Monthly Newsletter

This month's newsletter

 Life Events

Getting Married  GETTING MARRIED (OR DIVORCED): Some Financial Guidelines  How To Prepare Financially For A First Marriage  How To Prepare Financially For A Divorce  How To Prepare Financially For Re-Marriage  INFOSOURCES  External Sites  Getting Married  Marriage and the Financial Considerations  Planning a Wedding  Wedding Checklist  Registry Checklist  Getting Divorced  Basic Information  Divorce Laws by State  DivorceNet  Divorce Online  Divorce Source  LIFE INSURANCE: How Much And What Kind To Buy  Do You Need Life Insurance?  Types of Insurance  How Insurance Products Differ  How to Shop for Insurance  Shopping for a Policy  INFOSOURCES  Related Financial Guides  ESTATE PLANNING: How to Get Started  External Sites  AARP Life Insurance  Calculators  Life Insurance Calculator  FAQs  What are the major differences in legal treatment between married and unmarried couples?  What estate and financial planning steps are particularly important for unmarried couples?  Do married couples need more insurance?  If you change your name after marriage, who should be notified?  Do I need to update my will when I get married?  What are the tax implications of marriage?  How can married couples hold property?  Planning Aids  Becoming A Parent  BECOMING A PARENT: The Financial Considerations  What it Will Cost You  Birth through Infancy  Ages One through Six  Ages Six through Twelve  Ages Thirteen through Eighteen  Teaching Your Kids How to Handle Money  Savings and Investment  Taxes and Credit  INFOSOURCES  External Sites  Adoption Information  Child Care Search  Foster Parent  Improve Your Parenting Skills  National Child Care Association  Raising Children  THE "NANNY TAX" RULES: What To Do If You Have Household Employees  Who is a Household Employee?  Can Your Employee Legally Work in the United States?  Do You Need to Pay Employment Tax?  State Unemployment Taxes  Social Security and Medicare Taxes  Federal Unemployment (FUTA) Tax  Do You Need to Withhold Federal Income Tax?  How Do You Handle the Earned Income Credit (EIC)?  How Do You Make Tax Payments?  What Forms Must You File?  What Records Must You Keep?  INFOSOURCES  Related Financial Guides  SELLING YOUR HOME: How to Minimize the Tax on the Gain  HIGHER EDUCATION COSTS: How To Get The Maximum Deduction  ANNUITIES: How They Work And When You Should Use Them  ROTH IRAs: How they Work And How To Use Them  RETIREMENT PLAN DISTRIBUTIONS: HOW To Take Them  RETIREMENT PLAN DISTRIBUTIONS: WHEN To Take Them  MUTUAL FUND TAXATION: How To Cut The Tax Bite  RECORDKEEPING AND CASH FLOW: Effective Techniques  LIFE INSURANCE: How Much And What Kind To Buy  Do You Need Life Insurance?  Types of Insurance  How Insurance Products Differ  How to Shop for Insurance  Shopping for a Policy  INFOSOURCES  Related Financial Guides  ESTATE PLANNING: How to Get Started  External Sites  AARP Life Insurance  Calculators  Life Insurance Calculator  FAQs  Raising a Child  How much will it cost me to raise a child?  What costs can I expect during the first year?  How much will I spend on my child during ages one through six?  How much will I spend on my child during ages six through twelve?  How much will I spend on my child during ages thirteen through eighteen?  How can I teach my kids good financial skills?  Saving for College  When should I start saving for my child's education?  How much will my child's college education cost?  How should I invest my child's college fund?  What is the "kiddie tax"?  What is an Education IRA and who is eligible for one?  Planning Aids  Preparing for College  YOUR CHILD'S COLLEGE EDUCATION: How To Finance It  Savings And Investment Strategies  If You're Caught Short  Sources of Financial Aid  Planning Techniques  How to Reduce Taxes  INFOSOURCES  Related Financial Guides  INVESTMENT BASICS: What You Should Know  ANNUITIES: How They Work and When You Should Use Them  HOME EQUITY LOANS: How To Shop For The One That's Best For You  HIGHER EDUCATION COSTS: How To Get The Maximum Deduction  External Sites  Apply for Financial Aid  Career Search  College Credit Education Loan Program  Criteria used to evaluate college applicants  Select the best college  How Do Colleges Rank?  