Disclaimer

Everything we publish, on this site, in the Sunday letter and in our printable books, is for general education and entertainment. They are not financial, investment, legal or tax advice, and they are not a substitute for advice from a licensed professional who knows your circumstances.

Rules on trusts, estates, taxes, banking and insurance differ by state and change over time. Before acting on anything you read here, confirm it with a fee-only financial planner, CPA or estate attorney.

Etiquette guidance reflects widely accepted modern conventions. Customs vary by country, region and family; when in doubt, follow your host.

This site earns money from advertising. Advertisers do not influence what we write, and no advertiser sees anything before it is published. If we ever earn a commission from a link, we will say so where the link appears.

How current this is

Tax figures, contribution limits and legal rules change every year, and some of them change mid-year. Our figures name the year they apply to, and the Rulebook collects them on one page, This Year’s Numbers, updated each January. If you are reading them months later, treat the numbers as a starting point and confirm the current figure with the IRS, your state, or a professional before you act on it.

Etiquette is local

Manners differ by country, region, industry and family. Where guidance is specific to the United States, we say so. When a rule here conflicts with what your host does, follow your host. Good manners are about making other people comfortable, never about correcting them.

Money topics, specifically

Nothing here is a recommendation to buy or sell any investment, insurance policy, or property, and nothing here accounts for your income, debts, family, health or state. Trusts, wills, business structures and tax strategies are all state-specific, and the wrong structure can cost far more than it saves. Before acting, speak to a fee-only financial planner, a CPA, or an estate or employment attorney licensed where you live.

Questions or corrections: see our editorial policy and contact page.