1. What tax-free investments can be made to save for education costs -- if any? Saving “tax-free” for college can be accomplished by establishing a “529 College Savings account”. A 529 plan is a tax-advantaged savings plan designed to encourage families to save for college. Earnings on 529 investments accumulate tax-free, and distributions are tax-exempt as long as they are applied toward eligible education expenses such as tuition and room and board. 529 plans are named for the section of the federal tax code that governs them. They are sponsored by individual states and managed by a mutual fund or other financial services company. The investments underlying a 529 plan typically consist of mutual funds. Being a resident of Maryland however would not preclude you from using a 529 account that sponsored from another state. In fact many people will seek out the mutual fund family of their preference and establish their account with the plan sponsored by that stat... » Click here for the full story.

Having a deck installed or replaced seems easy enough, but the materials you choose can make quite a difference in long term costs and overall satisfaction of the project.   At an average cost of $2.10 per sq. ft.*, traditional pressure treated decking is commonly a popular choice for decking. Since composite decking averages $7.10 per sq. ft.* – at first glance – it’s not always the most attractive option for home owners.  However, when long term care and the average lifespan of the product are taken into consideration, the composite decking quickly becomes the most cost effective choice for many consumers. Our advice is to consider the following when making the decision to build a new deck, or to repair or replace an existing deck.   Which is easier on the eyes? Pressure treated decking is fastened by stainless nails or screws through the top side or "face" of the board.  In the finished product, all fasteners remain visible. Co... » Click here for the full story.

As we are approaching the “golden years” of retirement, you may be thinking, “Should I live in an age-restricted community or a traditional mixed generation community?” In order to make this decision, it is a good idea to list the facts and your feelings of the pros and cons for each. The following is a list of tips and discussion questions to get you started. 1. Are you looking for low maintenance and easy living? For example many adult communities offer first floor living with spacious Master Bedrooms and on-suite baths and walk-in closets. Second floor options are generally offering for addition guest bedrooms and storage. Most baby boomers do not want to climb stairs as they age. In addition, outside ground maintenance and snow removal services are offered, where the community management cuts your grass, fertilizes and irrigates shrubs and lawns, mulches your plant beddings and removes snow from your driveways and sidewalks. 2. Do you wish to surround you... » Click here for the full story.