1. The tax bite is too big. Does it make sense to convert? The number one question you should ask is: Where are you are going to get the money to pay the tax owed today for the benefit of tax-free growth tomorrow? With the economic downturn, people simply don’t have the money to pay the taxes up front or even over the next two years.

2. Retirement is too close. The problem here is it could take a long time to recoup the tax paid today for tax-free growth of a Roth. If you’re close to retiring, converting does not make sense.

3. Tax brackets change in retirement. Chances are that you will be in a lower tax bracket when you start taking distributions out of your IRA. Very few people have as much income in retirement as they do in the height of their working years.

The list above contains a few things to consider before you do a Roth conversion. Either way, you should consider a self-directed IRA—whether you are investing with tax-deferred or tax-free dollars—to acquire alternative investments that you know, understand, and have control over. For more information on how a self-directed IRA works, visit www.theentrustgroup.com.

1. Ditch the Blackberry. Put away all electronics at least one hour before you want to go to bed.
2. Think pink. The color pink has been proven to have a temporary calming effect. Some use a soft pink light bulb to wind down.
3. The scent of lavender, whether it is in oil or flower form, has a calming effect and puts you in a relaxed state.
4. Wave machines foster relaxation.

Send me an email and let me know if any of these techniques worked for you, and to all a good night!

Your teen may not be inspired to save, as the money is probably burning a hole in their wallet as I type. However, if there is something special they want to purchase (like an iPod or a Nintendo Wii), help them do the math so they can attain the goal of purchasing that big-ticket item and saving at the same time. If you can afford it, perhaps you can match their savings for additional compound growth.

The sooner we can teach our children the value of money, the better their financial future will be. Why not start with your teen?

To look into this program, you need to find a lender who offers 504 loans. Ask your primary bank, where you do business on an ongoing basis, if they offer SBA loans through programs where they hold the loan and collect full interest on the payments. If they do not, perhaps your banker can refer you to an institution that does.

With the economy what it is and credit tightening, it’s good to know the government still has programs with money allocated to help small businesses grow. Take advantage if you can!

1. Is your side business your passion? Do you love what you are about to do?
2. What are your time constraints in this start up? Will you be able to devote enough time to develop the business in order to grow?
3. Do you have a business plan? Is it in writing? Ask for help to set your goals; don’t try to go at it alone. SCORE, an organization of retired professionals, can help.

Don’t forget your full time day job. If this is a side business, you are still employed and your employer will expect 100% commitment. If you need the money, make sure you devote the energy to your primary source of income, so you don’t lose it. Good luck!

1. Hosted e-mail security
2. Web/URL filtering
3. Reputation-based antivirus software
4. Web application vulnerability scanning
5. Whole disk encryption
6. Web application firewalls

Sound complicated? If you don’t have an IT department, consider calling the Geek Squad (a company who consults for a nominal hourly fee) and have them go through your computer to make sure you are protected.

1. Help yourself. Foster your financial knowledge and expertise. Join an investor club, subscribe to newsletters like wisewomeninvestor.com and grow your expertise. The more you know, the more you will be able to exert your influence over your life, and come across as a confident woman.

2. Consider getting involved with local politics. If you favor conservative politics, join the Susan B. Anthony List and if you are a liberal, join Emily’s List. The centers of influence, people who are involved in politics, are a great crowd to network with.

3. Be a mentor. Volunteer through Big Brothers Big Sisters, be a Girl Scout troop leader, or find another way to be a role model for a next generation. Helping them empowers you!

Consider using a part of your IRA to diversify into an investment you choose directly. You might say to yourself, how do I know what I can buy with an IRA? How much work will this be for me? How do I keep track of how that IRA investment is doing? What do I need to do in order to sell that investment if it’s something I want out of? Can I really do investments in my IRA? My financial advisor said this is not legal, is that true? I am sure there are many other questions or concerns you have if you’re not familiar with self-directed IRA investing.

The best thing you can do for yourself is to learn more about how to invest your IRA in alternative assets that you can control. The Entrust Group is the nation’s largest third party administrator of self-directed IRAs. According to Hubert Bromma, CEO of The Entrust Group, the unique benefit of working with Entrust is their local office presence and expertise in your marketplace so you, the investor, have a place to go to get educated and become comfortable with this concept.

Is self-directing an IRA for everyone? I believe that we all must be responsible for our own financial future. No one cares as much about your money as you do. I believe we owe it to ourselves to take advantage of any opportunity that will help us accumulate wealth and financial freedom for ourselves. The choice of course is up to you. If you are interested in learning more, visit Entrust at www.theentrustgroup.com and find someone you can contact to get more information, attend classes, and take control!