Living trusts are often promoted as a way to avoid estate taxes. For most people, however, the main benefits of a living trust are avoiding probate court proceedings and preparing you for the possibility of incapacity. More Details

You don't want to pay more in tax than you have to. That means making sure you're taking advantage of every deduction you're entitled to. Here are some important facts you don't want to overlook as you calculate your deductions for 2005. More Details

We all recognize the importance of planning and saving for retirement, but too many of us fall victim to one or more common mistakes. Here are four easily avoidable mistakes that could prevent you from reaching your retirement goals. More Details

A REIT, short for real estate investment trust, is a company that buys, develops, manages, and/or sells income-producing real estate such as office buildings, hotels, apartment complexes, shopping centers, and medical facilities. Congress created REITs in 1960 as a way for smaller investors to invest in large-scale real estate. More Details

In order to qualify as a REIT, a company must comply with several strict tax rules. One of these rules requires a REIT to distribute at least 90% of its taxable income to shareholders each year (if it does, it pays no corporate income tax). More Details