HIGHER EDUCATION COSTS: How To get the Maximum Deduction  Coverdell Education Savings Accounts (Section 530 Programs)  Qualified Tuition Programs (Section 529 Programs)  Traditional and Roth IRAs  Education Savings Bonds  Education Credits  Qualified Tuition and Related Expenses Deduction  Employer-Provided Education Assistance  Student Loans  INFOSOURCES  Related Financial Guides  SELLING YOUR HOME: How To Minimize The Tax On The Gain  ANNUITIES: How They Work And When You Should Use Them  ROTH IRAs: How they Work And How To Use Them  RETIREMENT PLAN DISTRIBUTIONS: HOW To Take Them  RETIREMENT PLAN DISTRIBUTIONS: WHEN To Take Them  MUTUAL FUND TAXATION: How To Cut The Tax Bite  RECORDKEEPING AND CASH FLOW: Effective Techniques  FAQs  When should I start saving for my child's education?  How much will my child's college education cost?  How should I invest my child's college fund?  If you have insufficient savings for your child's education, what should you do?  What types of grants are available for college?  What types of loans are available for college?  How can I increase the amount of financial aid my child is entitled to?  How can I save taxes on college savings?  Planning Aids  Developing a Financial Plan  YOUR FINANCIAL PLAN: Getting Started On a Secure Future  Identify Your Goals  Determine Your Net Worth  Determine Your Cash Flow  Plan to Achieve Your Goals  Establish How Much You'll Need  Put the Plan Into Action  INFOSOURCES  Related Financial Guides  DISABILITY INSURANCE: What To Look For  DISABILITY BENEFITS: How To Get All You're Entitled To  CAR INSURANCE: 10 Cost-Cutters To Save You Money  HOMEOWNERS' INSURANCE: How To Get The Best Coverage and Value  ASSET ALLOCATION: How To Diversify for Maximum Return  External Sites  Social Security Administration  Develop a Financial Plan  A Financial Health Checkup  Calculators  Personal Financing  How much car can I afford?  How long will it take to pay off my credit cards?  How much do I need to save for college?  How long will it take to save for a major purchase?  Simple Loan Calculator  How Much Can I Borrow?  What Interest Rate Would I Need?  How Long Would it Take to Pay Off a Loan  What Would My Payments Be?  Home Financing  Should I refinance my home mortgage?  What would my payments be for a fixed rate loan?  What would my payments be for an adjustable rate loan?  What would my payments be for a balloon loan?  Should I rent my home or buy?  Which loan is better, Fixed or Adjustable?  What would I save if I make extra payments?  How much house can I qualify for?  How much house can I afford?  Advanced mortgage calculator  BUDGETING: How To Prepare a Workable Plan  Step 1: Analyze Your Income And Expenses  Step 2: Set Budgeting Goals  Step 3: Create Your Budget  Step 4: Review Your Adherence To The Budget  INFOSOURCES  Related Financial Guides  YOUR FINANCIAL PLAN: Getting Started On A Secure Future  YOUR RETIREMENT PLAN: How To Get Started  SAVING MONEY: 10 Major Ways To Increase Your Nest Egg  External Sites  Social Security Administration  Develop a Financial Plan  A Financial Health Checkup  Calculators  Personal Financing  How much car can I afford?  How long will it take to pay off my credit cards?  How much do I need to save for college?  How long will it take to save for a major purchase?  Simple Loan Calculator  How Much Can I Borrow?  What Interest Rate Would I Need?  How Long Would it Take to Pay Off a Loan  What Would My Payments Be?  Home Financing  Should I refinance my home mortgage?  What would my payments be for a fixed rate loan?  What would my payments be for an adjustable rate loan?  What would my payments be for a balloon loan?  Should I rent my home or buy?  Which loan is better, Fixed or Adjustable?  What would I save if I make extra payments?  How much house can I qualify for?  How much house can I afford?  Advanced mortgage calculator  FAQs  How do I determine my long-term financial goals?  