I gave a short discussion of quantitative easing in the second post of my Inflation/Deflation series . I learned recently that the Financial Times web site has a nice explanation of how quantitative easing works to check deflation ; if you're a visual learner, you might find it helpful. You ma ... Read more

There are a number of companies (mostly in high-tech) that reward their employees with a form of deferred compensation called incentive stock options (ISOs). The tax rules for these stock options are complicated, but if you receive this kind of benefit, you need to understand the basic rules for t ... Read more

Periodically the IRS issues a list of tax scams that it considers especially troublesome. Most of the 2009 “Dirty Dozen” Tax Scams involve fraudulent tax filings and other abuses of the tax system. However, the first item on the list is “phishing:” the use of e-mails that ... Read more

Previously I discussed some of the differences between inflationary and deflationary economic environments. I’d like to pick up where I left off, mention one challenging aspect of deflation, and talk a bit about which environment we’re experiencing. Read the full article ... Read the full ... Read more

With the economy in a funk, consumers are becoming more cost-conscious. In response, retail businesses seem to be offering more discounts. Recently I discovered a neat resource for people who like saving money but who'd also like to be able to have a meal at a nice restaurant. Read the full ar ... Read more

Last week, the CFP Board of Standards informed me that I’m now able to use the certification marks that they maintain. Read the full article ... Read the full post ... Read more

Life insurance companies, normally thought of as bastions of stability, have come under greater scrutiny from concern that their holdings of mortgage-backed securities and aggressive annuity guarantees may put their financial stability at risk. Where can you go to determine the strength of your in ... Read more

Many employer-sponsored tax-deferred retirement plans, including 401(k)s, offer a unique investment option called a “stable-value” fund. If you’ve invested in such a fund, you should take a close look at what's inside – its value might not be as stable as you think. Rea ... Read more

The IRS provides a downloadable tax calendar that’s useful for self-employed workers and small business owners. Here’s a quick list of generally important dates: Read the full article ... Read the full post ... Read more

If you haven’t yet made a 2008 contribution to an IRA or Roth IRA, remember that you must do so before April 15th. You can contribute as much as $5,000 to an IRA for 2008 provided you qualify, and you can contribute an additional $1,000 if you turned 50 during 2008. Permitted contributions a ... Read more