Penny Stocks: How To Investigate Them and Avoid the Traps

Information is the investor's best tool when it comes to investing wisely. But accurate information about "microcap stocks" -- low-priced stocks issued by the smallest of companies, often called "penny stocks" -- may be difficult to find. Many microcap companies do not file financial reports with the SEC, so it's hard for investors to get the facts about the company's management, products, services, and finances. When reliabwrongdoers can easily spread false information about microcap companies, making profits while creating losses for unsuspecting investors.
le information is scarce,
This Financial Guide gives you the basics about microcap or "penny" stocks, discusses how to find information on them, and points out what "red flags" to watch out for.

How To Make Money on Vacation

How would you like to legally deduct every dime you spend on vacation this year? This financial guide offers strategies that help you do just that.
Tim, who owns his own business, decided he wanted to take a two-week trip around the US. So he did--and was able to legally deduct every dime that he spent on his "vacation." Here's how he did it. 

Roth IRAs: How They Work and How To Use Them

Roth IRAs differ from other tax-favored retirement plans, including other IRAs (called "traditional IRAs"), in that they promise complete tax exemption on distribution. There are other important differences as well, and many qualifications about their use. This Financial Guide shows how they work, how they compare with other retirement devices--and why YOU might want one, or more.

Travel and Entertainment: Maximizing The Tax Benefits

Don't overpay your income taxes by overlooking expenses which you are entitled to deduct. Use this Financial Guide to ensure you are handling your business travel and meal costs in a tax-wise manner.

Getting Out of Financial Trouble: Steps You Can Take

If like thousands of others, you are having trouble paying your debts, it is important to take action. Doing nothing can lead to much larger problems in the future--and even bigger debts, such as the loss of assets such as your house, and a bad credit record. This Financial Guide suggests how you can help improve your relationships with creditors, reduce your debts, better manage your money and get a fresh start.

Merchant Credit Card Abuses: What They Cannot Ask You To Do

Many merchants engrave their own rules to your use of a credit card, usually without the right to do so. What are you required to do and what can you rightfully refuse to do? The Financial Guide explains your rights.

Your Business Succession: How To Plan For It

You have spent a great deal of your lifetime building a business. Now you are ready to transfer the business to a younger generation. This Financial Guide discusses some of the unique issues in planning for and implementing the transfer of the family-owned business.

Buying On Margin: How It Works and What To Watch Out For

"Buying on margin" is borrowing money from your broker to buy a stock and using your investment as collateral. Investors generally use margin to increase their purchasing power so that they can own more stock without fully paying for it. But margin exposes investors to the potential for higher losses.
This Financial Guide discusses the basics of buying on margin, some of the pitfalls inherent in margin buying, whether this financial tool is for you and how you can best use it. 

Asset Allocation: How To Diversify For Maximum Return

Contrary to popular belief, asset allocation, which refers to the types or classes of securities owned, is generally the most important factor in determining the return on your investments, responsible for about 90 percent of the return according to experts. The remaining 10 percent of the return is determined by which particular investments (stock, bond, mutual fund, etc.) you select and when you decide to buy them. 

Your Next Car: Should You Buy Or Lease?

This Financial Guide gives you a framework for deciding whether leasing a car makes sense for you. It explains the meaning of various lease provisions, as well as the initial, ongoing and final costs of leasing. Finally, it gives you the information you need to negotiate the best possible lease.

Buying a Home: What To Do and How To Do It

Once you are ready to buy a home, you will need to be as informed as possible. This guide discusses how much money to save for a down payment, how to work with a real estate agent, how to negotiate, and what you need to know about closing on your new home--including fees and other costs.

Charitable Contributions: How To Give Wisely

Since charities ask for larger and more frequent donations from the public these days, soliciting by mail, telephone, television, and radio, for example, they should be checked out before you donate money or time. Here are some tips on how to maximize your charity dollar and avoid scams.

Annuities: How They Work and When You Should Use Them

Annuities may help you meet some of your mid and long-range goals such as planning for your retirement and for a child's college education. This Financial Guide tells you how annuities work, discusses the various types of annuities, and helps you determine which annuity product (if any) suits your situation. It also discusses the tax aspects of annuities and explains how to shop for both an insurance company and an annuity, once you know which type you'll need.

10 Retirement Saving Tips

1. Save As Much As You Can As Early As You Can.
   Though it's never too late to start, the sooner you begin saving, the more time your money has to grow. Gains each year build on the prior year's -- that's the power of compounding, and the best way to accumulate wealth.
   
2. Set Realistic Goals.
   Project your retirement expenses based on your needs, not rules of thumb. Be honest about how you want to live in retirement and how much it will cost. Then calculate how much you must save to supplement Social Security and other sources of retirement income.
   
   

Starting a Business? Things You Must Know

Starting a new business is a very exciting and busy time. There is so much to be done and so little time to do it in. If you expect to have employees, there are a variety of federal and state forms and applications that will need to be completed to get your business up and running. That's where we can help.