But for your Uncle Al living in Boca, if he is paying 20% over the value of Treasury bonds at par today to get interest payments of just 1.6%, he is going to get next to nothing in real income after inflation, and he is going to watch the value of his bond plummet once interest rates start rising again, forecast to occur by 2014.

FORBES: When Flight To Safety Is Risky

If Great-Uncle Joe gave you shares while he was still alive, your basis is whatever his was.

FORBES: It Pays to Know Your Number