Key indicators point to an economy (slowly) on the mend. This year assorted economists and journalists have contended that the U.S. is on the edge of a new recession. Yet recent indicators hint that the economy is doing a bit better than some analysts think. U.S. retail...
Can the last quarter of 2011 live up to historical averages? Is a rally ahead? You may have heard that stocks tend to do well in the fourth quarter. History affirms that perception: while past performance is no guarantee of future results, the last quarter of the...
WEEKLY QUOTE“There is nothing in a caterpillar that tells you it's going to be a butterfly.”– Buckminster Fuller WEEKLY TIP Self-employed? Have your accountant look at your balance sheet and profit-and-loss statement before 2011 ends. Some tax-saving strategies may come to mind, and an up-to-date set of books means...
Some things to think about this year – and every year. This is the year. You can make 2011 the year you alter your financial life for a better financial future. Let’s look at some steps you might think of taking with the goal of financial...
QUOTE OF THE QUARTER“Action is a great restorer and builder of confidence. Inaction is not only the result, but the cause, of fear.” – Norman Vincent Peale QUARTERLY TIP When companies offer health insurance benefits to domestic partners, they are often taxable. A cost-benefit analysis can be illuminating and...
Is it all negative, or are there opportunities to consider because of the crisis? Many economists think a Greek default is inevitable. As we enter 4Q 2011, Greece has a debt-to-GDP ratio of about 160% (and that percentage is rising). While Greece accounts for less than...
Plan to avoid these common money blunders. A recent survey found that over 60% of women feel they are better at handling money than men are.1 However, married women sometimes find themselves in perplexing financial situations – conditions that might be avoided with a little planning...
Will Congress pass it? What difference could it potentially make? On September 8, President Obama announced a new plan to improve the economy – the $447 billion American Jobs Act, a sequel of sorts to his past economic stimulus proposals. His announced goal: job creation without...
WEEKLY QUOTE“We should have a great fewer disputes in the world if words were taken for what they are, the signs of our ideas only, and not for things themselves.” – John Locke WEEKLY TIP Have an elderly parent who is on too many mailing lists - and spending or...
A look at the changes coming in 2012, 2013 & 2014. Companies sponsoring group health plans should be aware of the changes coming to the health insurance industry as part of the “second stage” of health care reform. These major and minor adjustments should be kept...