Is there any validity to financial planning "rules of thumb"?  What do women in particular need to keep in mind with regard to financial planning?  What special problems do unmarried couples have to be concerned with?  Planning Aids  Dealing with Your Bank  BANK ACCOUNTS: What to Look and Ask For  Comparing Types Of Accounts  Choosing An Account  Getting a Better Deal  Protecting Your Account  Using Electronic Fund Transfers  INFOSOURCES  External Sites  Auto Loan Rates  Background on Credit Unions  Bank Financial Condition Ratings  Consumer Reports  Credit Card Interest Rates  Credit Union Rates  Federally Insured Banks  Home Equity Loan Rates  Money Market Rates  Mortgages  Savings Accounts and CD Rates  Calculators  Personal Financing  How much car can I afford?  How long will it take to pay off my credit cards?  How much do I need to save for college?  How long will it take to save for a major purchase?  Simple Loan Calculator  How Much Can I Borrow?  What Interest Rate Would I Need?  How Long Would it Take to Pay Off a Loan  What Would My Payments Be?  Home Financing  Should I refinance my home mortgage?  What would my payments be for a fixed rate loan?  What would my payments be for an adjustable rate loan?  What would my payments be for a balloon loan?  Should I rent my home or buy?  Which loan is better, Fixed or Adjustable?  What would I save if I make extra payments?  How much house can I qualify for?  How much house can I afford?  Advanced mortgage calculator  APPLYING FOR A LOAN: How To Get The Best Loan At The Lowest Cost  Types of Loans  How to Shop for a Loan  Comparing Loans  INFOSOURCES  Related Financial Guides  REFINANCING YOUR MORTGAGE: When And How To Do It  MORTGAGES ALTERNATIVES: How To Choose The Right One  REVERSE MORTGAGES: How They Can Enhance Your Retirement  HOME EQUITY LOANS: How To Shop For The One That's Best For You  MORTGAGE LOCK-INS: Questions To Ask  External Sites  Loans and Mortgages  E-Loan  I-Own.com  Home Equity Loans  Mortgages by BankRates.com  RealEstate.com  Housing Resources  Consumer Information Center  Consumer rights in housing matters  National Center for Home Equity Conversion  Federal Trade Commission  Calculators  Personal Financing  How much car can I afford?  How long will it take to pay off my credit cards?  How much do I need to save for college?  How long will it take to save for a major purchase?  Simple Loan Calculator  How Much Can I Borrow?  What Interest Rate Would I Need?  How Long Would it Take to Pay Off a Loan  What Would My Payments Be?  Home Financing  Should I refinance my home mortgage?  What would my payments be for a fixed rate loan?  What would my payments be for an adjustable rate loan?  What would my payments be for a balloon loan?  Should I rent my home or buy?  Which loan is better, Fixed or Adjustable?  What would I save if I make extra payments?  How much house can I qualify for?  How much house can I afford?  Advanced mortgage calculator  FAQs  Bank Accounts  What banking fees do I need to look out for when shopping for an account?  What are the different types of bank accounts available?  What type of account should I open?  How should I shop for a "best buy" bank account?  How much protection is provided by federal deposit insurance?  How can I negotiate checking account fees with my current bank?  What is overdraft protection and should I have it?  What is the Truth in Savings Act?  ATM Transactions  How do automated teller machine (ATM) and other electronic transfer transactions work?  What should I do if I find an error related to an electronic fund transfer or ATM transaction?  What happens if my ATM card is lost or stolen?  Will I be able to use my ATM card overseas?  How will I know a pre-authorized credit (such as automatic payroll deposit) has been made?  How do I stop a pre-authorized payment?  