Robert M. Gaan, CFP®

I want to add a couple of thoughts to supplement what Jody, Victor and Eddie have already contributed. In 2012, the tax rate for long term capital gains is 0% for taxpayers in the 10% and 15% Federal tax brackets. Depending on your tax bracket, you may be able to sell your company stock and owe no Federal capital gains tax.

In fact, you should generally look at how a capital gain might affect the rest of your taxable income. For example, the capital gain could raise your adjusted gross income (AGI) and that may cause more of your Social Security benefits (if you are collecting Social Security) to be taxed or it could potentially cause you to be subject to deduction phaseouts.

I recommend you check with a tax advisor to see how a capital gain will affect you given your specific facts and circumstances.

The answer to your question may lie in the wording of the trust document and not in the general workings of estate law. Have you reviewed the trust document?

If you have concerns about the advice that you are receiving from the lawyer handling the estate, my recommendation is to get a second opinion. Since every state has a different trust and estate laws, seek out an attorney who is versed in the laws of the state that governs the trust. Some attorneys offer free initial consultations. However, even if you have to pay a nominal fee, it may be well worth the cost given what is at stake.

Good luck.

John, I think you will be hard pressed to obtain a bank loan without having to pledge some sort of collateral to secure the obligation. If you web search "compare credit card rates" you will find results for sites like bankrate.com. Do some research and maybe you can apply for a credit card with a lower rate to which you can request a balance transfer from your current card.

Also do some research on your student loan. You may already have a good deal relative to the student loan landscape. The finaid.org website is a good place to start your research.

My general advice is for you to be patient and persistent with regard to debt reduction. Focus on paying down the debt with the highest interest rate first. Commit to a debt payment plan and stick to it. If you get a new card with a lower rate, I recommend you close out the old card account so that you are not tempted to run up a new balance. It's good that you are thinking creatively with regard to optimizing your finances. Keep at it!