Money Matters:  Q. We have a 2-year-old and are expecting our second child this summer. We'd really like for my wife to be able to stay home with our children; we just aren't sure if this is financially possible.

Money Matters:  Q. I own a small property and casualty insurance agency, and have always contributed to, and encouraged my two employees to contribute to, either a tax-deductible IRA or a Roth IRA.

Money Matters:  Q. My wife and I just got married the last week in December, and we have some really stupid questions and hope you can help us.

Money Matters:  Q: I'm planning to put my daughter's name on a lot of my accounts as well as the deed to my house.

Money Matters:  My husband and I want to set up an education savings account for our 6-month-old grandson, but he doesn't have a Social Security number. Our daughter and son-in-law are working in a foreign country, and that is where he was born. Please help.

Money Matters:  Q. I'm being given a severance package as part of a corporate merger and think this is the perfect time to try my hand with a small business venture I've always dreamed about.

Money Matters:  Q. Our company stock took a dive, and I and a lot of my co-workers lost more than half our life savings in just a few days. The only explanation we've been given is that a hedge fund sold us short. How could that impact the price of a stock so severely?

Money Matters:  Q. My children are grown, and I'm divorced. I can't think of any reason to maintain a life insurance policy I purchased many years ago.

Money Matters:  Q. I hate my job and want to retire in a few years when my wife and I are both age 52. I have about $500,000 in my 401(k) and will need about $50,000 a year after taxes to meet my expenses in retirement.

Money Matters:  Q. Two months ago, my financial adviser almost drove me crazy trying to get me to buy a disability policy.

Money Matters:  Q. I'm considering opting out of my 401(k) plan at work due to the lousy investment selections offered within the plan.

Money Matters:  Q. I received an email that is making me think seriously about selling my house either this year or next. I'd planned to sell once I retire in five years anyway.

Money Matters:  Q. We read your article on government bonds, of which we have been long-term purchasers and have quite a large Treasury-Direct account.

Money Matters:  In light of Pat Robertson's recent comments about divorcing a spouse with Alzheimer's, several questions have come up.

Money Matters:  Q. I know you've written about the perils of borrowing from your 401(k) and have advised against doing so, but it was the only way to pay for our son's college.

Money Matters:  Q. We are in pretty good financial shape and are considering the purchase of a small house from an elderly friend for $250,000.

Money Matters:  Q. Could you explain the new $5 million spousal portability rules? Does this do away with the unlimited exemption between spouses? What is the amount you can gift to a nonspouse without any tax?