Personal Finance

Dealing with debt collectors is becoming a common experience. But what can you do to avoid debt-collector harassment, short of switching off your phone service or allowing your unread mail to pile up on the kitchen counter?

By John Larrabee

Oil prices are rising; reserves of oil, coal and natural gas are being depleted; and the continued use of nonrenewable fuels poses threats to the environment. The answer may be alternative energy, but who's going to pay for it?

By John Barrymore

Tax-free mutual funds are a good investment option for conservative investors, since they have very little risk. Investors save money on taxes and can also easily convert shares into cash.

By Sarah Siddons

Trust funds aren't just for rich kids, although this concept dates back thousands of years. Limited-term trusts can protect your assets from lawsuits and other threats. It's all up to you.

By Sarah Siddons

You might think that with all the litigation taking place these days lawyers would top the list of best-paying gigs. But that's not the case at all. In fact, the best-paying job has a lot to do with making sure you're relaxed, while the worst-paying job has everything to do with ensuring that you're sated.

By John Barrymore

When you clean out your closet, you may donate items to charity or raise some extra cash with a garage sale. But what do you do when you have to clean out an entire house? An estate sale may be the answer you're looking for.

By Sarah Siddons

What goes up most come down. But how much do war, crime and inflation factor into stock market performance -- and is it all psychological? So how can you ride the bull and tame the bear?

By John Barrymore

Working for yourself is challenging and sometimes daunting, but it's the single best decision that you ever made. And being the boss gives you substantial control when choosing a retirement strategy, which may include a Keogh retirement plan.

By Sarah Siddons

It's a sad but common story: A landowner dies, leaving his heirs in a mound of debt and back taxes. What do they do now? An estate freeze trust can prevent the heirs from falling into this extreme burden.

By Sarah Siddons

Investment scams are popular fraud among con artists and can take the form of everything from a too-good-to-be true stock investment to the notorious Nigerian bank account e-mail scheme. So what it is about these cons that have us going against our better judgment? And what does it say about our own capacity for greed?

By John Barrymore

You get a letter in the mail, a letter emblazoned with the gut-wrenching acronym, IRS. You say to yourself: "But I filed on time! I paid all my taxes!"" How does the IRS decide who to audit?

By John Barrymore

A tax shelter sounds like a nice idea. It helps you reduce your tax burden to the IRS. There are many legitimate tax shelters, but some can be used for wrongdoing.

By John Barrymore

You might be on your last dollar, but it's not always a reason to sing the blues. In fact, in the strange world of taxation, your last dollar could actually put you in a higher tax bracket. So what does that mean for you and your money?

By John Barrymore & Kathryn Whitbourne

Charitable contributions are a great way to simultaneously help people in need and give yourself a tax break. But are there restrictions on what you can claim on your taxes?

By John Barrymore

You sign your Form 1040, seal it up in an envelope and send it off to the IRS. But then, you're shuffling through your file cabinet when you come across a W2 you forgot to file. What now?

By John Barrymore

To some people, it may mean clean drinking water or gasoline. Although these are really important commodities, they may or may not qualify as liquid assets. What is as fluid as cash?

By Jane McGrath

You're worth your weight in gold, even though you may not have the cash to show for it yet. But what you can get right now is your net worth.

By Jane McGrath

Imagine having a money club with your neighbors to earn money from its profits, and to finance your own mortgages. That's why S&Ls were created, although many folded during the 1980s and 90s.

By John Barrymore

Your finances are in the red, and you don't know where to turn. Agencies specializing in non-profit debt consolidation promise to help you out but you wonder if it's a scam.

By John Barrymore

You may already know that you need to pay property taxes on your real estate. But what about your car, the new boat you just bought, or even Fido? Depending on what state you live in, you could have to pay personal property taxes.

By Sarah Siddons

With just a few clicks, keep tabs on your investments, get the latest market news and peek at the pay stubs of high-paid CEOs. Google Finance offers these features when you set up your personal portfolio.

By John Barrymore

There's more to gold and platinum than just bling-bling. These and other precious metals can be alternative investments that put ching-ching in your pockets in the long run through a precious metals mutual fund.

By Sarah Siddons

If you've been slapped with an overdraft fee greater than your check or debit charge, you may wonder whether you need all your money in the bank. There are options to banking.

By Jane McGrath

Buying your first home can a dream come true, but it can quickly turn into a nightmare. Realistic planning is key to avoiding the pitfalls that await first time homebuyers.

By Jane McGrath

With so much information available online through public records, almost anyone can find out your personal information like your home's floor plan and where your children go to school. Privacy trusts can shield your information.

By Sarah Siddons