Seemingly insignificant charges in retirement plans can add up. So much fine print goes unread. Few people realize how significantly 401(k) account fees can impact their retirement savings efforts. AARP recently conducted a poll of 401(k) participants and the results were eye-opening: 71% incorrectly assumed that...
Is there a chance that America could actually default on its debt? When will the debt ceiling issue be solved? The NFL, the NBA, the EU, Congress … wherever you look, it seems people would rather wrangle these days than resolve their differences. The U.S. Treasury...
WEEKLY QUOTE“A happy person is not a person in a certain set of circumstances, but rather a person with a certain set of attitudes.”– Hugh Downs WEEKLY TIP If you’re going to start a home-based business, make sure your local zoning regulations permit it. The Small Business Administration’s website...
More companies are offering them. Will they fix our retirement savings blues? The trend could become the norm. Human resources firm Aon Hewitt surveyed 120 large U.S. companies in 2010 and found that 60% of them automatically enrolled workers in defined contribution retirement plans such as...
A lack of knowledge can lead to problems and disappointments for your heirs. Be vigilant, and be knowledgeable. Do you want to hand your heirs big tax problems? Would you like to hand the IRS a sizable chunk of your wealth? Probably not. But if you...
WEEKLY QUOTE“The task of the modern educator is not to cut down jungles, but to irrigate deserts.” – C.S. Lewis WEEKLY TIP Before you buy a car, remember that it is a depreciating asset with insurance and repair costs attached. What might the total monthly cost of ownership be? Here’s...
Stocks are fizzling ...
WEEKLY QUOTE “A mistake is to commit a misunderstanding.” – Bob Dylan WEEKLY TIP As you shop for groceries, how many impulsive purchases do you make? Impulsive buying might negate the dollars you are saving through coupons and preferred customer cards. WEEKLY RIDDLE A librarian finds that pages have been ripped out of a...
Some tax consequences to remember. There are times when people really need money – and in those times, a retirement account may seem like a conveniently liquid resource to tap. What’s the harm in taking an early distribution from a tax-deferred retirement plan? Well, the tax...
Why not plan to lighten your financial burden? Positive moves to counteract negative cash flow. In its most recent Quarterly Report on Household Debt and Credit, the Federal Reserve Bank of New York put aggregate U.S. consumer debt at $11.4 trillion in the fourth quarter of...