Karin Price Mueller is the founder of NJMoneyHelp.com, a personal finance web site that offers smart and objective advice on everything money. She also writes the Bamboozled consumer affairs column for The Star-Ledger, and a monthly money column for Inside Jersey magazine, and she's been the recipient of many national and local journalism awards. Mueller lives in Monmouth County with her husband — Star-Ledger reporter Mark Mueller — and their three kids and two English Mastiffs. Whatever they don't eat goes into her retirement savings accounts.
Karin Price Mueller
![Applying for ‘early college decisions’ and financial aid questions](http://townsquare.media/site/385/files/2016/11/RS14498_179244339-1.jpg?w=980&q=75)
Applying for ‘early college decisions’ and financial aid questions
Q. My son is applying early decision to one school. But I know we won’t get the financial aid package until later. How can he say yes — if he’s accepted — if we don’t know what it’s going to cost?
![Avoiding taxes on retirement distributions](http://townsquare.media/site/385/files/2016/11/RS15598_503812170.jpg?w=980&q=75)
Avoiding taxes on retirement distributions
Q. I don’t need my Required Minimum Distributions and I don’t want to pay taxes on them, but I don’t really want to give them to charity. Are there other options?
![Tax changes for NJ retirees](http://townsquare.media/site/385/files/2016/11/RS15708_533033039.jpg?w=980&q=75)
Tax changes for NJ retirees
Q. Can you explain about before vs. after-tax savings for retirees? For example, I plan to retire in 2018 and will have a pension of about $40,000, filing taxes as single. I don’t expect additional income. What would I owe in taxes under the new bill that gives help for retirees?
![Lowering your taxable income after that big raise](http://townsquare.media/site/385/files/2016/11/RS2410_180093932-1.jpg?w=980&q=75)
Lowering your taxable income after that big raise
Q. I got a big raise, and I’m afraid it will put me into a higher tax bracket. What can I do to lower my taxable income?
![Trump’s presidency and the stock market](http://townsquare.media/site/385/files/2016/08/GettyImages-588937110.jpg?w=980&q=75)
Trump’s presidency and the stock market
Q. What areas of the stock market should be unaffected by the election?
![Are annual credit cards fees worth it?](http://townsquare.media/site/385/files/2014/12/RS6165_98412558.jpg?w=980&q=75)
Are annual credit cards fees worth it?
Q. I have a credit card with a $95 annual fee. I’m trying to decide if I should cancel or if it will hurt my credit report. What do you think?
![You may want to take a second look at your estate planning](http://townsquare.media/site/385/files/2016/11/RS15369_178784049.jpg?w=980&q=75)
You may want to take a second look at your estate planning
Q. We had our estate planning documents set to have a trust to help us avoid estate taxes in New Jersey. Now that it’s changing, do we have to change our plan again?
![Depreciation from a home office](http://townsquare.media/site/385/files/2016/11/RS7243_RS1157_87801501-scr.jpg?w=980&q=75)
Depreciation from a home office
Q. Please explain depreciation, and why would anyone want to do it? It seems you’d get killed in taxes when you eventually sell a home.
![Deciding if municipal bonds are right for your investment strategy](http://townsquare.media/site/385/files/2016/11/RS14521_450667753-1.jpg?w=980&q=75)
Deciding if municipal bonds are right for your investment strategy
Q. How can I decide if I should have municipal bonds? Is there a formula or something?
![As markets panic over Trump win, what should you do?](http://townsquare.media/site/385/files/2016/11/GettyImages-621866840.jpg?w=980&q=75)
As markets panic over Trump win, what should you do?
We’re getting a new president. The markets are shaky. In this NJMoneyHelp.com special election report, here’s what you need to know for your portfolio.