An in-depth guide to 401(k) plans--for the over 24 million Americans participating in them As 401(k) assets accumulate, so do the questions about the plans--especially with regard to the investment options which typically include at least seven choices by employers. This much-needed book explains how 401(k) plans work, how federal regulations and company policies affect retirement savings, how to develop investment strategies that will benefit individual needs, and what happens when money is taken out of a 401(k) plan. It also compares 401(k) plans to other tax-sheltered retirement plans, including IRAs, 403(b) plans, and 457 plans, and provides comprehensive listings of Web and print information resources. Most importantly, J. K. Lasser's Winning with Your 401(k) helps readers to understand their company plan in terms of their own personal needs and goals for the future. Grace W. Weinstein (Englewood, NJ) writes a weekly column on personal finance for the Financial Times and a regular column on tax issues for Investor's Business Daily. She has appeared on Good Morning America and the Today Show.

AT LAST, SOUND, INFORMED, REALISTIC ANSWERS FOR RETIREMENT FINANCE Use the simple, step-by-step guidance in J.K. Lasser's Your Winning Retirement Plan to double your money for your golden years. Whether you're forecasting how much you need to be saving for retirement or are deciding how much you should be spending once you're there, acclaimed planning expert Henry K. Hebeler can get you the results you need. You'll analyze your investments and start getting the highest possible returns--with the least amount of risk; take a real-world look at your total financial picture, without inappropriate planning assumptions; and make use of a new concept called the Retirement Autopilot, which can help you budget more wisely today and ensure that your investments will last a lifetime. Key coverage will help you: * Beat reverse dollar-cost averaging so your money will continue to grow * Make use of modern feedback theory to secure your finances today--as well as tomorrow * Find solutions to different retirement scenarios, including early retirement and when only one spouse is retired

BUILD A SOLID RETIREMENT FOUNDATION BY TAKING CHARGE OF YOUR 403(b) Learning how to properly choose and maintain a 403(b) plan can be confusing and downright frightening without the proper information. J.K. Lasser?s Winning with Your 403(b) will educate you on this unique and powerful tax-sheltered retirement plan for employees of nonprofit organizations. Retirement planning is an important aspect of everyone?s financial strategy. This indispensable guide to 403(b)s will give you the insight and knowledge needed to ask the right questions when choosing a 403(b) plan, receive respectable returns on your investment, and reap the rewards of your plan as you head into retirement. Whatever your goals may be, if you are investing in a 403(b) as a vehicle for retirement, you should also invest in J.K. Lasser?s Winning with Your 403(b). Critical coverage will help you: * Learn why selecting the right 403(b) vehicle is crucial to the success of your investment returns * Pick the 403(b) plan that fits your specific needs by using a 10-point checklist * Compare 403(b) plans with other retirement plans including 401(k)s, Roth and traditional IRAs, annuities, and pension plans * Select funds to meet the objectives of your 403(b) plan * Develop sound investment strategies that will keep your 403(b) healthy * Steer your 403(b) through job changes, retirement, and beyond J.K. Lasser?Practical Guides for All Your Financial Needs Please visit our Web site at www.jklasser.com

SENSIBLE WAYS TO SAVE FOR COLLEGE From tuition and books to room and board, the cost of college is staggering-and it isn't getting any cheaper. What you're saving today may not be enough to cover the cost of your child's college education tomorrow. J.K. Lasser's Winning Ways to Save for College provides the most straightforward, tax-efficient strategies to save for your children's college education-whether they're eight months old or eighteen years old. Even if you've worked out how much money you need to save, you still need to make many other important decisions, such as how that money will be invested, the tax consequences of those investments, and how that investment portfolio should change over time. Don't wait! The faster you start saving, the sooner you can stop worrying. Key coverage will help you: * Choose the investments that fit into your college savings plan-stocks, bonds, mutual funds, CollegeSure CDs, and U.S. Treasury Bills * Use educational savings provisions in the Economic Growth and Tax Relief Reconciliation Act of 2001 to speed up the growth of your college savings * Understand how 529 savings plans stack up to prepaid plans, Education IRAs, UGMAs, and UTMAs * Select a financial planner who will help you plot a strategy for college savings * Apply for financial aid such as grants, loans, work-study jobs, and scholarships J.K. Lasser--Practical Guides for All Your Financial Needs Please visit our Web site at www.jklasser.com

* Easy-to-understand financial fundamentals * Strategies to improve profit and cash flow * Make your accounting reports more useful * How to budget according to business size PROVEN, HANDS-ON GUIDANCE FOR BUILDING SUCCESSFUL AND EFFECTIVE FINANCIAL BUSINESS PRACTICES Using easy-to-understand language, J.K. Lasser's Financial Basics for Business Managers nails down the financial basics of business management like no other book. With this comprehensive book as your guide, you'll quickly learn how to protect and improve the financial performance and position of your business-regardless of its size. Bestselling financial author John Tracy explains in detail the full range of financial analysis and budgeting techniques used by managers and small business owners in today's workplace, including income statements, balance sheets, operating ratios, profitability, cash flow, cost allocations, capital investments, and much more. Filled with valuable tips and strategies, J.K. Lasser's Financial Basics for Business Managers gives you the tools you need to manage more efficiently than ever before. Critical coverage will help you: * Read financial statements and accounting reports * Better analyze and plan profit and cash flow * Control costs, cash flow, and financial condition * Interpret accounting information * Factor in the cost of capital when making capital investments J.K. Lasser--Practical Guides for All Your Financial Needs Please visit our Web site at www.jklasser.com

