Intuit

H&R block is at it again, dumping accounting consultancy RSM McGladrey in a continuing pattern of erratic acquisitions and sales. True, the tax preparer is well-positioned in software and online filing, and currently offers good value. But if you want growth, you'd do better to buy its more nimble competitor, Intuit.

Stocks closed broadly if modestly higher Friday on light volume as traders avoided making any big bets ahead of a long holiday weekend. The equity markets closed up for the third straight day and extended their winning ways to a third consecutive week.

Here are five relatively painless steps you can take this month that could benefit you in a big way come tax time in April. So take a break from all the holiday hoopla and focus on maximizing your tax position for 2010.

Intuit has released Quicken 2011, a new personal finance management tool that represents the first collaborative Quicken release between the Quicken Desktop and Mint.com teams. The result is a desktop personal finance tool that looks and feels in some areas like a website with a new and improved...

H&R Block has been a laggard in its online efforts, while competitor Intuit's TurboTax keeps gaining market share. To start remedying the situation, H&R Block this week agreed to pay $287.5 million for 2SS Holdings, which develops the desktop and online tax-prep software TaxACT.

Did tech giants Apple, Intel, Google, and Adobe enter into "no-poach" agreements with each other? The Department of Justice is wrapping up its year-long investigation, which centers on whether such agreements may have kept wages artificially low.

Intuit shares were downgraded by UBS after investors bid up the software maker's stock to the investment bank's price target earlier this week.

Intuit has acquired Cha-Ching, which develops Mac web programs and iPhone apps for personal finance.

Investors reacted swiftly and negatively after the tax preparer announced that Russ Smyth was leaving. Alan Bennett, the former interim CEO, is coming back to the position permanently. Still, news clearly unsettled investors.

The maker of TurboTax and QuickBooks financial software is extending into electronic health-care records with its purchase of Medfusion. Given that 72% of consumers surveyed told Intuit they'd use an online tool for tracking health care, it may be another billion-dollar opportunity.