Planning Aids  Improving Your Credit  CREDIT CARDS: How to Choose and Use Them Wisely  Examine the Card's Terms  Use it Wisely  INFOSOURCES  Related Financial Guides  CREDIT REPORTS: What You Should Know--And Do--About Yours  YOUR CREDIT CARD RIGHTS: What To Do If You Have A Problem  MERCHANT CREDIT CARD ABUSES: What They Cannot Ask You To Do  GETTING OUT OF FINANCIAL TROUBLE: Steps You Can Take  External Sites  ATM Locator for MasterCard  ATM Locator for VISA  Better Business Bureau  Consumer Credit Information  Credit Card Information by BankRate.com  Credit Information from the FTC  Equifax Credit Bureau  Experian Credit Bureau  Manage your credit and debt  Online Credit Reports  Trans Union Credit Bureau  VISA Card  Calculators  Personal Financing  How much car can I afford?  How long will it take to pay off my credit cards?  How much do I need to save for college?  How long will it take to save for a major purchase?  Simple Loan Calculator  How Much Can I Borrow?  What Interest Rate Would I Need?  How Long Would it Take to Pay Off a Loan  What Would My Payments Be?  CREDIT REPORTS: What You Should Know and Do About Yours  Credit Evaluation Factors  Cosigning An Account  Credit Limits  Obtaining Your Credit Reports  ECOA Designation Codes  Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA)  Finance Company Credit Cards  Fraud  Joint Accounts  Name/Alias  Putting An Explanation In Your Credit File  Understanding Your Credit Report  INFOSOURCES  Related Financial Guides  YOUR CREDIT CARD RIGHTS: What To Do If You Have A Problem  MERCHANT CREDIT CARD ABUSES: What They Cannot Ask You To Do  GETTING OUT OF FINANCIAL TROUBLE: Steps You Can Take  External Sites  ATM Locator for MasterCard  ATM Locator for VISA  Better Business Bureau  Consumer Credit Information  Credit Card Information by BankRate.com  Credit Information from the FTC  Equifax Credit Bureau  Experian Credit Bureau  Manage your credit and debt  Online Credit Reports  Trans Union Credit Bureau  VISA Card  Calculators  Personal Financing  How much car can I afford?  How long will it take to pay off my credit cards?  How much do I need to save for college?  How long will it take to save for a major purchase?  Simple Loan Calculator  How Much Can I Borrow?  What Interest Rate Would I Need?  How Long Would it Take to Pay Off a Loan  What Would My Payments Be?  MERCHANT CREDIT CARD ABUSES: What They Cannot Ask You To Do  Personal Information  Minimum Charge Requirements  Extra Charge for Using a Credit Card  ID When Paying By Check  Cards Other than the "Big Three"  How to Complain  INFOSOURCES  Related Financial Guides  CREDIT REPORTS: What You Should Know—And Do—About Yours  GETTING OUT OF FINANCIAL TROUBLE: Steps You Can Take  CREDIT CARDS: How To Choose—And Use—Them Wisely  YOUR CREDIT CARD RIGHTS: What To Do If You Have A Problem  External Sites  ATM Locator for VISA  Better Business Bureau  Consumer Credit Information  Credit Card Information  Credit Information  Equifax Credit Bureau  Experian Credit Bureau  Manage Your Credit and Debt  Online Credit Reports  Trans Union Credit Bureau  VISA Card  Calculators  Personal Financing  How long will it take to pay off my credit cards?  How long will it take to save for a major purchase?  Simple Loan Calculator  How Much Can I Borrow?  What Interest Rate Would I Need?  How Long Would it Take to Pay Off a Loan  What Would My Payments Be?  YOUR CREDIT CARD RIGHTS: What To Do If You Have A Problem  Prompt Credit For Payment  Refunds Of Credit Balances  Resolution Of Errors  Removal Of Unauthorized Charges  Resolution Of Disputes  Prompt Shipment  Protection Against Offensive Junk Mail/Junk Calls  INFOSOURCES  Related Financial Guides  CREDIT CARDS: How To Choose--And Use--Them Wisely  GETTING OUT OF FINANCIAL TROUBLE: Steps You Can Take  CREDIT REPORTS: What You Should Know--And Do--About Yours  MERCHANT CREDIT CARD ABUSES: What They Cannot Ask You To Do  External Sites  ATM Locator for MasterCard  ATM Locator for VISA  Better Business Bureau  Consumer Credit Information  Credit Card Information by BankRate.com  Credit Information from the FTC  Equifax Credit Bureau  Experian Credit Bureau  Manage your credit and debt  Online Credit Reports  Trans Union Credit Bureau  VISA Card  Calculators  Personal Financing  How much car can I afford?  