A Few Questions to Consider Before You Offer Free Tax Advice

A few months ago, I felt a sharp pain in my ribs. It hurt when I sneezed or laughed—and eventually, when I moved at all. I thought back to what I might have done that could have resulted in an injury, and other than an incident involving an overexuberant child and a not-so-sturdy sofa, I came up empty. As it got worse, I thought about going to my regular doctor but then came up with a better idea: A friend of mine was a podiatrist, so I’d just ask him to take a look for free.

OK, that last part ...