If you want to take control of your financial future and unlock the doors to financial success, you must have a plan that will allow you to find good investments, reduce taxes, beat inflation, and properly manage money. Whether you're new to financial planning or a seasoned veteran, this updated edition of Ernst & Young's Personal Financial Planning Guide provides valuable information and techniques you can use to create and implement a consistent personalized financial plan. It also takes into consideration the new tax rules that affect home ownership, saving for college, estate planning, and many other aspects of your financial life.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Acknowledgments
About the Authors
Introduction

Part I The Fundamentals of Financial Planning
1 Taking Charge of the Financial Planning Process
2 Building Wealth to Meet Your Goals
3 Building Wealth Through Investment Planning: Set Your Financial Goals; Understand Investment Vehicles
4 Building Wealth Through Investment Planning: Understand Financial Markets and Concepts; Develop an Investment Strategy
5 Building Wealth Through Investment Planning: Implement Your Strategy; Monitor Your Investments
6 Building Wealth (Concluded)
7 Protecting Your Family and Assets Through Life Insurance
8 Protecting Your Family and Assets Through Health, Disability, Property/Casualty, and Auto Insurance
9 Providing for Your Family Through Estate Planning
10 Estate Taxes and Deductions
11 Gift Tax Fundamentals and Generation-Skipping Transfer Tax
12 Sophisticated Estate Planning
13 Estate Liquidity, Powers of Attorney, and Living Wills

Part II The Life Event Approach to Financial Planning
14 Getting Married
15 Raising a Family
16 Coping With Divorce
17 Being a Single Parent
18 Buying and Selling a Home
19 Funding a College Education
20 Taking Advantage of Employment Benefits
21 Starting Your Own Business
22 Dealing With Your Parents
23 Losing Your Spouse or Life Partner
24 Planning for Retirement
25 Planning for Retirement: Health Care and Insurance Needs
26 A Few Words in Parting

Index