How long will it take to pay off my credit cards?  How much do I need to save for college?  How long will it take to save for a major purchase?  Simple Loan Calculator  How Much Can I Borrow?  What Interest Rate Would I Need?  How Long Would it Take to Pay Off a Loan  What Would My Payments Be?  GETTING OUT OF FINANCIAL TROUBLE: Steps You can Take  Getting Started  Credit Counseling Agencies  Personal Bankruptcy  Scams and Pitfalls  INFOSOURCES  Related Financial Guides  YOUR CREDIT CARD RIGHTS: What To Do If You Have A Problem  CREDIT CARDS: How To Choose--And Use--Them Wisely  CREDIT REPORTS: What You Should Know--And Do--About Yours  MERCHANT CREDIT CARD ABUSES: What They Cannot Ask You To Do  External Sites  ATM Locator for MasterCard  ATM Locator for VISA  Better Business Bureau  Consumer Credit Information  Credit Card Information by BankRate.com  Credit Information from the FTC  Equifax Credit Bureau  Experian Credit Bureau  Manage your credit and debt  Online Credit Reports  Trans Union Credit Bureau  VISA Card  Calculators  Personal Financing  How much car can I afford?  How long will it take to pay off my credit cards?  How much do I need to save for college?  How long will it take to save for a major purchase?  Simple Loan Calculator  How Much Can I Borrow?  What Interest Rate Would I Need?  How Long Would it Take to Pay Off a Loan  What Would My Payments Be?  FAQs  Credit Cards  Which are the best credit cards?  If someone steals my credit card, how much am I liable for?  Are rebate credit cards a good deal?  What is the difference between the average daily balance, adjusted balance, and previous balance?  What can I do if I'm dissatisfied with a credit card purchase?  What can I do if there is a mistake on my credit card bill?  How can I get the most benefit from my credit cards?  What restrictions and limitations can a merchant impose before accepting my credit card?  How can I stop junk mail or telemarketing calls?  Credit Reports  How can I check my credit report?  What if there is an error on my credit report?  How can I build a credit history so that I can establish credit?  Who can see my credit file?  How can I decipher my credit report?  Credit Rating  How will a divorce or separation affect my credit?  What factors affect my credit rating?  Does having a credit card or using another person's credit card improve my credit rating?  Does having a bank account improve my credit rating?  Is my credit rating affected by where I live?  Does my age affect my credit rating?  How important is my debt income ratio in determining my credit-worthiness?  Will bankruptcies or "charge-offs" affect my credit rating?  Will delinquent child support payments affect my credit?  Can my credit rating be negatively affected by having too much available credit?  Financial Trouble  How can I tell whether I have too much debt?  What steps should I take if I get into financial trouble?  What can I do if I am being hounded by a debt collector?  What are my rights against banks, creditors and debt collectors?  Loans  What should I do if a friend or family member asks me to cosign a loan?  How can I get the best deal on a home equity loan or an equity line of credit?  What are the costs of obtaining a home equity line of credit?  Should I obtain a home equity line of credit or a traditional second mortgage loan?  How should I determine which of several loan alternatives is best?  Planning Aids  Choosing a Professional  LAWYERS: How To Choose The Right One  Decide Whether You Need a Lawyer  Get Some Names  Start Asking Questions  Interview the Candidates  Make Your Decision  Clarify Fee Arrangements and Similar Issues  Define Your Relationship And Stay Involved  INFOSOURCES  External Sites  Attorney Finder  Attorney Locate  Lawyer Look-Up  Lawyers and Legal Malpractice  Lawyers.com  American Association for Retired Persons (AARP)  HMOs: How To Choose and Deal With Them  Capitation  Lack Of Coverage For Certain Procedures  Need For Pre-Approvals  Lack of Full Disclosure  Need To Go Through A Gatekeeper  Difficulty In Obtaining Redress  Artificial Formulas May Dictate Your Treatment  Second-Rate Devices  Inadequate Mental Health  INFOSOURCES  External Sites  The National Committee for Quality Assurance  Books and Other Publications  The HMO Survival Guide: Save Money, Play by the Rules and Get the Best Care  The Insider’s Guide to HMOs: How to Navigate the Managed-Care System and Get the Health Care You Deserve  Choosing and Using an HMO  FAQs  When should I hire a Lawyer?  