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	<title>FiGuide - A Retirement Plan That Works! &#187; Scott M. Spann, CFP®, EA</title>
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	<description>FiGuide&#039;s free daily tips provides short, actionable strategies to help you achieve a successful, worry-free retirement.</description>
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		<title>Why is the Term Fee-Only So Important?</title>
		<link>http://www.figuide.com/why-is-the-term-fee-only-so-important.html</link>
		<comments>http://www.figuide.com/why-is-the-term-fee-only-so-important.html#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 17 Feb 2010 20:35:55 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Scott M. Spann, CFP®, EA</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Featured]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Fee-Only Advising]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[fee-only]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[financial advisor]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Financial Planning]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.figuide.com/?p=5459</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[The term "Fee Only" refers to the way financial planners are compensated for the advice they provide. This term is growing in popularity, but many individuals in the financial services industry use this term inappropriately. In addition, if you ask the average person what it means to work with a Fee-Only financial planner they may not fully understand the critical importance of the term. The National Association of Personal Financial Advisors (NAPFA) defines a Fee-Only planner as "one who, in all circumstances, is compensated solely by the client, with neither the advisor nor any related party receiving compensation that is contingent on the purchase or sale of a financial product".[...]]]></description>
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		<title>What Should You Do If You Owe Taxes?</title>
		<link>http://www.figuide.com/what-should-you-do-if-you-owe-taxes.html</link>
		<comments>http://www.figuide.com/what-should-you-do-if-you-owe-taxes.html#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 11 Feb 2010 22:24:05 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Scott M. Spann, CFP®, EA</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Questions]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Tax Planning]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[tax debt]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[tax resolution]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.figuide.com/?p=5396</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Tax season has arrived and many Americans are still struggling financially. The recent economic crisis is still having a dire impact on the ability for families to manage their day to day finances. It is no surprise that an increasing number of people are having trouble meeting their income tax obligations. So what can you do if you find yourself unable to pay your income taxes?
Do not panic or procrastinate. IRS tax notices and balances due on recently filed tax returns can bring out a lot of negative emotions. Once ...]]></description>
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		<title>Three Important Financial Planning Questions</title>
		<link>http://www.figuide.com/three-important-questinos-to-ask-yourself.html</link>
		<comments>http://www.figuide.com/three-important-questinos-to-ask-yourself.html#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 10 Feb 2010 03:28:14 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Scott M. Spann, CFP®, EA</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Family Finances]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[financial life planning]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[financial plan]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Financial Planning]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[life planning]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.figuide.com/?p=5338</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Financial life planning helps people do more than just focus on typical financial goals such as deciding when to retire, where they plan on living, and how much the expected lifestyle will cost. The life planning process allows us to examine our values and life visions. Rather than simply focus on money and wealth it helps participants decide what is really important in their lives. Life goals, vision, and values must be identified and addressed during the creation of a meaningful financial plan.[...]]]></description>
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		<title>Creating an Investment Policy Statement</title>
		<link>http://www.figuide.com/creating-an-investment-policy-statement.html</link>
		<comments>http://www.figuide.com/creating-an-investment-policy-statement.html#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 07 Oct 2009 19:57:54 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Scott M. Spann, CFP®, EA</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Investing Strategies]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[ETF]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Financial Planning]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[investing strategy]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[investment advice]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[investment policy statement]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.figuide.com/?p=3336</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Do you have a written plan in place to guide your investment decisions?  If not, how do you know if your investment plan is on track to meet your financial life planning goals?  An excellent way to make sure that you follow an investment plan and have a measurement stick in place to track your progress is the setup an investment policy statement.  [...]
]]></description>
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		<title>Follow the &#8220;SMART&#8221; Process to Reach Your Goals</title>
		<link>http://www.figuide.com/follow-the-smart-process-to-reach-your-goals.html</link>
		<comments>http://www.figuide.com/follow-the-smart-process-to-reach-your-goals.html#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 27 Aug 2009 04:43:54 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Scott M. Spann, CFP®, EA</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Family Finances]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Financial Planning]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[goals]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.figuide.com/?p=2511</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Whether you are working with a professional or creating your own financial plan, a comprehensive list of goals and objectives is an important starting point in the establishment of a tax and financial plan. Many people make the mistake of jumping into certain aspects of the financial planning process without a clear sense of direction. Even if you are not working with a planner you should start the planning process with specific goals and objectives.
