Financial New Year’s Resolutions Stick (February 1, 2010)
• YMM23 Special Edition for Parents: Four Essential Components for Your Tween/Teen to Be Money Wise for Life (January 1, 2010)
• YMM23: Drowning in Your Mortgage – What are some options? (January 1, 2010)
• YMM22: Roth Conversion – Window of Opportunity in 2010 (December 1, 2009)
• YMM21: Drowning in Too Much Information? – A Handy Guide to Financial Planning (November 1, 2009)
• YMM20: Beyond the Basics: Do More with Your Money (October 1, 2009)
• YMM19: A Better Way to Budget (September 1, 2009)
• YMM18: Are Your Finances in the Danger Zone? (August 1, 2009)
• YMM17: Things to Know When Looking for a Financial Adviser (July 1, 2009)
• YMM16: Adapting to the Changing Credit Climate (June 1, 2009)
• YMM15: What Is a Ponzi Scheme? (May 1, 2009)
• YMM14: Taking the Emotion out of Investing (April 1, 2009)
• YMM13: Dealing with Serious Credit Card Debt (March 1, 2009)
• YMM12: Five Smart Money Moves (February 1, 2009)
• YMM11: Teaching Kids to Be Money Smart (January 1, 2009)
• YMM10: Earning Extra Income (December 1, 2008)
• YMM9: How to Have a Happy Holiday, without Going Broke (November 1, 2008)
• YMM8: Tips for Avoiding Foreclosure (October 1, 2008)
• YMM7: Managing Cash Flow (September 1, 2008)
• YMM6: Credit Myths De-bunked (August 1, 2008)
• YMM5: Long-term Savings Debate: Buy a Home or Save for Retirement (July 1, 2008)
• YMM4: Do I Really Need a Will? (June 1, 2008)
• YMM3: What You Should Know Before Buying a New or Used Car (May 1, 2008)
• YMM2: The Most Effective Way to Reduce Your Debt (April 1, 2008)
• YMM1: Tips to Keep Identity Thieves at Bay (March 1, 2008)

• Benefits Planning: Employee Misconceptions
• Retirement Preparedness: What Employees Need to Know About Investing
• Why Financial Knowledge Isn’t Enough
• I’m Thinking the Real Estate Market is Due for a Strong Turnaround. Should I Buy Investment Property?
• Workplace Financial Stress: A Major Cause of Health Problems
• Getting Out of Debt By Thinking About It: I Don’t Think So
• 8 Reasons Why it’s Now Better to Rent
• Financial Wellness: Getting Started by Taking it from Concept to Practice
• Fact Check Your Investments
• Workplace Financial Education: America Saves Week
• Bring Your Lunch to Work and Send Your Kid to College
• Investing: The Benefits of Starting Young
• Financial Education: Estate Planning — Three Things to do in an Hour
• A Case for Rebalancing
• Financial Planning for the Dream Vacation
• Financial Education in the Workplace: The 2% Decision
• 3 Actions to Take in an Hour to Prepare for Emergencies
• 4 Steps to Take if Tax Cuts Affect Your Retirement
• Offering 529 Plans via Payroll as an Employee Benefit
• 3 Actions to Take in an Hour to Build Wealth