How would I handle a dispute on my own?  How do I find a good Lawyer?  What questions should you ask potential Attorneys?  What legal fee arrangements are best for me?  How can I save money on legal fees?  Planning Aids  Buying Insurance  LIFE INSURANCE: How Much And What Kind To Buy  Do You Need Life Insurance?  Types of Insurance  How Insurance Products Differ  How to Shop for Insurance  Shopping for a Policy  INFOSOURCES  Related Financial Guides  ESTATE PLANNING: How to Get Started  External Sites  AARP Life Insurance  Calculators  Life Insurance Calculator  CAR INSURANCE: 10 Cost-Cutters To Save You Money  Comparison Shop  Choose Your Coverage Carefully  Consider Higher Deductibles  Drop Collision And Comprehensive On Older Cars  Buy A Low Profile Car  Avoid Duplicate Medical Coverage  Maximize Discounts  Collect All Of The Benefits You're Entitled To  Use Car Repair Networks  Drive Carefully And Take Your Car Key  INFOSOURCES  Related Financial Guides  YOUR NEXT CAR: Should You Buy Or Lease?  External Sites  Auto Discount Worksheets  Auto Insurance - InsureMarket  Auto Insurance Savings Quiz  Crash Tests and Car Safety  Independent Evaluation of Car Insurance Policies  Insurance Institute  Insurance News Network  Insurance Tips - Collision Repair Industry Insight  InsWeb: Auto Insurance  HOMEOWNER'S INSURANCE: How To Get The Best Coverage And Value  What Homeowners' Insurance Generally Covers  Policy Coverage To Consider  Shopping For A Policy  INFOSOURCES  External Sites  Homeowners' Insurance  Insurance News Network  National Flood Insurance Program  DISABILITY INSURANCE: What To Look For  Planning for the Worst-Case Scenario  Checking Up on What You Have  Employer Provided Coverage  Governmental Coverage  What to Look for in a Private Policy  Be Ready to Prove Your Income Level  Watch Out for the "Definition of Disability"  Waiting Period  How Long Will Coverage Last  Residual Benefits  Non-Cancelable vs. Guaranteed Renewable  Riders and Options  Check Out Your Insurer  Premium-Reducing Tips  INFOSOURCES  Related Financial Guides  DISABILITY BENEFITS: How To Get All That You're Entitled To  External Sites  A. M. Best  Disability Benefits  Disability Insurance Costs  Social Security Online  Standard & Poor's Rating of Insurance Companies  DISABILITY BENEFITS: How To Get All You're Entitled To  General Information  Taxation of Benefits  Benefit Payments  Having a Child After Benefits Start  Reaching Retirement Age  Eligibility for Medicare  Changes That Can Affect Your Benefits  How to Report a Change  Disability Case Reviews  Work Incentives  INFOSOURCES  Related Financial Guides  DISABILITY INSURANCE: What To Look For  External Sites  A. M. Best  Disability Benefits  Disability Insurance Costs  Social Security Online  Standard & Poor's Rating of Insurance Companies  LONG-TERM CARE INSURANCE: How To Get The Best Deal  How LTCI Works  Why Purchase LTCI  The Pros and Cons  Other Alternatives  Can You Afford LTCI?  How To Select an Insurer  What to Look for in a Policy  INFOSOURCES  Related Financial Guides  DISABILITY BENEFITS: How To Get All That You're Entitled To  DISABILITY INSURANCE: What To Look For  LIFE INSURANCE: How Much And What Kind To Buy  REVERSE MORTGAGES: How They Can Enhance Your Retirement  External Sites  Long-Term Healthcare  Medicaid Long-Term Care Services  Medicare  ANNUITIES: How They Work And When You Should Use Them  How Annuities Work  How Annuities Best Serve Investors  The Various Types Of Annuities  Choosing A Payout Option  How Payouts Are Taxed  How To Shop For An Annuity  Costs, Penalties, And Extras  INFOSOURCES  Related Financial Guides  INVESTING IN MUTUAL FUNDS: Time-Tested Guidelines  MUTUAL FUND TAXATION: How To Cut The Tax Bite  Calculators  Investment Analysis Calculator  How Can I Save a Million Dollars?  