Money Matters Radio Show #830

December 17, 2006

Mike thanked WSB listeners for helping out again for Clark Howard's Christmas Kids Campaign and reminding people they can still contribute this week on line at www.clarkhoward.com Mike also thanked everyone who made this year's Breakfast with Santa at Stone Mountain Park a huge success. Proceeds benefitted FODAC, Friends of Disabled Adults and Children.

Mike got a call about dealing with an aging parent. His advice is to have a family meeting to discuss all the emotional and financial issues being faced by the older person. He suggests the meeting be chaired by an outsider, such as an elder law attorney, a mediator recommended by an elder law attorney or a fee-only financial planner.

Mike talked about planned charitable giving. He says a good way for everyone to deal with the emotional issue of people asking for money is to make your charitable giving plans once a year and set aside money, much like rich people do when they set up charitable foundations. Once again, Mike urged people with gains in stock to look at not giving charities cash or checks, but to donate appreciated shares of stocks. This way the donor avoids paying taxes on the stock and 100% of the money goes to the charity!

Mike talked at length in the second segment about the power of dividend stocks and the many new dividend index funds now available for consumers. See more about that at http://www.moneybulletin.com/Detailed/421.shtml