7 Year-End Tax Strategies For Individuals It's not too late to make some moves that will lower this year's tax bill. Consider these possibilities, and bone up on tax rule basics. Scout Out Home Deals For prospective home buyers, it's hard to ignore the sales pitch: Home values nationwide have fallen on average some 20%, while mortgage rates recently plumbed record lows below 5%. 5 Ways to Boost a Financial Aid Package Parents and students face a double whammy. Not only have economic conditions strapped a growing number of families' budgets, but many colleges can't afford to extend more financial aid than they could in the past. The end result: More competition for less aid. How Will Pension Benefits Be Affected If Your Company Goes Bankrupt? It's probably safe to say that the more than 40 million Americans who still have pensions are at least a little bit worried right now. The stock market turmoil of the past year has left corporate pension plans at the largest companies underfunded by $409 billion. At the end of 2007, those plans had a $60 billion surplus. 10 Best Cities for Job-Seeking Retirees You can find a second career in these retirement job havens. Dementia Can Wreak Havoc on Family Finances When a financial decision-maker loses his capacity to choose wisely, the results can be catastrophic. But heading off dire consequences can be very difficult. Estate Planning Without Anxiety With the markets in turmoil, planning for the here and now seems daunting enough; planning for the after-I-die is even less appealing. But not paying attention now could force your family to make hard decisions later, without your guidance. How Prudent Donors Can Follow Their Dollars With an eye on dwindling investment-account balances, Americans are making end-of-year charitable donations expecting greater accountability. Closing a 529 College Savings Plan Triggers Tax Consequences The grim market has many 529 investors looking for alternatives. But just taking back your money is probably not a good one. A Little-Known Tax Break for Bruised 529s Families saving for education may be eligible to recoup some of the money lost in the market this year. Car Buying in a Credit Crunch Late summer is supposed to be the best time to buy a new car, but this year, savvy shoppers may actually find the best deals well before Labor Day. 12 gifts to jump-start your grad Practical presents may not have your new grad jumping for joy, but they will reveal their worth (and your foresight) in time. Links Disclosure: Links to other sites are provided for your convenience. Sterling Financial Planning, Inc. does not endorse, verify or attest to the accuracy of the content of the web sites that are linked and accepts no responsibility for their use or content. ©2010 Advisor Products Inc. All Rights Reserved.