Planning, taxes and insurance tips to get your new business off to a successful start
With the unemployment rate at an all-time high, many people are starting their own businesses as a way to leverage their work experience. There are a lot of resources for those starting a business, but sometimes the sheer number of resources and the amount of input can be overwhelming. Here are some basic tips around the three major aspects of starting a business: planning, insurance and taxes.

Understanding and avoiding pitfalls of the Making Work Pay credit
The Making Work Pay credit has many taxpayers confused, and for some, the confusion has led to the shock of smaller or delayed refunds. To help make sense and cents out of it all, TaxACT has provided the most essential information and tips for getting it right on your 2009 tax return.

Growing and maintaining a healthy business credit score in 2010
For owners of new and young small businesses, there are a plethora of elements that need to be managed and overseen every day to ensure success. While focusing on income, expenditures, employees and marketing, thinking about your business' credit can sometimes fall by the wayside.

Simple precautions help avoid identity theft during tax season
Identity theft affected 10 million Americans last year, an increase of 22 percent from the previous year, according to Javelin Strategy and Research. Those numbers make identity theft one of the nation's fastest growing crimes.

Six ideas for getting your family budget in shape
Even though the American economy is showing some initial signs of improvement, unemployment is still high and many families are struggling. When your household cash flow slows and dwindles, it can feel overwhelming simply to keep up with necessary bills and payments. However, it's essential for your family's financial health - now and in the future - that you keep making all your payments. The best way to keep your finances in good shape and identify any shortcomings in advance is to develop a new, clearly laid out family budget.

Need help paying for that hearing aid? Here's how to get it
"No one should go without a needed hearing aid because of an inability to pay," says Dr. Sergei Kochkin, executive director of the Better Hearing Institute (BHI). Here's advice on how you can get assistance paying for a hearing aid.

Ways to cut your wedding budget without sacrificing style
Ask any bride, and she'll tell you that her wedding day was one of the happiest days of her life. It's not just a cliche - even those couples who run into some mishaps on the big day look back on it fondly. But perhaps the happiest brides and grooms are those who can look back and say they had a fun-filled day and didn't break the bank.

Set goals for better business development
For many small businesses who weathered the economic storm in 2009, 2010 represents a new beginning to return to growth and jump-start projects put on hold during the recession. Goal setting will be critical to help small businesses get back on their feet, map out their business plans and prioritize what they wish to achieve in the upcoming year.

Putting finance in the fast lane with high speed wireless Internet
Traditional, bricks-and-mortar banks are going to have to start offering much more than free lollipops to keep customers coming through the doors. And why not? You can pay your bills, manage investments, buy stocks and do your taxes without leaving the comfort of your home.

Easy ways for moms to save time and money
A mom is always walking a fine line between trying to provide her family with everything they need, while at the same time balancing a budget and saving money for the unexpected surprises life can throw at her.

10 smart money strategies for '10
The recession has altered the way individuals and families think about money and financial security. As Americans begin the slow process of economic recovery, former lifestyle expectations, spending habits and financial plans need a closer look.

Tips for making your job search easier
Whether you are facing a slowed economy or one that is bursting at the seams, there are ways to make your job search less frustrating. The problem is that you don't know where to start or how to be successful in that search. To get on the fast track with your job search, follow these hints and tips.

Retirees turn to a surprising source of cash in a crunch
A rising number of American households - nearly 45 percent - are "at risk" of not having enough money in retirement, according the Center for Retirement Research at Boston College. But some retirees have discovered a surprising source of supplemental retirement income: the cash value of their whole life insurance policies.

Four easy ways to lower bills and save money in 2010
Clipping coupons and counting coins has never been so chic. Following one of the toughest economic years in decades, more Americans are looking for ways to save. Whether you need to pay off debt or cut costs so you can afford an upcoming family vacation, there are a variety of simple ways to save money. Fortunately, many of the easiest money-saving tips can be found under your own roof.

'A penny saved is a penny earned' and other financial lessons from the past
If the recent financial turmoil has taught us anything, it's that maybe we should pay attention to the age-old sayings that our parents and grandparents passed on to us.

You can get help paying for college - here's how
In a competitive job market, earning a degree can be the biggest single step one can take to enhance career value and earning potential. As many bask in the glow of making plans to increase their career potential, the prospect of paying for college is a sobering reality. But a little determination, and knowing where to look, can help you find financial aid to pay for college.