Ask Kim@Kiplinger
Archive

June
Unmarried Couples and Taxes - June 10, 2005
Consolidate Student Loans Now - June 6, 2005
On Target for Retirement - June 2, 2005
May
Writing off Worthless Stock - May 26, 2005
Traveling Medicare Coverage - May 23, 2005
When a Taxable Retirement Account is Best - May 19, 2005
Bankruptcy Law Protects IRAs - May 16, 2005
Coverdell Investing Strategies - May 12, 2005
Best Bet for Short-Term Savings - May 9, 2005
Health Coverage After Graduation - May 5, 2005
New Fixed Rate for EE Savings Bonds - May 2, 2005
April
Medicare Drug Plan Available Soon - April 28, 2005
Roth vs. 401(k) - April 25, 2005
Still Time to Change 2004 Tax Return - April 21, 2005
Convert to a Roth at Any Age - April 18, 2005
Pass up After-tax 401(k) Contributions - April 14, 2005
When Health Insurance is Hard to Get - April 11, 2005
Fun(d) Gifts for Grandkids - April 7, 2005
Don't Wait to Start Roth - April 4, 2005
March
Keep a Job Journal for Child's IRA - March 31, 2005
Tax on Insurance Policy Cash Outs - March 28, 2005
Get Around the Gift Tax - March 24, 2005
Avoid COBRA's Painful Bite - March 21, 2005
Don't Rush to Close Credit Accounts - March 17, 2005
Settlements Can be Added to IRAs - March 14, 2005
Don't Bail Out of 529 Plans - March 10, 2005
Tax Rules for IRAs - March 7, 2005
Repairs Don't Help at Tax Time - March 3, 2005
February
Shop for HSA Investments - February 28, 2005
Figure the Cost Basis for Gifts - February 24, 2005
Selling a House You No Longer Live In - February 22, 2005
Avoid Long Holds on Your Deposits - February 17, 2005
Severance Pay is no Windfall - February 14, 2005
401(k) Loan's Impact on Credit Rating - February 10, 2005
Downside to Independent 529s - February 7, 2005
Going Into Overtime - February 3, 2005
January
Don't Delay Starting Your HSA - January 31, 2005
Stocks Still Tops for the Long Term - January 27, 2005
'One for All' Works for IRAs, Too - January 24, 2005
Get Out of Bankrupt Shares While You Can - January 20, 2005
Insuring a Car You Don't Own - January 17, 2005
Buy Your Diamonds Here - January 13, 2005
The Price of Free Insurance - January 10, 2005
529s can be Used for Future Kids - January 6, 2005
Resolve to Clean Out Your Files - January 3, 2005
December
Give to Tsunami Relief Online - December 30, 2004
Beware of Rising Credit Card Rates - December 27, 2004
Still Time to Research and Give to Charity - December 23, 2004
Transfer-on-Death Designation Avoids Hassles - December 20, 2004
Put Your Bonus to Work - December 16, 2004
How to Get Out of PMI - December 13, 2004
Claiming Tax-Free Profits From a Home Sale - December 9, 2004
Finding a Stock's Cost Basis - December 6, 2004
Get Your Free Credit Report - December 2, 2004
November
Insurance Payout may not Cover Loan - November 29, 2004
Tapping Your 401(k) for Cash - November 24, 2004
How to Make Extra Cash for the Holidays - November 22, 2004
Dealing With Unsolicited Items - November 18, 2004
The Best Way to Invest Aggressively - November 15, 2004
How to Deduct Hurricane Losses - November 11, 2004
Old Stock Certificates may Still Have Value - November 8, 2004
Deducting Mom's Medical Expenses - November 4, 2004
It's Your Flex Account, Spend It - November 1, 2004
October
How to Handle an IRA Rollover - October 28, 2004
Save Electronic Checks for Your Taxes - October 25, 2004
Tax Write-Offs for First-Job Seekers - October 21, 2004
Don't Fall for This Voter Registration Scam - October 18, 2004
Get a Tax Break for Medical Expenses - October 14, 2004
When to Trim Your Auto Insurance Coverage - October 11, 2004
Pay off Your Mortgage and Save - October 7, 2004
A 529 Has International Appeal - October 4, 2004
September
Don't Get Soaked by the Wash Sale Rule - September 30, 2004
Forget About Fund Share Prices - September 27, 2004
Unlock Your "First" House with an IRA - September 23, 2004
Three Starter Mutual Funds - September 20, 2004
Work Hours Can Affect Social Security - September 15, 2004
Consider Your State's 529 First - September 13, 2004
Save Now, Pay Taxes Later - September 10, 2004
How Divorce Affects Financial Aid - September 8, 2004
Spouses Get a Benefits Choice - September 7, 2004
Find the Friendliest Auto Coverage - September 3, 2004
Make a Tax-Free Switch Out of Savings Bonds - September 1, 2004
August
When You Can't Deduct Retirement Savings - August 30, 2004
How Much Should I Allocate to Stocks? - August 27, 2004
Debts and Down Payment Will Determine Mortgage Size - August 25, 2004
Where to Put Your Retirement Money - August 23, 2004
Save Big With Health Accounts - August 20, 2004
Sorry, No Child Credit Checks This Year - August 18, 2004
When to Tap Your Roth Earnings - August 16, 2004
Benefit From Big Stock Losses - August 13, 2004
Overestimate Your Life Expectancy - August 11, 2004
Estimate Your Life Insurance Needs - August 9, 2004
