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Financial Planning Top Four End-of-Year Financial Planning Tasks Between turkey and holiday cookies, don't forget the most important type of planning you should do this year, financial planning. M&I, a part of BMO Financial Group, offers these four aspects of your finances everyone should review before 2012 arrives.   Quick Links:  Return to Homepage Weekly Newsletter Online CPE Twitter: SmartProsEditor       Updated 12/15

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Top 12 Financial Planning Strategies for 2012 The Financial Planning Association (FPA) of San Francisco announced today the top 12 financial planning strategies for individuals to consider for 2012. TIGTA: Many Investment Theft Loss Deductions Appear to be Erroneous Taxpayers may have erroneously claimed deductions of more than $697 million a year in investment theft losses that did not appear to qualify as such, resulting in revenue losses to the U.S. Government totaling more than $41 million, according to a report publicly released today by the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration (TIGTA). A Family Affair: Talking Turkey about Financial Planning Soon families across the country will be gathering to celebrate Thanksgiving, but this yearly tradition can be about more than just enjoying a home-cooked meal. According to Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards Consumer Advocate Eleanor Blayney, CFP(R), Americans should use the holiday to discuss important financial issues with family members we see infrequently. Stable-Value Strategies Becoming Riskier Towers Watson advises plan sponsors about the new risks to stable-value investment strategies. Dividing Small Businesses in Divorce Dividing small businesses in divorce can be difficult, complex, and of course...contentious. Make Moves Now to Lower Next Year's Tax Bill Year-end tax planning these next several weeks will be refreshingly straightforward for a change. Financial Mindset of Retirees Improving Though Fewer Considering How Long Assets Will Last Study by Society of Actuaries, LIMRA and InFRE reveals the ongoing impact of the 2008 economic downturn on the financial outlook and financial planning behavior of retirees. Fed Nearing a Plan to Clarify Direction of Rates The Federal Reserve under Ben Bernanke has gone further than ever to explain its policies to the public. It's ready to go further still. Innovative New Book Series Engages Kids in Financial Literacy America's economic challenges are compounded by consumer financial illiteracy. A strong America requires strong consumers and author Paul Nourigat, Senior Wealth Strategist for US Bank, has created an innovative series of books to show kids the way. 12 Year-end Tax Planning Tips for Businesses and Individuals Grant Thornton LLP wants to remind American taxpayers and businesses that now is the time to employ late-year tax planning strategies. U.S. Tax Office Seeks Info on Credit Suisse Clients Credit Suisse said Tuesday that U.S. tax authorities have demanded details on some of the bank's American clients, indicating that Washington is prepared to use existing treaties to pursue suspected tax cheats in Switzerland. Planning Ahead: Some Boomers Concerned about Financial Future Mike Oliver planned accordingly. The 67-year-old has been retired for six months and is an example of financial planning gone right.

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