Practice Finance

A company told its employees they could use contributions to their 401(k) plan to pay for long-term-care insurance premiums. The IRS said this wouldn't work.

Workers who are over 50 and don't expect to receive employer-provided healthcare benefits in retirement are more likely to choose the coverage rather than retire.

When the wealthy start plowing money into the stock market, maybe it's time for everyone else to take notice.

A stock I've considered investing in recently split 3 for 1. Does that mean this a good time to buy shares?

I have $35,000 in a money-market mutual fund earmarked for a new car next year, but I'm tempted to shift the cash into a stock mutual fund that has been producing stellar returns. My friend has been investing in the fund for three years and hasn't lost money yet, so it seems like a safe way to boost my return. What do you think?

I'm thinking about donating a week's use of my Florida vacation home to a local soup kitchen, which would auction it to raise funds. Since I normally rent out the home during that time of year, could I write off the amount that the high bidder pays as a charitable donation?

A digital technology firm I invested in put out a press release saying that its financial statements include a "going concern qualification." What does that mean?

I have a balanced mutual fund that has been underperforming the S&P 500 index for a while now. Should I dump it?

I've decided to give my daughter financial power of attorney so she can handle my affairs if that ever becomes necessary, but how much power should I give her?

We'd like to hire an investment adviser to provide guidance to participants in our group practice's 401(k) plan. Is this allowed, and if so, must we monitor the advice given?

My wife and I have a $200,000 mortgage on our home and would like to refinance it for $225,000 to pay off some other debts. Will we be able to deduct all the interest on the loan?

They're known in the financial industry as "catastrophe bonds," and they're one of those obscure investments that may be lurking in some of your mutual funds.

The IRS frowns on taxpayers who dump a losing investment to take a write-off, then turn around and repurchase it on the hope that it will reverse its fortunes.

The long-term outlook for Social Security remains bleak, but the projected deficit has actually shrunk a little since last year's Board of Trustees report.

Investment analysts often use the term "business model" when talking about companies. What does that encompass?

I recently read that depreciation on a residential condominium converted to a rental property is deductible, but how is the depreciation calculated? Should I base it on the property's current fair market value?

I have a high-deductible health insurance plan and a health savings account containing $15,000, but soon I'll start a new job and will no longer need the HSA. What can I do with the remaining funds?

A few months ago I bought a stock that seemed very promising; several analysts had posted high earnings estimates for it. But the stock's price hasn't risen much since then. Why is that?

I like making birdhouses and other decorative wood pieces, and my wife wants us to start a small side business selling them at craft shows. Would we have to file a separate partnership return to report our earnings?

Our youngest son will start college next year and is eyeing a costly private school. Since we'll have two kids in college then, he'll probably apply for need-based financial aid. But some savings have been set aside for him in a 529 plan. Will that money affect his eligibility for aid?

I want to buy a second home but am short $50,000. My uncle has offered to lend me the money at a better rate than I can get from a bank. If I accept, will I be able to deduct the interest I pay him?

I've decided to sell my home, but my state has stringent laws requiring disclosure of defects. What's the best way to protect myself from potential liability for problems I may not even know about?

Should you buy actively-managed funds instead of index funds?

UnitedHealthcare is dropping four Houston-area physicians from its network for practicing concierge medicine while continuing to bill the insurer for their services.

If you haven't had many nibbles on your house, the second half of this year may see more people ready to buy.

Basis point. Expense ratio. Index fund. If you can't define these terms, you're far from alone. Less than a third of investors who responded to a recent survey said they comprehended these phrases well enough to explain them to a friend or co-worker.

It was inevitable. Soon after the government passed the Economic Stimulus Act of 2008, criminals went to work trying to pry tax rebates from the hands of unsuspecting Americans--and they might target you, too.

I may transfer some money to an Internet-only bank that's paying higher interest rates than my local banks. How can I find out if it's legitimate?

I have about $500,000 in an online account with a major brokerage house. What recourse do I have if an identity thief or hacker breaks into the brokerage's computer system and steals my money? A friend says I'm out of luck, but the brokerage must have some obligation to return the money, right?

If I make my wife an authorized user of a new credit card account I've opened, will the card appear on her credit record as well as mine? And would she legally be required to pay the bill if I can't?