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Section 125 Cafeteria Plan

Newsletters

June 2011:
Michigan Tax Reform

April 2011:
Recent Tax Developments

January 2011:
New Items on the 1040

December 2010 #2:
Important Payroll Change for 2011

December 2010 #1:
2010 Tax Relief Act Passes

Planning Tools

Access online content and solutions that facilitate the communication of financial planning knowledge and advice that is current and concise. Choose any of the following subjects for more information.

Business Owner
	Articles
		Benefits and Retirement Plans
Benefit plans for small businesses       Disability income insurance for the self-employed       Group health insurance: a valued employee benefit       Health insurance for the self-employed       Key employee life and disability insurance       Retirement plans for small businesses       Understanding individual 401(k) plans       What employers need to know about workers' compensation insurance
		Starting a Business
Advantages and disadvantages of self-employment       Choosing an entity for your business       Funding a business       Hiring your first employee       Qualifying for the home office deduction       Record keeping for your own business       Starting or buying a business       Tax planning for the self-employed       Tax Aspects of Becoming Self-employed
	Decision Tools
		Benefits and Retirement Plans
401(k) plans       Building a retirement plan for your business       Comparison of types of educational assistance       Individual 401(k) Illustration
		Tax Planning
Accelerating deductions/postponing income       Accelerating income/postponing deductions
	FAQs
		Advertising a Business
How can I get free publicity for my business?       How do I know where to advertise my business?       What is the best form of advertising?
		Home-based Businesses
Can I deduct home office expenses?       If I work at home occasionally, am I entitled to a home office deduction?
Education Planning
	Articles
		529 Plans
529 plans and financial aid eligibility       529 plans vs. other college savings options       529 plans: The ins and outs of contributions and withdrawals       Choosing a state savings plan       Estate planning and 529 plans       Income tax planning and 529 plans       Making changes to your 529 account       Opening a 529 account       The ABCs of 529 plans       Assisting Grandchildren with College Costs
	Decision Tools
		Tax Issues
Summary of tax-advantaged college savings options
	FAQs
		College Costs
Are there any ways to lower the cost of college?       What expenses are included in the annual cost of college?       What is the college inflation rate?
		Education Tax Credits
Now that my child is in college, am I entitled to any education tax credits?       What are the Hope credit and the Lifetime Learning credit?
		Paying For College
I've heard that a grandparent can pay a grandchild's tuition directly to the college without any gift tax problems. Is this true?       Should I take out a home equity loan to pay for my child's tuition?       Should I use my 401(k) to fund my child's college education?       Should I withdraw money from my IRA to pay for my child's college tuition?
		Saving For College
Are government savings bonds risk free?       Are savings bonds a good way to save?       Are state savings plans a good way to save for college?       Can an UGMA/UTMA account reduce my child's financial aid for college?       Do series EE bonds offer any special advantages if used for college savings?       Help! My child is only two years away from college and we haven't saved much. What should we do?       How can I save for my child's college education?       How can we possibly save for retirement and our child's college education at the same time?       Should I establish a trust for my child's college education fund?       Should I open a Coverdell education savings account?       Should I save for college in my name or my child's name?       What are the rules for Coverdell education savings accounts?
		Student Loans
Are my student loan payments tax deductible?       Can I refinance my student loan?       How will I ever pay off my student loans?       I'm having trouble paying my student loans. What should I do?       Is student loan interest deductible?       Should I pay off my student loans early with a home equity loan?
Government Benefits
	Articles
		Social Security
Social Security disability benefits       Social Security retirement benefits       Social Security survivor's benefits       Understanding Social Security
Retirement Planning
	Articles
		Saving for retirement
Annuities and retirement planning       Borrowing or withdrawing money from your 401(k) plan       Choosing a beneficiary for your IRA or 401(k)       Closing a retirement income gap       Deciding what to do with your 401(k) plan when you change jobs       Estimating your retirement income needs       Evaluating an early retirement offer       Retirement planning--the basics       Saving for retirement and a child's education at the same time       Taking advantage of employer-sponsored retirement plans       Understanding defined benefit plans       Understanding IRAs       What to do after you've been automatically enrolled in your company's retirement plan
	Decision Tools
		Retirement Planning Basics
How taxation can affect your retirement funds       Saving for your retirement
	FAQs
		Saving For Retirement
How aggressive should I be when I invest for retirement?       How can I plan for retirement if my employer doesn't offer retirement benefits?       How can we possibly save for retirement and our child's college education at the same time?       How late is too late to start saving for retirement?       How much money should I save for retirement?       How should I structure my retirement portfolio?       I think it's time to start planning for retirement. Where do I begin?       What are catch-up contributions?       What should I do if I determine that my income during retirement won't be enough to meet my retirement expenses?
		Social Security
Are my Social Security benefits subject to income tax?       How can I get an estimate of my Social Security benefits?       I'm getting remarried. How will this affect my Social Security benefits?       Should I retire now at age 62 and collect Social Security benefits, or should I wait until age 65?       What happens if I start collecting Social Security after age 65?       When I retire, how much will I receive from Social Security?       Will my children receive money from Social Security when I die?
Special Situations
	Articles
		Caring For an Aging Parent
Caring for your aging parents       Facing the possibility of incapacity       Medicaid and nursing home care       Medicaid and the principal residence       Medicaid planning basics
		Marriage
Establishing a budget       Getting started: establishing a financial safety net       Merging your money when you marry       Home Sales by Newlyweds
		Planning For Travel
Health insurance for travelers       Rental car insurance       Travel insurance
		Taxes and Gifts
When Are Gifts Taxable?
Tax Planning
	Articles
		General Tax Planning
Am I having enough withheld?       Choosing an income tax filing status       Help! I can't pay my tax bill       Income tax planning and 529 plans       Surviving an audit       Tax benefits of home ownership       Tax planning for income       Tax planning for the self-employed       Taxation of investments       Year-end tax planning
		Tax Credits and Deductions
Education tax credits       Personal deduction planning       Understanding personal tax credits
		Highlights of the Extended Bush Tax Cuts
	FAQs
		Taxes and Home Ownership
Can I deduct the cost of improvements or repairs I've made to my home?       How do I figure the tax on the sale of my home?       I refinanced my principal home last year and paid points. What are points, and can I deduct them on my tax return?       I rent my home out for two weeks each year. Do I have to show this rental income on my federal income tax return?       If I prepay next year's taxes this year, can I deduct them this year?       My town has assessed against me a real estate betterment for new sewer lines installed in my street. May I deduct this amount on my tax return?       We just bought our first home. What can we deduct from the settlement statement?       Tax Impact of a Home Foreclosure
		Taxes and Insurance Proceeds
Are life insurance proceeds income taxable?       I receive disability insurance payments. Are they taxable?