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Now’s the season for helping others who are less fortunate than you by giving your time talents and resources to a worthy charitable cause. According to “The Nonprofit Fundraising Survey: November 2010” compiled by the Association of Fundraising Professionals Blackbaud the Center on Philanthropy at Indiana University the Foundation Center GuideStar USA Inc.

In her recent article “Why do investors trust advisors but not Wall Street?” Susan Antilla explores the disconnect between investors who proclaim their distrust of the financial securities industry but exempt their financial advisors from that profound mistrust. In fact it seems many investors are so trusting of their advisor that they fail to vet them properly.

Although agreement seemed highly unlikely just weeks ago Democratic support for a plan put forward by Republicans and accepted by President Obama seems to be gaining steam. The compromise in waiting would reinstate the estate tax at 35% for two years starting next year with the first $5 million of an individual’s estate exempted.

In spite of all your best laid plans there may be a glitch in your retirement dreams. If you retire early before you would qualify for Medicare you may be looking at a costly gap in your health insurance. If you figure you will simply keep the coverage you have from your employer think again.

Trust is a curious thing. Having faith in someone – trusting a person or an institution can be a bond that is stronger than steel. Witness a mother bonded to her young child or a soldier’s unflinching obedience to a commanding officer or how you feel when you board an airplane for a flight. The weight of the world can hang on the bond of trust.

Changing demographics are the main cause of today’s housing surplus according to new research by University of Virginia urban and environmental planning professor William Lucy. He says the path to a housing market rebound doesn’t lie in new construction but in rethinking housing needs based on changing demographics.

I always tell my clients not to leave money on the table but according to a recent 401(k) study many American employees are doing just that.

According to the Small Business Administration 90% of the 21 million US businesses are family owned. Amazingly less than one third of these companies will transfer successfully to the second generation and only 15 percent will survive by the third. Why the low survival rate? Most of these businesses lack a succession plan or an exit plan.

Long-term care insurance (LTC) pays for the things Medicare does not–assisted living in-home care adult daycare and nursing homes. One of the biggest trends in LTC insurance is group coverage sold through your employer an association you’re a member of or even through your bank or credit union.

What does the new Congress–with a Republican controlled House and Democratic controlled Senate–mean for your investments?