Personal Finance

Officially called an Independent Development Account, it's a special bank savings account for foster youths, ages 15-19, who earn money that's matched by United Way.

How to succeed in the job hunt? For many, it can seem like an endless exercise in futility. But here with some practical advice is Terri Carpenter, a job search expert with the nonprofit Sacramento Employment and Training Agency.

When it comes to investments, are you better off with a stock portfolio that's actively managed or one that's more on autopilot, such as an index fund?

When parents want to pass their home to an adult child, it can get complicated. This week, Michelle Goff, a Sacramento estate planning attorney, answers readers' questions on that topic and others.

A free financial literacy fair for California consumers will be held during the lunch hour today on the state Capitol's north steps.

Last-minute tax filers, take note: There's still free help available at varied tax-preparation sites. And, you could be eligible for up to $5,751 in federal tax credits that often go unclaimed each year.

Because the traditional tax filing deadline was Sunday, and Monday was a federal holiday in Washington, D.C., for Emancipation Day, the deadline this year for both IRS and state taxes is today. For tax help, check the following resources:

With the traditional tax filing deadline landing on Sunday, and Monday being a federal holiday in Washington, D.C., for Emancipation Day, the deadline this year for both IRS and state taxes is Tuesday, April 17. For tax help, check the following resources:

With the traditional tax filing deadline landing on Sunday, and Monday being a federal holiday in Washington, D.C., for Emancipation Day, the deadline this year for both IRS and state taxes is Tuesday, April 17. For tax help, check the following resources:

With the April 17 tax-filing deadline less than a week away, we look at several California tax questions posted by readers. The answers are from state Franchise Tax Board expert Daniel Tahara.

Got unwanted documents? Golden 1 Credit Union is hosting a free shredding event on May 5, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. in Sacramento.

Figuring out how to make changes to a will or trust can be tricky. Here with some tips is Sacramento estate planning attorney Michelle Goff.

The TV ads were enticing and convincing: With just a few clicks online, a $1,500 payday loan could be yours.

The recession may be over, but job seekers still need advice on how to land that perfect position.

Paying for long-term care is a worry for many, particularly aging baby boomers. This week, certified financial planner Kevin Young, of Young Wealth Management in Davis, offers some advice on the topic.

Rev up the calculator and start your countdown: The annual tax filing deadline is just one month away.

Timeshare scams are on the rise, and consumers trying to resell their unwanted Hawaii, Tahoe or vacation properties are urged to be cautious.

In a sputtering economy, cash-strapped consumers are flocking to a new way of getting quick, short-term loans: online pawn stores.

Sorting out family issues involving a trust can be difficult. This week, Sacramento estate planning attorney Michelle Goff advises several adult children about their parents' trusts.

A coalition of groups will be in Sacramento for a Tuesday event designed to provide one-on-one help to struggling homeowners in the region.

The IRS is warning taxpayers to beware of phony tax refund offers that are popping up in California and across the country.

More than 95 percent of Americans past age 30 think that if they provide housing and care for their aging relatives, they should be able to claim those relatives as dependents on their tax returns, according to new research from A Place for Mom, a nationwide referral service on senior housing options.

California homeowners are being warned about possible loan modification scams, tied to the state's recent $18 billion home mortgage settlement with five major U.S. banks.

Are "hard money loans" a good investment? Which daughter should be executor of our family trust?

Didn't file a 2008 tax return and claim a refund? The IRS has more than $1 billion waiting for such taxpayers, including 122,500 in California who didn't file that year.

Should a living trust be created to shelter assets from costs of long-term nursing care?

A debt collector may be phony if he/she:

How does the little guy get in on Facebook's IPO? Are financial stocks a good deal right now?

Free workshops for small-business owners, "Using the Internet for Business Marketing," will be held Saturdays at public library branches in Sacramento and Folsom.

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau wants to place debt collectors and credit bureaus under federal supervision for the first time, after an explosion in complaints about their practices.

How do new California residents get taxed? Is there tax owed when cashing out a life insurance policy?

Wells Fargo will host a free "Home Preservation Workshop" over two days next week at the Sacramento Convention Center.

With the economy starting to perk up, investors are wondering where they should be looking next.

Free tax help in Russian, Ukrainian and Hmong languages is available for low-income taxpayers and seniors, starting Wednesday.

The Moneywise Empowerment tour comes to Sacramento on Saturday.

Volunteer AARP Tax-Aide assistance will be available starting Wednesday at the following locations in Sacramento County: Arden-Dimick Library, Arcade Library, Carmichael Library, Folsom Library, Rio Linda-Elverta Community Center, Orangevale Recreation and Park Community Center, Sunrise Recreation Center, Fair Oaks Presbyterian Church and Victory Townhomes.

Trained volunteer tax preparers from Sun City Lincoln Hills will be helping people 60 and older with their tax returns through the AARP's tax-aide program in Lincoln.

With the April 17 tax- filing deadline just a few months away, questions about state and federal taxes are brewing. This week, IRS tax expert Jesse Weller and Daniel Tahara of the state Franchise Tax Board offer tax answers. Next week, we'll introduce a new group of local experts to answer your questions on personal finances, investing and wills/trusts.

Teaching kids about money can start at home at any age, says Coupons.com consumer writer Jeanette Pavini. Here are some of her tips:

It's official: the California tax season is under way.

Many homeowners are struggling with upside-down home loans. How to pass those troubled mortgages on to children in a trust can be a challenge.

Bye-bye, savings bonds. After 76 years, the traditional paper U.S. savings bond has gone digital.

It's the end of an era. As of Saturday, it'll no longer be possible to walk into a bank or credit union and buy a U.S. savings bond – in paper form. Starting Monday, savings bonds can only be purchased online at www.treasurydirect.gov.

A daughter's rights to a family business and a mother's concerns over family loans. This week, those topics are addressed by Robin Bevier, a Gold River-based estate planning attorney.

The IRS is reminding taxpayers: There are only a few days left to take advantage of year-end deadlines for certain tax deductions and credits.

Just in time for holiday reading, the IRS said this week its new, updated guide for taxpayers is now available online. Known officially as Publication 17, "Your Federal Income Tax," it contains new information on filing 2011 taxes, including tax credits for college students, parents and low-income filers. It's available on the IRS website, www.irs.gov.

Is investing in agriculture a smart move? This week, Sacramento wealth manager Jonathan Lederer answers a reader's question on whether agribusiness stocks make sense.

When trying to establish business relationships, many people stumble when networking. Here's how to correct common mistakes:

Didn't get your IRS tax refund? You may be among more than 99,100 U.S. taxpayers whose federal refund checks totaling $153.3 million were returned as "undeliverable."