Practice Finance

Not having children may mean you don't have to worry about day-care costs, college tuition, or wedding bills, but it doesn't ensure a comfortable retirement.

This year my wife began working full-time again, so we sent our 8-year-old son to summer day camp. Can we include the cost when figuring our child-care tax credit for 2008?

My brother asked me to be the executor of his estate. Could I be personally liable if I accidentally do something wrong?

My sister asked me to co-sign a loan so she can get a larger amount than she'd qualify for on her own. I trust her to repay the debt fully and on time, but what risks do I face if she doesn't?

Consumer confidence is a good snapshot for how we feel today, but it is not a reliable factor in making long-term financial decisions.

The good job you and other physicians are doing to increase the life expectancy of patients has a downside: Social Security may wind up on life support. Part of the solution may be to increase the retirement age to reflect this greater longevity.

Despite a sagging economy and a weak stock market during the first half of 2008, retirement plan participants increased the amounts they contributed compared to the same period in 2007, according to results of an analysis from Boston-based Fidelity Investments.

According to the terms of a class-action lawsuit, credit bureau TransUnion must provide free credit monitoring to anyone who had an open credit account or open line of credit in the United States during the past 21 years.

I paid $980 each for some $1,000 bonds with a 6 percent coupon. They mature in 10 years, but the issuer can call them earlier at face value. The broker's statement shows a 6.3 percent yield to maturity and says the yield will be higher if the bonds are called. How can that be?

An unfamiliar broker called me to suggest some promising stock investments. I asked him to send me the details in writing, and he followed up with a letter that featured seals of approval from both the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and Federal Trade Commission (FTC). Does that mean these investments are legitimate?

My wife and I are adopting a girl from China, and we'll fly to that country in late December or early January to finalize the process and bring her home. What's the maximum adoption tax credit we can claim on our 2008 return?

I'm thinking about closing some high-interest credit card accounts that I'm no longer using. Will this remove the accounts from my credit record?

A key to assembling a model portfolio is picking solid mutual funds that you can hang onto in all market seasons. Here are are some top actively managed equity mutual funds in five asset categories-large-cap domestic stocks, small-cap domestic stocks, international stocks, real estate investment trusts (REITs), and commodities.

Two legislators want to rid the nation of what they view as a particularly insidious product: debit cards linked to 401(k) accounts.

A recent online survey revealed that nearly one-fourth of potential homebuyers are remaining on the sidelines, expecting housing prices to further deteriorate.

An SEC plan would make municipal bond information free to the public via the Electronic Municipal Market Access system

An auto enthusiast I know says that car manufacturers sometimes have "secret warranties" that cover problems like design flaws. How can I find out about these?

An IRA I set up years ago has a sizable balance, but I'm not sure the investments in it are still appropriate. If I have an investment manager review them and advise me, can I deduct the fees?

I've decided to dump some stocks that have lost money. Since I also want to boost my tax deduction for charitable donations, I may give the shares to my favorite charity or sell them and donate the proceeds. Which approach is best?

I've heard that it's sometimes possible to fly first class for less than an airline's advertised price for such seats. Do you know anything about this?

529 college plans can be an excellent means of savings. They are designed to help families set aside funds for future college costs.

Which sibling can claim a parent as an dependent?

Can I buy an investment from my practice's defined-contribution plan rather than selling it to a third-party for what I feel is an undervalued price?

I'm covered by a retirement plan at work, but my husband isn't. What's the maximum deductible contribution we can make for him to a traditional IRA for 2008?

The price of a stock I bought last month recently plunged 20 percent. I'm a new investor, and just thinking about this makes me anxious. What should I do?