Amid all the hype and euphoria, some history is worth remembering. America’s got gold fever. Internet headlines inform you that gold settled at another record close today. Nightly news segments show you footage of excited sellers and beaming commodities traders. Radio commercials remind you that gold...
WEEKLY QUOTE“If you’re too big for a small job, you’re too small for a big one.” – Queen Rania of Jordan WEEKLY TIP Recognize the two kinds of risk in investing: the risk of losing principal and the risk of losing purchasing power. Many investors grasp the first risk, but...
Coming your way: some of the most significant changes in 30 years. The Department of Labor has promised to update the retirement plan landscape. Three major rule changes are scheduled for the near future. All retirement plan fiduciaries and administrators should be aware of them. #1: “Covered...
If you’re going to say “I do”, here are some things you might want to do. Are you marrying soon? Have you recently married? As you begin your life together, it’s important for you to start planning your financial future together and putting your finances on...
WEEKLY QUOTE“You can't talk your way out of problems you behave yourself into.” – Dr. Stephen Covey WEEKLY TIP If your adult child takes a job without health insurance, remember that he or she can be covered by your employer's plan until age 26 under the new health care laws. WEEKLY RIDDLE New...
The IRS has nearly doubled its examinations of returns from the richest taxpayers. IRS audits are up nearly 8% for the wealthiest Americans. This spring, the Internal Revenue Service released the 2010 IRS Data Book. Journalists and tax professionals looked inside and noticed a couple of...
Will the markets feel stress as the deadline to raise the debt limit approaches? August 2 looms. That is the absolute deadline for raising the federal debt ceiling, according to Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner. The U.S. actually “hit” the $14.3 trillion ceiling on May 16 but...
There is more than one way to save for college for college. With changes coming to Coverdell Education Savings Accounts in 2011, some parents are wondering if they should convert Coverdells to 529 plans. With that mind, here is a brief look at how both of...
Why these stocks are looking attractive again to high net worth investors. Large caps have kept up with small caps this year. 2010 was a great year for small stocks – the Russell 2000 advanced 25.31% while the S&P 500 returned 12.78% (15.06% including dividends). This...
If you can’t afford a long term care policy, this may be a good alternative. Are you familiar with critical illness insurance? Some people aren’t. It doesn’t get as much attention as disability insurance or long term care coverage. But if you face a serious health...