* Be tax-conscious all year long and lower your tax rates * Record-keeping essentials to project your tax deductions * Year-end tax moves to cut your taxes Plan now-so you can save later With each new tax year comes new tax laws, and this year is no different. From the Economic Growth and Tax Relief Reconciliation Act of 2001, and the Victims of Terrorism Tax Relief Act of 2001 to the Job Creation and Worker Assistance Act of 2002, you can no longer afford to take a wait-and-see attitude when dealing with your taxes. You have to be proactive. If you're looking to avoid unwelcome surprises at tax time, pick up J.K. Lasser's Year-Round Tax Strategies 2003. Whether you invest in stocks or mutual funds, own a home, work from home, or own a business, this invaluable book provides tax-saving strategies that will guide you throughout the year-ensuring a shock-free April 15th. Plan ahead, prepare for new tax laws, and pay fewer taxes with the help of J.K. Lasser's Year-Round Tax Strategies 2003. Detailed tax coverage provides you with: * Comprehensive coverage of new tax legislation and IRS rules * Plain English explanations of income-reporting rules, tax deductions, and tax credits * Special sections highlighting tax-planning and tax-saving opportunities for investors, business owners, and individuals planning for retirement and other special circumstances * Questions and answers that illustrate tax-filing and tax-planning techniques

The most trusted name in tax! April 15th comes once a year. But the new tax laws will change the way we save and plan our financial affairs all year-round. That's why J.K. Lasser provides a comprehensive library of smart financial planning and investing advice for all your needs-for tax season and beyond. J.K. Lasser's(TM) Your Income Tax 2002 and J.K. Lasser's(TM) Year-Round Tax Strategies 2002 give early planners a head start on understanding the new tax regulations and preparing for filing the return on April 15th. And Lasser's personal finance guides help you make the most of your money from every angle. Consider it total care for your wealth and financial well-being, 365 days a year.

The Economic Growth and Tax Relief Reconciliation Act of 2001—this big tax law with the big name is going to change the way you live your financial life. Find out how in J.K. Lasser's New Tax Law Simplified: the concise, authoritative guide from the trusted experts who bring you J.K. Lasser's Your Income Tax. Packed with up-to-the-minute facts and figures, this book makes it easy for you to understand-and profit from-the most significant tax legislation of the last decade. Learn what the new law means for you and your family, and find out how to use it to keep more of your hard-earned money in your pocket. With this book you'll understand: The key tax changes that affect you right now Phased-in rules for the next ten years Faster, easier retirement savings options New tax breaks to improve your family's education Deductions, tax breaks, and planning tips And much, much more!

A complete guide to planning an estate under today's tax rules When it comes to your estate--no matter how big or small it may be--you shouldn't leave anything to chance. Proper planning is necessary to protect both your assets and your heirs. Estate Planning Law Specialist Harold Apolinsky and expert financial planner Stewart Welch III know this better than anyone else, and in the Revised and Updated Edition of J.K. Lasser's New Rules for Estate and Tax Planning, they offer valuable advice and solid strategies to help you plan your estate under today's tax rules as well as preserve your wealth. Packed with up-to-the-minute facts, this practical resource covers important issues, such as: * How new legislation will impact inheritances and trusts * Estate and generation-skipping tax planning * The role of wills, executors, and trusts * Treatment of charitable contributions * The do's and don'ts of gifting * Life insurance and retirement planning Filled with in-depth insights and expert advice, this book will show you how to efficiently arrange your estate today so that you can leave more to those you care about tomorrow.

STOP PAYING MORE TAXES ON YOUR BUSINESS-TODAY! Small businesses are big news. They are profitable, flexible, and productive. But come tax time, most small business owners are at a loss. Let small business and tax expert Barbara Weltman help you maximize your deductions and minimize your payments with J.K. Lasser's New Rules for Small Business Taxes. With the new tax law in effect, many favorable tax changes have been made for small business owners-but unless you're a tax expert, you might not realize all the ways a small business can benefit from both new and current tax laws. J.K. Lasser's New Rules for Small Business Taxes gives you a complete overview of small business tax planning in an accessible and friendly manner. Focusing on strategies that help you use deductions, business income, and other aspects of your small business to save during tax time, this comprehensive guide is all you need to keep up with Uncle Sam. The invaluable advice and guidance in this book will show you how your actions in business today can affect your bottom line from a tax perspective tomorrow. In this volume, you'll find: * Detailed coverage of new tax laws and IRS rules * A complete rundown of available business expenses * Comprehensive information on each deductible expense, including dollar limits and record-keeping requirements * Clear instructions on where to report income and claim deductions on your tax forms * Sample forms and helpful checklists that will keep you organized during tax time * Planning strategies that can help you run a tax-smart business all year long-and avoid problems with the IRS J.K. Lasser-Practical Guides for All Your Financial Needs Please visit our Web site at www.jklasser.com