"Experience is the name everyone gives to their mistakes." - Oscar Wilde

One mistake you don't want to make, though, is to fall victim to an Internet scam, which could lead to the loss of money or even your identity.

As surely as you are working hard to file your paperwork, Internet scam artists are working hard to defraud you by posing as the IRS. You should always be cautious about opening unsolicited e-mails, but during tax season, it's easier to overlook a scam because you also expect to receive legitimate messages about your taxes.

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Identity theft affects 10 million people in the United States every year. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has launched a campaign called "Deter. Detect. Defend." to provide resources to combat identity theft.

If you believe your identity may have been compromised, or if you want to find ways to protect yourself, the FTC's ID theft site is a great starting point.

Although there is no way to be completely immune from identity thieves, the FTC recommends several steps you can take to discourage them:

1.  Protect your social security number.

2.  Shred documents containing personal information before
     discarding them.

3.  Never give out information over the phone or Internet unless you
     know who you are dealing with.

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Shakespearian references aside, a whole lot lies in a name when that name belongs to the beneficiary of your assets. If you're like most people, though, you probably haven't thought of those beneficiary names since you first wrote them down on paperwork.

In fact, there's a slim chance that you are scratching your head and wondering, "What is a beneficiary anyway?" You're not alone there either.

Often, we designate a beneficiary without really knowing what that means and how it could impact our estate plan. Fortunately, a little information is all you need to get moving.

Put simply, a beneficiary is the answer to the question, "Who gets what from my estate?" Sometimes, the same person may be the "who" for all of your assets. In many cases, however, the beneficiary may vary based on what the asset is and what you are trying to accomplish.   As your life changes, your beneficiaries may change as well.

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 Using this graphic presentation by the New York Times, you're in charge of the nation's finances.

You can influence the future in the following categories: domestic programs, foreign aid, health care, social security, existing taxes, new taxes, and tax reform. 

Each time you make a decision by checking a box, your progress is reflected in the overall budget deficit in 2015 and 2030.