1. Be Proactive In Your Giving
Smart givers generally don't give reactively in a knee-jerk reaction. They don't respond to the first organization that appeals for help. They take the time to identify which causes are most important to them and their families. And they are specific about the change they want to affect. For example, they don't just support generic cancer charities, but instead have targeted outcome goals for their giving, such as providing mammograms to at-risk women in their community.

Like many people, you may make some New Year’s resolutions. Perhaps you’ve promised yourself that you’ll visit the gym more often or learn a new language or reconnect with a long-lost friend. All of these are worthy goals, of course, and if you achieve them, you may add new dimensions to your life. But if you want to accomplish other major milestones you may have envisioned — a new home, college for your kids, a comfortable retirement and so on — you may need to set some New Year’s financial resolutions.

As the Senate environment committee starts to hold hearings on the climate change bill, we think thereapostrophes one critical question for the senators: Who are you talking to?

Once again, itapostrophes Halloween. If youapostrophere an adult, youapostrophere probably more amused than frightened by the variety of ghouls, ghosts and goblins youapostrophell see running around this week. However, although Halloween itself may not be particularly alarming, you can find some things in life that are truly scary - such as making bad investment moves.

If you are a baby boomer - born between 1946 and 1963 - and your parents are still alive, you may want to talk to them about an important subject: their plans for leaving a legacy. Their thoughts on the subject might vary from yours, so, to avoid misunderstandings that could lead to hurt feelings - and financial problems - you will want to make sure now that you are all "reading from the same script."

You most likely need to save and invest for retirement. But if you have children, you also may want to put money away for their college education. Are these two goals mutually exclusive?