Investment Yield Calculator  Present Value Calculator  Future Value Calculator  Simple Savings Goal Calculator  How Much Money Could I Save?  What Interest Rate Would I Need?  How Much Would I Need to Start With?  How Much Would I Need to Save Each Month?  FAQs  Auto Insurance  How can I lower my car insurance costs?  What coverage should my auto policy include?  How should I handle an auto insurance claim?  Does it make sense to comparison shop for car insurance?  How much of a deductible should I take on my car insurance?  Is it worthwhile to maintain collision coverage on older cars?  Does the kind of car I buy affect my car insurance?  Does my address affect my car insurance?  Does it make a difference if I pay my insurance annually, semi-monthly or monthly?  What types of auto insurance discounts are available?  Life Insurance  How do insurance companies classify individuals for rate purposes?  What questions should I ask my life insurance agent?  What should I watch out for when buying life insurance?  How do I compare the cost of several insurance policies?  Do I really need life insurance?  How much life insurance should I buy?  What type of life insurance should I buy?  Should kids have life insurance?  How do I balance life insurance with my other investments?  Long-Term Care Insurance  Should I buy long-term care insurance?  What are the alternatives to long-term care insurance?  How much does long-term care insurance cost?  What should I look for in a long-term care insurance policy?  Should I comparison shop for long-term insurance coverage?  Is it worthwhile buying "dread disease" insurance, and other types of special health insurance?  Do I need disability insurance? How can I ensure I have adequate coverage?  Homeowners' Insurance  How can I get the "best buy" in homeowner's insurance?  How much homeowner's insurance should I buy?  How can I make sure my homeowners' insurance is adequate?  How should I shop for a home insurer?  How much of a homeowner's deductible should I have?  Should I buy home and auto policies from the same company?  Should insurance costs be a factor in the home purchase decision process?  Should I insure the entire cost of the home including land?  Does home security reduce insurance cost?  Do home insurer's offer discounts for non-smokers?  How often should I review my homeowner's policy?  Should I buy private or governmental sponsored storm insurance?  Annuities  How do life annuities differ from life insurance?  What would I use an annuity for?  What's the down side to buying an annuity?  What types of annuity are available?  What are my options for collecting my annuity?  What's the tax on payouts from a qualified plan or IRA annuity?  Is it a good idea to buy annuities for my IRA or qualified plan?  What's the tax on payout of an annuity bought as an investment?  What tax must my beneficiaries or heirs pay if my annuity continues after my death?  How should I shop for an annuity?  What are the added or hidden costs in buying an annuity?  Planning Aids  Getting a Loan  APPLYING FOR A LOAN: How to Get the Best Loan at the Lowest Cost  Types of Loans  How to Shop for a Loan  Comparing Loans  INFOSOURCES  Related Financial Guides  REFINANCING YOUR MORTGAGE: When And How To Do It  MORTGAGES ALTERNATIVES: How To Choose The Right One  REVERSE MORTGAGES: How They Can Enhance Your Retirement  HOME EQUITY LOANS: How To Shop For The One That's Best For You  MORTGAGE LOCK-INS: Questions To Ask  External Sites  Loans and Mortgages  E-Loan  I-Own.com  Home Equity Loans  Mortgages by BankRates.com  RealEstate.com  Housing Resources  Consumer Information Center  Consumer rights in housing matters  National Center for Home Equity Conversion  Federal Trade Commission  Calculators  Personal Financing  How much car can I afford? 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