The IRS did something to help us this time. Families (parents, grandparents or interested others) saving for college using 529 college plans can now adapt more quickly to a volatile market.

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If you are in charge of or oversee your elderly/retired parents finances, you have some flexibility this year in the usually stiff requirements regarding distributions from IRAs, 401(k)s and other plans, thanks to the recent Worker, Retiree, and Employee Recovery Act of 2008.