Columns

Before spending money hiring a tax professional to represent you with the IRS to apply for an offer in compromise, run the numbers yourself to see if you have a shot at having your offer accepted. So sharpen your pencil, and let’s get started.

While wisdom comes with age, there are also some less fortunate side effects of growing older: back pain in the morning, 'senior' moments, and for some, Type 2 diabetes.

When it comes to retirement, the most important goal of our financial lives, most Americans do not have a written plan. And your late to the game if your stuffing your portfolio with gold or cash.   

Dave Says: Cutting back and sticking to a budget can be hard with a teenager in the house. And when life gets too hectic, sometimes it pays to take a step back and figure out what can be eliminated to create a manageable lifestyle.   

Dave Says: When it comes to curbing a spouse's bad spending habits, acting like a mother dealing with little kid, is not the way to go. And is 20 too young to buy your first house?

Dave Says: Tips for dealing with sneaky creditors and how to take advantage of weak housing markets now. 

Dave Says: Are children responsible for their parents' bad spending habits? And how old is too old to be a renter.

Dave Says: Which is better in the long run: paying down debt or saving for a down payment for a house? 

Dave Says: There are a lot of ladies who have sacrificed their ability to be full-time moms on the altar of the car payment. And just how much do you need for a down payment on a house?

Dave Says: The best way to break into the real estate business and how to strike the right balance between work and family life. 

Retirees have a couple hundred thousand dollars in their 401(k)s and hope that it will cover all their needs. Hope is not a good financial strategy. 

As baby boomers march steadily toward retirement, understanding one’s options under Social Security becomes both more complex and, potentially more lucrative--especially if one ex-spouse earned more than the other.

Baby boomers approaching retirement age are starting to explore how they will create income  out of the various accounts among which their assets are spread.

With so many two-income baby boomer couples heading into retirement, it might make sense to delay taking Social Security benefits. 

Dave Says: Everyone is going to retire some day, making creating a nest egg more very important. And what's the difference between insurance and warranties? 

The challenge of juggling medications is tough for seniors who have multiple drugs for various health conditions.

Dave Says: Dating is a legitimate expense and needs to be part of your financial game plan. And is hiring someone to mow your lawn an unnecessary luxury? 

Dave Says: Filing for bankruptcy isn't going to solve a financial crisis if the problem is in the heart.    

Dave Says: Tips for creating a five-year plan to increasing your earning potential and how to deal with money-seeking adult children.