June, 2009
Top 10 Money Decisions for Today’s Incoming College Freshman
The National Center for Public Policy and Higher Education reported last December that college tuition and fees increased 439 percent from 1982 to 2007 while median family income rose 147 percent. The report also noted that student borrowing has almost doubled since 1998. What’s the most worrisome statement to come from the report? If current trends continue, our country might be without an affordable higher education system in 25 years.
May, 2009
Starting a Business? In This Economy, Don’t Quit Your Day Job – Start With Good Advice
If you’ve ever fantasized about quitting your job and starting a business, you’re certainly not alone. However, it’s definitely not something to do on a whim – you’ll need time and good advice.
May, 2009
Why Financial Planning Matters in the Toughest of Times
Why enlist the services of a financial planner when your holdings are down and you’re facing a host of financial problems? Because as dark as times may seem, you’re actually giving yourself a fresh start in building a stronger financial future.
May, 2009
Be Careful When Rebalancing Your Kid’s 529 Plan Allocation
Market extremes tend to make uninformed people invest at extremes. As the market has suffered over the past nine months, families putting their college savings into 529 college savings plans have watched their stock-based holdings shrink with the market and many have run for cover.
April, 2009
How Does the Stimulus Plan Affect You? It’s Good to Get Some Advice Now
The biggest benefit from the $787.2 billion federal stimulus package will hopefully be a noticeable improvement in the nation’s economy. But on an individual level, it’s wise to check if you might be eligible for benefits in health care, education, various tax credits and housing.
April, 2009
Ways to Save Money on Health Care and Health Insurance in Troubled Times
Whether you buy your healthcare coverage through your employer or independently, you need to look at your coverage the same way cost-cutting entrepreneurs do. Buying coverage in the future won’t stop at finding the best price – what you pay increasingly will involve how well you personally manage your health.
April, 2009
Planning a Cost-Effective Job Search
Whether you’ve already cleaned out your desk or are expecting your department to be next at work for cuts, in this economy, it definitely makes sense to plan a job search before you actually have to do one. Call it a response plan.
April, 2009
Why Maintaining Your Credit Score Becomes Even More Important During the Continuing Credit Crunch
Even if borrowing loosens up a bit in 2009, you still need to do everything necessary to keep your credit score high. Fair Isaac, the company that created the FICO score, has been working on a new version of its landmark credit scoring method that might have serious consequences for you if you’re planning on borrowing for a home or establishing any other new credit in 2009.
March, 2009
Having Trouble With Your Grandkid’s Graduation Gift? Try the Gift of Tax-Advantaged Saving
It’s a few short weeks until cap and gown season begins, and for grandparents hoping to do something nice for their grandkids and something sensible for their estate, there are several options to explore.
March, 2009
The Death Tax Is Likely To Live On – High-Net Worth Individuals Might Consider a QPRT
The Obama Administration has indicated that it plans to block the estate tax from disappearing in 2010, though to offer a bit of relief, it might freeze it at the rate and exemption levels that took place this year.
March, 2009
How to Prepare For Your First Visit With a Financial Planner
If you’ve never met with a financial planner before or if it’s been years since you’ve visited one, you need to find a planner and prepare for your visit.
March, 2009
Is Your Child Headed To College Next Fall? It’s Time for a Crash Course on Borrowing and Spen
Even if you’ve planned relatively well for your future college student’s expenses, the credit crunch and downturn in investment income for colleges have changed the game for financial aid at many schools. That means both parents and students need to approach the college financial aid scene with unprecedented caution.
February, 2009
Big Windfalls and Structured Settlements – What They Are, and How to Handle Them
If you’ve received a windfall, it might sound like you’re fixed for life. The reality is that your financial life has changed drastically, and you need to plan for it.
February, 2009
Dementia Is Not Only a Family Matter; It’s Also a Financial Matter
When a close relative or friend starts to display signs of dementia or related neurological ailments, it is a family tragedy requiring speedy action and medical care. But in many cases, the disease comes on gradually, and it becomes evident with inconsistencies in behavior and sometimes, problems with money.