First, start by making a comprehensive list of the things you would like money to help ...]]></description>
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		<title>Protect Your Assets From Future Tax Hikes</title>
		<link>http://www.figuide.com/protecting-your-assets-from-future-tax-rate-hikes.html</link>
		<comments>http://www.figuide.com/protecting-your-assets-from-future-tax-rate-hikes.html#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 21 Aug 2009 17:47:45 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Scott M. Spann, CFP®, EA</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Tax Planning]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Tax]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.figuide.com/?p=2127</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[With the potential for significant tax law changes looming on the horizon,  strategic planning becomes necessary now more than ever to help preserve and  build wealth. From a historical perspective, Americans are currently enjoying  favorably low income tax rates. Unfortunately for affluent individuals and  families this is soon likely to change. With massive government spending and  growing federal deficits it is becoming apparent that changes to the tax code  are inevitable and significant tax hikes will likely occur in the not too  distant ...]]></description>
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		<title>Money and Relationships</title>
		<link>http://www.figuide.com/money-and-relationships.html</link>
		<comments>http://www.figuide.com/money-and-relationships.html#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 05 Aug 2009 04:15:54 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Scott M. Spann, CFP®, EA</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Banking & Budgeting]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[family]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.figuide.com/?p=1859</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[One common problem in marriages is a disagreement on how to manage money.  Unfortunately, comments such as “you spent how much on that?” are more common  than the ultimate question- “how much should we be spending?” It is not  surprising that financial disagreements are often cited as the number one reason  couples end up getting divorced. Many couples struggle with the task of openly  discussing their finances. The tax and financial planning process requires  couples to work together to achieve a common goal of ...]]></description>
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		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
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		<title>Taking Control of your Income Tax Planning</title>
		<link>http://www.figuide.com/taking-control-of-your-income-tax-planning.html</link>
		<comments>http://www.figuide.com/taking-control-of-your-income-tax-planning.html#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 03 Aug 2009 01:42:10 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Scott M. Spann, CFP®, EA</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Tax Planning]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.figuide.com/?p=1829</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[It is no surprise that most Americans dread April 15th when the deadline looms  for filling out federal and state income tax returns. On the surface, learning  the tax code can appear more complicated than learning a new language. In fact,  sometimes I read the tax code and wonder if the IRS is speaking English.
Have you ever vowed to yourself at tax time that you will be better  prepared &#8220;next year&#8221; only to experience the exact same frustration when next  year arrives? It is becoming ...]]></description>
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		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Common Reasons for Tax Problems</title>
		<link>http://www.figuide.com/common-reasons-for-tax-problems.html</link>
		<comments>http://www.figuide.com/common-reasons-for-tax-problems.html#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 30 Jul 2009 04:35:15 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Scott M. Spann, CFP®, EA</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Tax Planning]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Tax]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[tax problem]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.figuide.com/?p=1260</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[It is important to understand the reasons for the tax problems and their underlying causes. If you have a tax issue, do not forget the ultimate goals that you have for the Tax Resolution and Financial Freedom process. You should be trying to deal with your tax problems and replacing the problematic financial behaviors with positive ones. This process requires accountability, so be honest with yourself. Now is not the time to dwell on past mistakes. You need to use the knowledge of past mistakes or uncontrollable circumstances as a ...]]></description>
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		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
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		<title>Tips to Stay Current with Estimated Tax Payments</title>
		<link>http://www.figuide.com/tips-to-stay-current-with-estimated-tax-payments.html</link>
		<comments>http://www.figuide.com/tips-to-stay-current-with-estimated-tax-payments.html#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 23 Jul 2009 06:47:55 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>Scott M. Spann, CFP®, EA</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Tax Planning]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Estimated taxes]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.figuide.com/?p=1572</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Estimated tax payments are required on income that is not subject to withholding. The most common types of income that results in estimated tax are earnings from self-employment, interest, dividends, alimony, and rental income. Here are some basic tips related to estimated tax obligations.
Calculate your estimated tax payments
Many taxpayers have difficulty predicting what their actual income from self-employment and other sources (rental properties, investments, etc.) will be from year to year. Form 1040-ES is the form that is used to calculate required estimated tax payments. Use this form to calculate ...]]></description>
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