Dear Ken and Daria,

Do I need to re-address my estate planning documents when I move?

-Robert

Everyone -- and we mean everyone -- should have an estate plan that dictates how your assets will be handled after you're gone. We know it's not fun to think about, but without one your loved ones won't be cared for the way you'd like.

Of course, once you draw up your estate plan, it's important to re-visit it during big life events -- including a move out of state. Let's take a look at what your estate plan should include, and how to update it.

Ken and Daria Dolan, America's First Family of Personal Finance, answer your money questions every Friday.

Click here to ask Ken and Daria your question.

Take the estate planning bull by the horns with Ken and Daria's guide to drafting your will the right way, only on Dolans.com.

Boy, were there some serious fireworks in the Dolan household over this one!

Very seldom do Daria and I VEHEMENTLY disagree on an issue...much less about something that involves things we are both passionate about -- food and good health. But we had a hot debate about this one.

Here's the issue: The state of Alabama is giving its state employees, all 37,527 of them, one year to get fit. If they don't, they start paying $25 a month for health insurance that they get currently get free.

Another week, another bank failure. Columbia Bank of Topeka, Kansas became the 9th bank to fail so far this year. You can read all the gory details here, but we want to focus your attention on just one number: $46 million.

$46 million was held in accounts at Columbia Bank that will NOT be covered by FDIC insurance. Most likely because those accounts were over the $100,000 FDIC limit. That's a lot of people losing a lot of money-money that, like you, they probably thought was safe in their bank. That's a lot of hard work, retirement dreams and college tuition payments that just went up in smoke!

Look, the banking industry is facing some serious trouble right now and we expect more failures ahead. (There are 90 banks sitting on the FDIC "trouble" list right now.) Don't let this happen to you and your loved ones.

Understanding how FDIC insurance works and taking a few simple steps to making sure you are playing by those rules can save you tremendous heartache should your bank fail. So, please take a few minutes now to be absolutely sure your money is safe.

Just watch our video below for a simple explanation of the rules and the steps you should take to protect the maximum amount of money possible.

Is your bank safe? Let personal finance experts Ken and Daria Dolan show you how to get the answer at Dolans.com. Plus learn 5 things you need to know if your bank fails.

Ken and Daria Dolan, America's First Family of Personal Finance, answer your money questions every Friday.

Click here to ask Ken and Daria your question.

Here's the plain truth: The single best step you can take to living the retirement of your dreams is to contribute the maximum amount allowed to an IRA. Unfortunately, too many people ignore this rare gift from Uncle Sam.

We hear from readers all the time about why they don't contribute to retirement plans, and it's usually because they don't know where – and how much – to contribute. Let's clear up some of that confusion with our answer to the following WalletPop reader question.

Dear Ken and Daria,

Can a working and a non-working spouse both make IRA contributions?

-Jim

Making the most of your IRA is a key part of successful retirement planning. Get answers to all your questions about IRA rules, Roth IRAs, rollovers and more at Dolans.com.

Time to add yet another name to our Celebrity Money Mistakes gallery!

Academy Award-winning actor Richard Dreyfuss had a Close Encounter of the unpleasant kind this weekend, when he sued his father and uncle over money.

Dreyfuss claims he loaned his family members $870,000 in 1984, but he never got back his money or the interest he says was due.

Ken and Daria Dolan, America's First Family of Personal Finance, answer your money questions every Friday.

Dear Ken and Daria,

With all the interest rate cuts the Fed has made, why does it take so long for them to reflect in refinancing a mortgage?

-John

Mortgage rates aren't the only thing impacted by rate cuts. Learn five critical ways fed interest rate cuts impact your wallet.

Click here to ask Ken and Daria your question.

Today's July retail sales report shows what we've been saying for some time--people seem to be spending their government stimulus checks on necessities such as food and gas, and not on shopping sprees.

President Bush's economic stimulus program--which doled out up to $600 per person to over 130 million households--might not have had the desired impact on the economy, but an extra $600 bucks surely helped your bottom line, right?

What's that you say...you haven't gotten your stimulus check yet?

Well, if you filed your 2007 tax return--which you must do in order to be eligible--more than 8-12 weeks ago, it's time to track down your missing money. Maggie B., one of our Dolans.com readers, followed the advice we're about to give you and discovered her stimulus check was collecting dust at the IRS because it was returned as "undeliverable" by the post office.

So take 5 minutes right now to visit www.irs.gov and click on the button right smack in the middle of the screen that says "Stimulus Package."

We're shocked to hear ourselves saying this, but the IRS has put together pretty useful, easy-to-understand information that can help you track down your check. The most common reason people don't receive their checks is because the check was returned to the IRS as undeliverable.

And that doesn't just apply to this year's stimulus checks. The IRS is holding BILLIONS of dollars of unclaimed tax refunds. In 2006 alone, the IRS owed a whopping $110 million in refunds to more than 155,000 people they couldn't find!

So download Form 8822, which is the IRS' official change of address form, right from that main stimulus package web page and find out if you have any unclaimed refunds coming to you.

The site also lists all the eligibility rules and reasons why you might not have received a check (for example, Uncle Sam kept it to pay back taxes you owed). The IRS will even put a trace on your check to help you track it down if it's been more than 8 weeks since you filed your return.

(By the way, if you haven't filed your 2007 tax return, it's NOT too late! You have until October 15th to file and still be eligible for your rebate. After that, say sayonara to a quick 600 bucks.)

Like the idea of finding lost money you didn't even know you had? We can show you more where that came from! Check out our new video, How to Find "Missing" Money at Dolans.com.

Personal finance experts Ken and Daria Dolan help people like you learn to save more, spend less and live richly at Dolans.com.

Ken and Daria Dolan, America's First Family of Personal Finance, answer your money questions every Friday.

