Teach Me Personal Finance

My #1 goal is to make it easy to learn about personal finances.
I believe smart money decisions come from being informed about your choices.

Hi, I’m Forrest Baumhover

Learn More About Money, Tax planning, and Social Security

I’m a Certified Financial Planner, tax practitioner, retired Navy veteran, and writer. I love to write articles on financial topics that help everyday people learn more about money. I especially like to explore financial planning subjects that no one else has tackled before, and help people with financial questions they haven’t found the answers to.

Tax Planning

Tax planning is fundamental to financial planning. These articles outline how to achieve your financial goals without paying more taxes than you have to.

Latest Personal finance Articles

My most recent personal finance tips, tutorials, and tax walkthroughs.

irs form 8453, u.s. individual income tax transmittal for an irs efile return

IRS Form 8453 Instructions

The Internal Revenue Service highly recommends that taxpayers use electronic filing to submit their federal income tax return. However, there are still some forms that taxpayers cannot file electronically, even…
irs form 8853, archer MSAs and long-term care insurance contracts

IRS Form 8853 Instructions

As of 2008, most taxpayers are no longer able to contribute to an Archer Medical Savings account (known as an Archer MSA). However, Archer MSAs are still around for those…

IRS Form 911 Instructions

If you’re facing a significant tax matter, struggling with financial difficulties, or experiencing a significant hardship caused by tax problems, you may need some representation. One way of getting that…
irs form 8379, injured spouse allocation

IRS Form 8379 Instructions

Perhaps you were expecting a big tax refund when you received a notice of offset indicating that the Department of Treasury is using your federal tax refund to pay your…
form ss-4: application for employer identification number (EIN)

Form SS-4 Instructions

The Internal Revenue Service requires all taxpayer entities to have a federal taxpayer identification number. Many businesses, trusts, and other entities might have to obtain an employer identification number, or…

Social Security

Read these in-depth articles to learn more about how to make the most of your Social Security benefits.

Retirement Planning

Retirement planning is a fundamental part of the financial planning process. Learn about helpful and actionable insight on how to plan your retirement.

Estate Planning

Retirement planning is a fundamental part of the financial planning process. Learn about helpful and actionable insight on how to plan your retirement.

Divorce Planning

Retirement planning is a fundamental part of the financial planning process. Learn about helpful and actionable insight on how to plan your retirement.

Investment Planning

Retirement planning is a fundamental part of the financial planning process. Learn about helpful and actionable insight on how to plan your retirement.