Spare Change

Market Tip

The average technology fund has fallen 5 percent the past five years, versus a 20 percent gain for the Standard and Poor’s 500-stock index. But after five years of absorbing a beating, tech stocks are relatively inexpensive now, and some market-watchers are saying it’s a good time to pick up large, high-quality tech stocks. Oracle and Cisco Systems, for example, both sell for less than 20 times their estimated earnings for the next 12 months.

Bookshelf

Starting a small business involves a fair amount of pre-planning, but these titles can help an entrepreneur sort out the start-up process:

“”The Small Business Start-Up Kit, 4th Edition” by Peri H. Pakroo

“”Steps to Small Business Start-Up, 6th Edition” by Linda Pinson and Jerry Jinnett

“”Start Your Own Business Workbook” by Gina Marie Mangiamele

“”SBA Loans; A Step-by-Step Guide, 4th Edition” by Patrick D. O’Hara

Money Tip

Routine dental treatment can cost a bundle; about 45 percent of Americans lack dental insurance, and even if you’re insured, benefit caps, deductibles and co-pays may still hit your wallet hard. To manage those expenses, consider enrolling in a dental discount plan, which offers reduced costs for dental procedures. Find a plan by visiting www.Dental Plans.com.

Tax Watch

New federal pension legislation contains important income-tax relief for children or significant others who inherit money in an employer- sponsored retirement plan, such as a 401(k). Under the new law, a child or any other non-spouse who inherits money in such a retirement plan can transfer it directly into an IRA, spreading out distributions and easing the tax bite.