Here are six flags that could make your tax return prime for an I.R.S. audit. No one wants to see an Internal Revenue Service (I.R.S.) auditor show up at their door. But in 2018, the I.R.S. budget is roughly $1 billion less than it was 8 years ago, down from $12.1 billion in 2010 to $11.2 billion. And even though the number of audits has dropped 40 percent from 2010 to 2017, an I.R.S. tax audit remains a fear for many individuals.1 The I.R.S. can’t audit every American’s fede

Assess the coverage for your new household. Marriage changes everything, including insurance needs. Newly married couples should consider a comprehensive review of their current, individual insurance coverage to determine if any changes are in order as well as consider new insurance coverage appropriate to their new life stage. Auto.The good news is that married drivers may be eligible for lower rates than single drivers. Since most couples come into their marriage with two s

A windfall from a loved one can be both rewarding and complicated. Inheriting wealth can be a burden and a blessing.Even if you have an inclination that a family member may remember you in their last will and testament, there are many facets to the process of inheritance that you may not have considered. Here are some things you may want to keep in mind if it comes to pass. Take your time. If someone cared about you enough to leave you a sizable inheritance, then you will lik

You will want to replace your income; you will also want to stay socially engaged. About 6% of Americans 65 and older have never married. That statistic comes from a 2018 Census Bureau report, which also found that 22% of Americans aged 65-74 live alone.1 If you think you will retire alone and unmarried, you will want to pay special attention to both your financial and social qualities of life. Whether you perceive a solo retirement as liberating or challenging, it helps to b

Don't let procrastination keep you from pursuing your financial goals. Some of us share a common experience. You’re driving along when a police cruiser pulls up behind you with its lights flashing. You pull over, the officer gets out, and your heart drops. “Are you aware the registration on your car has expired?” You’d been meaning to take care of it for some time. For weeks, you had told yourself that you’d go to renew your registration tomorrow, and then, when the morning c