Practice Finance

I recently bred my two Norwich terriers and sold the puppies. It was so much fun that I may start breeding dogs as a side business. What must I do to be able to deduct the related costs on my tax return?

I want to leave part of my estate to my favorite charity, but rather than give individual assets or specify an amount of cash, I'd like it to receive whatever is left over after my kids get their inheritances. Can I do that?

I don't like having credit card balances so I tend to use my debit card instead. But my daughter, who works at a bank, says credit cards offer more protection. Is she right?

I've heard that laddering can help protect a bond portfolio, but I'm not sure what the strategy is or what it accomplishes. Does it make the portfolio less susceptible to defaults?

I want to give $10,000 or so to charity and claim the tax deduction for 2008, but I'd like to take my time evaluating potential recipients first. Is there any way for me to get credit for the donation now but make it later?

A new rule proposed by the Securities and Exchange Commission would speed up the time it takes to compare funds.

The disparity in medical outcomes between black and white patients is largely because minorities have poorer access to high-quality care, according to conventional wisdom. How, then, to explain a new study that found such disparities between white and minority patients who went to the same physicians?

By putting your money thoughts to paper and spelling out why you made the purchase in the first place, you're more likely to make sure the investment has stayed true to your original aim.

I'll be moving across the country to take a new job, but my wife and daughter won't join me until my daughter finishes school next summer. Will this delay prevent us from deducting our moving expenses?

I have disability insurance through my employer and may soon have to file a claim. Will I owe tax on the proceeds?

My shares in a technology stock have hovered near $7 per share for two years, but last week the price shot up to $12. I can't find any significant news to explain the jump, only some online chatter that one of the company's products could be marketed as an iPhone accessory. Should I sell my shares or wait to see whether this price rise is finally the start of a growth spurt?

I've invested in three Vanguard mutual funds and see several more that I like, but should I put some cash in funds from another fund family to make sure I'm diversified enough?

Dividend-paying stocks and funds

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?