Internet Resources |
Following are links to some of the many helpful free or low-cost information sources available to consumers online. These resources are organized by general topic and then alphabetically.
Clarus Financial Planning does not endorse any of the organizations, companies, or products. These resources are provided to help make your financial and life-planning choices easier.
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Financial Planning/Personal Finance
Certified
Financial Planner (CFP®).
Board of Standards Information about Certified Financial
Planner (CFP®) licensees and the financial-
planning profession, including what it takes to become
a CFP® and tips on how to select a
financial advisor.
The Garrett Planning Network An international
network of independent financial advisors and planners
offering hourly, as-needed financial planning and
advice to anyone regardless of income.
Kiplinger
Personal Finance Timely personal finance
advice and business forecasts; includes news, rates,
calculators, quotes, columns, and advice on finance
and business.
National
Association of Personal Financial Advisors
(NAPFA). Information about NAPFA and FEE-ONLY
financial planners, including why choose a FEE-ONLY
financial advisor.
Yahoo
Finance Financial news and commentary on
U.S. and world markets, plus investment, loan, and
insurance centers.
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Colleges & Financial Aid
College Board Online-The College Board Library Student and parent information; college planning news, tools and resources.
SavingforCollege.com
Independent and objective information on different ways
to save and pay for college; plenty of interactive tools.
Xap.com Its “Get Money” feature offers plenty of help in calculating and finding financial aid.
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Debt Management
Next
Property Group Real Estate Specialists for
people behind in mortgage payments because of financial
issues due to divorce, job loss, health issues, etc.
Nolo.com
and MyVesta.org
Both offer general information on topics like debt
and bankruptcy, overspending, credit repair, strategies
for repaying debts, and debt collections.
Quicken.com
Its “Debt Reduction Planner” helps with
ideas to reduce your debt.
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Estate Planning
Nolo Law Center The Wills and Estate Planning link provides access to plain-English articles on topics like estate-planning basics, living wills, funeral planning, and various other legal documents.
Aging With Dignity Learn how to ensure that your wishes will be followed in the event of a serious illness with the help of a Living Will and other documents; how to discuss your wishes with loved ones and your physician, and where to obtain resources for family caregivers; includes link to related sites. Check out its “Five Wishes” brochure.
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Government and Other Agencies/Organizations
American Bar Association Offers an online lawyer referral service plus plenty of helpful consumer information.
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services All things to know about Medicare, Medicaid, and many other federal and state-administered health programs.
Department of Health and Human Services Hot
links to all kinds of valuable health, health care,
drug, food, and medical information as well as more
resources.
FINRA
The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority - investor
information.
FirstGov
The U.S. government’s official Web portal with
hot links to agencies, information, and help from the
federal government.
Internal Revenue Service Tax information, directions, tools, downloadable forms, and more.
National
Association of Insurance Commissioners National
organization of state insurance regulators; visit its
Consumer Information Source.
North
American Securities Administration Association
Investor protection specialists; lots of good reading
on everything from investor rights to scams to avoid
and what to do if you have a problem.
Social
Security Administration News and how-to information
on tax withholding, obtaining a replacement card or
Statement of Earnings and Benefits, etc.
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Home Ownership
BankRate.com
Assorted general information and rates, including current
mortgage rates by specific location, calculators to
help you figure out how much house you can afford, and
a glossary.
National Association of Realtors® Lots
of home-buying and ownership information, links and
calculators; includes helpful search tools.
Next
Property Group Second property experts.
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Insurance
ComparisonMarket
A clearinghouse of automobile insurance providers.
eHealthInsurance.com Compare health insurance
policies for individuals, families, and small businesses.
Insure.com Comprehensive online consumer insurance information service for auto, life, and health insurance.
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Market News
Bloomberg.com Includes market data, news, analysis, and commentary plus live streamed radio and television links.
SmartMoney
From Dow Jones & Company Inc., publishers of The
Wall Street Journal, and Hearst Communications; online
magazine of personal business includes information on
stocks, bonds, mutual funds, the markets, and more.
Wall Street Journal Interactive edition. All the news of the WSJ plus 24-hour-a-day updates.
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Retirement
Kiplinger
Personal Finance Timely retirement advice,
calculators, columns, and more.
Nolo
Source of excellent do-it-yourself and informational
softback books on retirement issues. Type “retirement”
in Search tool.
Quicken.com Type “retirement” in Search tool for all kinds of valuable information on everything from planning for retirement to tax issues and more.
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Senior Issues
AARP Targets those 50 or older planning for or already retired; all kinds of useful information; be sure to check out Learning and Technology; Family, Home and Legal; Money, and Work.
Agency
on Aging A gold mine of government resources
for seniors to home and community-based services through
programs funded under the Older Americans Act.
FirstGov for Seniors The federal government’s Web portal; plenty of useful information on everything from consumer protection to health, retirement, taxes, travel and leisure, and plenty in between.
Medicare Learn about eligibility and benefits, billing, compare health-care options, download Medicare forms, and locate participating providers by geographic area.
Social Security Administration Access to a wealth of information related to Social Security; obtain general planning information; apply for benefits and even file online.
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Taxes
Internal Revenue
Service Tax information, directions, tools,
downloadable forms, and more.
TurboTax from Intuit Get plain-language answers to your tax questions, summaries of tax-law changes, tax tips and insights, calculators, and forms.
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