 Plan now,
party later
Retirement
has a much different face today than in years past. Retirees tend to
look at leaving the work force as an opportunity to fulfill dreams and
have new experiences. Experts say the time to start thinking about what your retirement
scenario will look like is well before you actually retire.
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Few
take advantage of chance to adjust
their college savings plans 11-19-09
As we dash into the year-end
holiday crush, many parents aren't likely to want to sit down and
review the investments in the 529 college savings plans for their
children.
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Allowance
rules, math can be tricky 11-19-09
Like many parents,
Joan Healy
pays her three teens an allowance. But she's not sure she's dishing
out the right amount. "I am struggling with what is a fair and
reasonable amount to give a teen per month while not jeopardizing
the family budget," the
St. Paul, Minn.
, mother of five wrote in an e-mail.
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Post-holiday
sales a valuable teaching
opportunity for parents 11-19-09
One of the exciting roles of being a father is teaching your
children a new skill that will benefit them for life.
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Inflation
gives boost to I Savings Bonds 11-11-09
The I Bond — which enraged
savers when its rate dropped to zero percent — is back in business
thanks to renewed inflation.
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Credit-card
countdown: Banks gouge consumers
ahead of new law 11-11-09
CHICAGO
— If you're one of the millions of Americans holding a credit
card, this isn't necessarily news: Credit-card issuers are hiking
interest rates, penalties and fees in full force ahead of stringent
new laws that take effect in February.
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Clearing
up misconceptions about Roth IRAs 11-06-09
QUESTION: I'm 23 and have
been making a point of saving money in a savings account. I've been
told that a savings account isn't good for my future and that I
should invest in a Roth instead. But I don't want to choose anything
risky. Would I lose money if I invest in a Roth?
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It's
parents' job to set children on right financial path 11-06-09
Young people starting out
on their own or in a new job face many challenges in establishing
not only their career but their finances. And those still trying to
get a foot in the door also face challenges of survival in a tough
job environment. With the world against them, the most support and
encouragement they can receive now is from their parents.
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Wish
list for better 401(k) 11-06-09
Data from
Fidelity Investments
show that more participants increased the amount they were saving in
the second quarter of the year than decreased it. And account
balances at the end of the second quarter are up 13.5 percent from
the first quarter. The market's bullish rise definitely had
something to do with that increase; but account values are also up
because more people kept contributing than did not, even in the
darkest days.
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Money
management lessons need to start early 10-30-09
New rules restricting the
availability of credit cards to people under 21 are an attempt to
save them from themselves and from succumbing to temptations.
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A
little info goes a long way in planning health care costs 10-30-09
Every time I go to the
grocery store, I check my receipt to make sure I was properly
charged for my honeycrisp apples and cereal. But when it comes to
medical care, I have no idea what medical procedures should cost.
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Stimulus
payout may come back to bite you in the tax 10-30-09
WALNUT CREEK, Calif.
— That little extra bit of money in the form of a larger paycheck
tied to the Obama stimulus plan could end up taking a bite out of
your federal income tax refund or even leave you owing taxes, say
observers.
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'Slow
money' advocates aim to connect people to their money 10-24-09
Fed up with the stock market?
Sick of greedy megabanks and
Wall Street
bailouts? Then take your money and invest in what you eat. That's
the idea behind slow money, a movement coming into its own at a time
when interest in local food is rising and exasperation over a global
financial system gone wild is high.
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Make
your Social Security choice wisely 10-24-09
BOSTON
— Many Americans take
Social Security
early, at age 62, because they really need it. They're in poor
health or unemployed or both. Others take benefits early because
they're worried they'll lose out on what's rightfully theirs if
benefits are reduced. But few people try to figure out the best age
to take
Social Security
— and that's a serious mistake.
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Foreign
currencies are often full of surprises 10-24-09
It seems simple enough: If
investors are souring on the dollar and gravitating to other
currencies, why not follow along?
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Can
health care reform help Medicare? 10-19-09
We haven't really explored
one of the lingering issues emerging from the more civil discussions
on the several bills before
Congress
to reform the American system of health insurance: Will it be good
for the 45 million Americans on
Medicare
?
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Credit
card companies boosting payment requirements 10-19-09
While the credit card reform
legislation that was passed by
Congress
this year cleans up some practices of the credit card companies and
makes the accounts easier for consumers to understand, many of the
credit card holders who are carrying balances are discovering a
downside to the law — higher monthly payments.
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Price of putting off
pension can be well worth it 10-19-09
Q. I have a pension that is
available to me and I wonder about beginning the pension now or
waiting. If I take the pension now I will get about
$1,183
per month. By waiting, it increases approximately 7.5 percent each
year to a maximum of
$2,071
per month at age 65. I am not in need of the pension at this time.
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When
gold fever strikes, do your homework 10-19-09
With gold prices at all-time
highs, you might be tempted to sell your jewelry or coins to help
make ends meet. But make sure you're getting a fair price.
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Financial
health starts with managing expenses 10-04-09
Managing finances often
revolves around investments, but it really begins with expenses.
People who are successful in managing their finances are the ones
who manage expenses first. By understanding where the money is
going, and controlling it, better investment planning and decisions
can be accomplished.
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Private
loans for students can become traps 10-04-09
Student loans are
commonly referred to as "good debt" — the kind of debt
people take on for a college degree and the promise of higher income
that accompanies it.
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Ginnies
are reliable, but not for all of your cash 10-04-09
Question: I don't want
anything to do with the stock market any more, and I can't see
putting money in CDs. The rates are so low. I've had money in a
Ginnie Mae
fund. Can I continue to count on it?
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Liquidity
floating stocks, gold ever higher 09-26-09
What do U.S. stocks, Asian
stocks, Brazilian stocks, gold and other commodities and high-yield
bonds all have in common?
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Early
401(k) withdrawals thwart long-term goals,
GAO report says 09-26-09
SAN FRANCISCO
— A forthcoming federal report on retirement savings recommends
easing a penalty for hardship withdrawals from 401(k) plans and that
workers receive better education about the consequences of such
decisions.
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Cyclical
stocks gain favor as economy shows signs of recovery 09-26-09
Agreement is growing that the
economy has taken its medicine and is feeling better.
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Stretching
their dollars, en masse 09-20-09
Once a month, the Femmes
Frugal leave bedtime rituals behind and settle in at a
St. Paul, Minn.
, coffee shop to swap tips about budget meal planning and affordable
holiday gifts.
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Households'
net worth rises for first time in two years 09-20-09
WASHINGTON
— American households were
$2 trillion
richer on
June 30
than they were three months earlier, the first time in two years
that household net worth has increased, the Federal Reserve reported
Thursday in its quarterly flow of funds report.
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Energy
tax credit comes with several conditions 09-20-09
Q. We are installing new
vinyl replacement windows, which qualify for an energy tax credit.
Since we have not had any tax liability for several years and do not
expect any when we file our 2009 federal taxes, would we be entitled
to any credit? A sales rep for a window company said we would need
to complete a form and a check would be mailed to us. Do you have
particulars on the energy tax credit?
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