Dear Ken and Daria,

My wife and I have the money to pay off our mortgage. Should we pay it off or invest for a higher return?

-Richard

Thinking of re-financing your mortgage? Check out the Dolans' guide to negotiating the best mortgage for you.

Click here to ask Ken and Daria your question.

Ken and Daria Dolan, America's First Family of Personal Finance, answer your money questions every Friday.

Dear Ken and Daria,

My husband recently retired at age 62 and we are planning to live off our taxable funds for a few years until his IRA kicks in. Is there a formula for figuring out how long our money will last us?

-Kathi

Curious how long your retirement savings will last? Use this retirement calculator at Dolans.com to find out!

Click here to ask Ken and Daria your question.

Ken and Daria Dolan, America's First Family of Personal Finance, answer your money questions every Friday.

Dear Ken and Daria,

I am 71-years-old and have some CDs that are about to mature. With interest rates so low, are they still a good investment?

-Joe

Ken and Daria Dolan can help you find solid investments for your money, even in a not-so-solid economy! Get started now at the Invest Wisely section of Dolans.com.

Click here to ask Ken and Daria your question.

Ken and Daria Dolan, America's First Family of Personal Finance, answer your money questions every Friday.

My husband and I would like to make a $125,000 extension on our home. What is the best way to finance this project?

-Suzanne

Thinking of making some home improvements? Click here to visit Dolans.com and see if it's really the smartest money move for you..

Click here to ask Ken and Daria your question.

Walk past a newsstand these days and you'll see dozens of glossy magazines with the faces of the rich and famous staring back at you. Glamour, fame, fortune! But behind the fancy clothes and re-touched photos, celebrities are just people who, like us regular Joes, make serious mistakes. No, not bad plastic surgery or making the Worst Dressed list, we're talking about making serious money mistakes.

Here are nine that have made headlines recently...

Money Mistake #1: Not Signing a Pre-nuptial Agreement
If the rampant rumors are true, Madonna and Guy Ritchie may be the latest celebrities calling it quits--and the latest to potentially end up in a nasty fight over money since the Material Girl apparently didn't have a prenuptial agreement. This puts Madonna's estimated $600 million fortune at risk. Remember, earlier this year another British court ordered Sir Paul to pay ex-Heather Mills a whopping $48.7 million, so this could cost Madonna dearly.

You don't need to be filthy rich to need a pre-nup. If you bring assets to your partnership that you want to be sure you keep 100% of if things don't work out, it's essential you work out a pre-nuptial agreement before you are married.

Money Mistake #2: Not keeping your will up to date.
Actor Heath Ledger's tragic death was compounded by the fact that neither his girlfriend, Michelle Williams, nor their daughter, Matilda, was included in his will. That wasn't a slight...Ledger just hadn't updated his will since 2003, well before either was in his life.

We all get busy, and visiting a lawyer to update your will isn't at the top of anyone's "fun" list, but it's one of the most important things you can do to protect your loved ones should something unexpected happen to you. Be sure you update your will to address any major life event, such as marriage, divorce or the birth of a child or grand-child.

Money Mistake #3: Losing a home to foreclosure
You've probably seen former Tonight Show host Ed McMahon in the headlines lately. In a sad turn of events, McMahon, once famous for knocking on people's door to make their dreams come true, is now facing the nightmare of losing his home to foreclosure.

Records show McMahon is $664,000 behind in payments on his Beverly Hills mansion. How could this happen? Simple: McMahon got caught by the housing bust just like so many other Americans. He bought a big house and took out a home equity loan when banks were saying "yes" to almost any request. Meanwhile, the value of his house went down with a very weak real estate the market, and he got behind in his payments.

Other celebs to lose their homes this year include queen of soul Aretha Franklin and disgraced baseballer Jose Canseco, who simply abandoned his $2.8 million pad -- just walked away and let the bank take it. (See a gallery of recent celebrity foreclosures here)

Money Mistake #4: Going Bankrupt
We know, we know, cry us a river, right? It's hard to muster much sympathy for celebrities who made a fortune and squandered it all, but the list of celebs forced to declare bankruptcy is surprisingly long. The newest member to join this unfortunate club is rapper MC Hammer, who burned through $30 million with his penchant for fancy cars, homes and a huge entourage. Other bankrupt celebs include boxer Mike Tyson, figure skating darling Dorothy Hamill and Debbie Reynolds.

Keep reading to learn about the two superstars who are in danger of adding their name to the list...

See the full list

Ken and Daria Dolan, America's First Family of Personal Finance, answer your money questions every Friday.

Dear Ken and Daria,

Is the only way to get a new cell phone plan at a good price to extend my contract? Is there any other way to purchase a cell phone at a discounted price?

-Lauren

Cell phones, gas, food... our everyday expenses can really add up! Visit Dolans.com to save big bucks on common costs with Ken and Daria's money-savvy tips.

Click here to ask Ken and Daria your question.

Ken and Daria Dolan, America's First Family of Personal Finance, answer your money questions every Friday.

Dear Ken and Daria,

Is there any advice you can offer to help me with the financial burden of paying for my daughter's college education?

-Maxine

Is your mailbox overflowing with college bills? Ken and Daria Dolan have proven strategies to tackle those tuition costs using quality sources you may not be aware of. Get started now at the College Center at Dolans.com.

Click here to ask Ken and Daria your question.

Ken and Daria Dolan, America's First Family of Personal Finance, answer your money questions every Friday.

Dear Ken and Daria,

I have "fair" credit. What kind of credit card is right for me?

-Cathy

Unsure what kind of credit card is right for you? Confused about what your credit rating really means? Ken and Daria Dolan keep you money-savvy with their advice on credit concerns at Dolans.com.

Click here to ask Ken and Daria your question.