February, 2009
Bank-Owned Real Estate May Be Plentiful, But Learn the Ropes Before You Invest
Last month, RealtyTrac, a leading online market for foreclosure properties, reported that over 3.16 million foreclosure filings were made in 2008, up 81 percent from 2007 and up 225 percent from 2006. There was one more stunning fact – that one in 54 U.S. housing units received at least one of the following -- a default notice, auction sale notice and/or full-scale bank repossession – during the last year.
January, 2009
One Good Thing about a Tough Market— It’s a Good Environment for Roth IRA Conversions
Most of us will not start the New Year happy about our investments. But if you are looking for a bright spot, it’s not a particularly bad time to consider converting a traditional IRA to a Roth IRA.
January, 2009
Taking Steps to Safer Investment Decisions in 2009
It’s tough to tell how much one investor can do to preserve assets in 2009, particularly with unprecedented government intervention in world markets. But here are some general ideas to employ as markets and economies hopefully stabilize in the New Year.
January, 2009
Whether You Call It a Budget or a Spending Plan, It’s a Good Way to Start 2009
Granted, the New Year is a time for best intentions. People vow to stick to a diet, knuckle down at work, spend more quality time with people they care about, start scratching off that long list of key chores around the house, and of course, keep a closer watch on their pocketbook.
December, 2008
After a Turbulent 2008, Make Some New Year’s Resolutions for a Financially Healthy 2009
Money worries are the most common cause of holiday stress, according to Mental Health America. The 2006 study showed that parents are more stressed than all other demographic groups by finances and females are more likely than men to feel stressed by finances. Money isn’t everyone’s Number One worry, but if it’s yours, why not consider the following New Year’s resolutions to improve your financial life?
November, 2008
As Worker Shortage Increases, So Will Incentives to Keep Boomers on the Job
For several years now, various agencies and academics have predicted a systemic labor shortage that will create a labor shortage over the next 25-30 years as the gap between Baby Boomers and entrants of college-educated workers widens due to the Boomers’ mass retirements.
November, 2008
Before the Holidays, Get Those Charitable Donations Lined Up
There’s a special sinking feeling as you approach Dec. 31 and realize you’ve done no tax planning whatsoever. That includes big issues like end-of-the-year investment decisions, and the smaller ones – like that stuff you no longer use piling up in the basement.
November, 2008
As Medical Expenses Rise, Don’t Miss Key Deductions
There are plenty of horror stories about uncovered medical expenses these days, and the truly horrifying part is that many of them belong to people who actually have health insurance. But anytime you or a family member is facing a health crisis or an unusual medical-related expense, it’s best to check to see if you might get a break from Uncle Sam.
October, 2008
Short-term Long-term Care Insurance? Make Sure it’s a Good Idea for You
As the long-term care (LTC) insurance market has matured over the past 20 years, features have been added to the costly policies to make them more attractive. Even the IRS has even come on board, making a portion of the premiums tax-deductible. Yet with the tougher economy, insurers are looking for ways to get more consumers in the door – so they’re adjusting features to give people a break on cost.
October, 2008
Nervous? Time to Reassess – or Make – A Financial Plan
We're in a financial crises the likes of which most of us have never seen. It is marked by the biggest bank failure in American history, Dow swings of nearly 800 points to the downside and upside swings of more than 600, a dry-up in the nation’s consumer and business credit markets, and world governments still trying to calm the waters. How are you handling this? Are you sitting dumbfounded in front of the TV? Do you strap on the iPod and vow not to turn it off until the crisis passes? Or do you check your financial plan to make sure you are well-positioned for clearing after the storm?
October, 2008
Be Careful About Picking Beneficiaries for Your IRAs and 401(k)s
Inheriting IRA or 401(k) proceeds from a friend or relative can be a potentially huge windfall, but it can also be a sizable tax headache. For both the giver and the recipient, it’s worth getting some advice.