Best Bet for Emergency Funds - August 6, 2004
Opening an Individual 401(k) - August 4, 2004
Savings Bond Finders not Keepers - August 2, 2004
July
$1 Million Nest Egg May Not Be Enough - July 30, 2004
Reconsolidating Student Loans Isn't Easy - July 28, 2004
Consider Auto Insurance Installments - July 26, 2004
Tax Rules for Rental Home Sales - July 23, 2004
Save the Right Amount for Retirement - July 21, 2004
ARM Yourself with Lower Rates - July 19, 2004
Moving Student Loan to Credit Card Could be Risky - July 16, 2004
Benefit From an HSA - July 14, 2004
Medigap Policies you can use Anywhere - July 12, 2004
Shop Around for the Best Rate - July 9, 2004
Escrow Account Rules Vary - July 7, 2004
Only Children can Benefit From Custodial Accounts - July 2, 2004
June
Driving up Life Insurance Rates - June 30, 2004
A Birthday Gift from Social Security - June 28, 2004
A Portfolio for Retirement Savers - June 25, 2004
Checking Accounts Don't Affect Credit Score - June 23, 2004
Calculating IRA Distributions - June 21, 2004
Small Insurance Claims Can Backfire - June 18, 2004
Finding Health Insurance on Your Own - June 16, 2004
No Social Security Benefits Squeeze - June 14, 2004
Investment Accounts for HSAs - June 11, 2004
No Child Credit Check This Year - June 9, 2004
Go Wild With 529s - June 7, 2004
Don't Rush to Pay Off the Mortgage - June 4, 2004
Keep the Property or the Check? - June 2, 2004
May
Tax Filing and Roth IRAs for Kids - May 28, 2004
Don't Rush to Consolidate Student Loans - May 26, 2004
Lower the Cost of Long-Term Care Insurance - May 24, 2004
Track Down Your Tax Refund - May 21, 2004
The Rules of Required IRA Withdrawals - May 19, 2004
Special Savings Plans for Military Families - May 17, 2004
Community Foundations Make Giving Easier - May 14, 2004
Medicare Cards Worth a Look - May 12, 2004
Getting Back a Lost Deduction - May 10, 2004
Fill Gaps in Group Disability Coverage - May 7, 2004
Pros and Cons of No-Closing-Cost Loans - May 5, 2004
Don't Wait to Enroll in Medicare - May 3, 2004
April
Custodial Accounts Shift Some Taxes to Kids - April 30, 2004
The ABCs of Mutual Fund Shares - April 28, 2004
Don't Get Phished In - April 26, 2004
Coverdells Have Little Effect on Aid - April 23, 2004
Medicare Drug Coverage: A Difficult Pill to Swallow - April 21, 2004
Most Home Sellers Can Skip Capital Gains Taxes - April 19, 2004
Separate Insurance From College Savings - April 16, 2004
Tax Rules and Write-Offs for the Self-Employed - April 14, 2004
Inheritance Rules for Joint Checking Accounts - April 12, 2004
Compare State Deductions for College Savings - April 9, 2004
Picking a Medicare Drug Card No Easy Trick - April 7, 2004
Get Around Coverdell's Cutoffs - April 5, 2004
Keep Your Credit Score in Good Shape - April 2, 2004
March
Higher Home Prices Could Lower Your Payment - March 31, 2004
Mortgage Deduction Ceilings Hard to Reach - March 29, 2004
How to Pick a Medigap Policy - March 26, 2004
Compare New Car Insurance Costs - March 24, 2004
No Direct Route From 401(k) to Roth - March 22, 2004
Where to Find HSAs - March 19, 2004
Avoiding IRA Distributions - March 17, 2004
How Much Long-Term Care Insurance to Get - March 15, 2004
You and Your Boss Can Save With HSAs - March 12, 2004
Calculate Your Social Security Benefits - March 10, 2004
Employers Must Make Timely 401(k) Deposits - March 8, 2004
Qualify for More Write-Offs - March 5, 2004
Expand Your FDIC Coverage - March 3, 2004
Extra Credit for Retirement Savers - March 1, 2004
February
Top-Earning Grads Lose Student-Loan Deduction - February 27, 2004
The Right Way to Report Self-Employment Income - February 25, 2004
Don't Submit Small Homeowners Claims - February 23, 2004
Tax Breaks for Child Care - February 20, 2004
Write Off Your Medical Expenses - February 18, 2004
Build Your Portfolio Gradually - February 16, 2004
Get Tax-Free Money for College - February 13, 2004
How to Shop for Umbrella Coverage - February 11, 2004
Buying Car With Plastic Could be Risky - February 9, 2004
Keep Only Key Retirement Account Forms - February 6, 2004
Not All Auto Accidents Result in Premium Hikes - February 4, 2004
Child Credit Advances Must be Counted - February 2, 2004
January
Home-Office Deductions are Worth the Hassle - January 30, 2004
Carry Over Investment Losses - January 28, 2004
Still Time to Fund SEPs - January 26, 2004
Guarantee Retirement Income for Life - January 23, 2004
Document Your Health-Care Wishes - January 21, 2004
In Case of Emergency: Start Saving - January 19, 2004
Estimate Your Mortgage Interest Deduction - January 16, 2004
Few Tax Breaks for House Hoppers - January 14, 2004
How to Dump an Expensive Annuity - January 12, 2004
Roth IRAs for Retirees - January 9, 2004
Special IRA Rules for Spouses - January 7, 2004
Brokers That Let You Start Small - January 5, 2004
Health Insurance Options After Divorce - January 2, 2004