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Recent articles

  Pathway to Real Estate Riches or Ruin?
The truth about buying real estate with No Money Down
  Leading Investment Publication Ranks 61 Mutual Fund Families
#1 Fund company may surprise you as Vanguard plunges 33 positions to 40th place
  Saving More Isn't Always Better
The keys to keeping money accumulation in proper perspective
  Nearly Everyone Invests in Mutual Funds and ETFs
But many make easily avoided mistakes - here's how to get it right
  Assessing Your Current Portfolio
You probably have investments you'd be better off selling
  Should Your Pension Affect How You Invest Your Own Money?
Q: I am 60, will receive a state pension when I retire that covers all my basic expenses...my portfolio is 50% bonds and 50% stocks. Because of my pension, does the regular 50-50 wisdom apply to me, or should I have less than 50% in bonds/fixed income?
  Frequently Made Retirement and Estate Planning Mistakes
Learn from the mistakes of those who retired before you
  Should You Count Your Home's Equity Toward Retirement?
Living On the House: Reverse Mortgages
  Do Congressional Leaders Care How the Stock Market Performs?
An examination of how key members of Congress invest their own money and whether they have a stake in the success of the American economy
  Dealing With Worries About Rising Interest Rates
Q: As I approach retirement...I would expect to put more of my investments in bonds and fewer in stocks. But I also hear warnings about the impending rise in interest rates...
  Using Mutual Fund Past Performance
Lessons learned from a top performing Fidelity fund
  Getting Value for Money with Cell Phone Services
Plan selection, bells and whistles and carrier choice influence cost and quality
  Should Your Financial Plans Include Part-Time Work in Retirement?
Working brings in income, keeps you in touch with people and keeps you out of trouble!
  Does Funding a Health Savings Account (HSA) Still Make Sense?
What are you best investment options for an HSA?
  Being Aggressive & Diversified at a Young Age
Q: My company changed the funds available through its sponsored 403(b) plan. I am 26 years old. Do you think my new funds and allocation is aggressive and balanced? My new allocations are...
  A Free Lunch When Investing!
Boost Your Returns by Reducing Your Investing Taxes
  Home Insurance: Many Folks Lack the Best Coverage at the Best Price
Here's how and where to get the best bang for your buck and what you might have overlooked
  Should You Contribute to an Annuity?
Why socking away more retirement money isn't always better
  Stop Smoking, Now!
One in five adults still smoke and the health and financial costs remain huge
  Do You or Someone You Know Avoid Certain Money Decisions?
It's a common and costly problem - here's help
  Evidence Piling Up That Cell Phones Bad for Our Health and Finances

Cell phone companies are adding more bells and whistles which are increasingly difficult to disable. Young adults and kids are especially prone to overuse and running up big tabs. And, mounting evidence highlights health concerns about use.
  Reinvesting Cash After Moving a Retirement Account
Q: About 8 months ago, I moved my 401K from a former employer into cash...each month I have been buying diversified stock funds...I'm concerned about interest rates going up and what that will do to bond funds...
  Planning for Spending Your Retirement Nest Egg
Understand now the amount on which you can really live
  A Revealing Look at How Spending Really Changes in Retirement
Seeing how much retirees spend can help you plan your own retirement better
  Beware the Alternative Minimum Tax
More taxpayers get smacked but there are some things you can do to fight back and pass less
  Crunching Your Retirement Numbers
How to get a decent sense of where you stand with your retirement plans without spending gobs of time or money
  2010 Tax Brackets Are Out: Do You Know How to Reduce Your Income Taxes?
Knowledge is power when it comes to income tax reduction - here's how to legally minimize your tax bill
  100+% Return on Investment!
Here's an exception to the low-risk, high-return investment I've said you can't find in the investment world. If you drink bottled water, read this!
  What Can We Learn From Examining Equity Fund Investors Buy/Sell Decisions?
An analysis of investor's actual experience with timing stock market moves
  Health Insurance: Getting the Coverage You Need at a Price You Can Afford
Everyone should have it but misconceptions lead people down the wrong path
  When Should You Borrow; When Should You Pay Debt Off?
The recent financial crisis has heightened many folks anxiety about dealing with debt
  Many People Hire Service Providers and Home Contractors Without Checking Licensing
How unlicensed contractors can cost you and how to protect yourself
  Most People Will Inherit Money or Should Plan Their Own Estate
Are you prepared?
  The Best Stock Picking Resources
There are lots of sources but few are worth perusing...here are the best I've found
  Prenuptial Agreements: Planning for Divorce Financially Before Getting Married
Should couples have one of these legal agreements?
  Getting Started with Real Estate Investing
The naysayers are wrong: real estate is still an excellent long-term investment...those who lose over the long haul fail to do their homework and follow these basic rules...
  Making Career Decisions & Managing Risk in Your Younger Years
Q: I find myself at something of a crossroads. Part of me wants to follow an entrepreneurial path...another part of me says to play it safe and go to a full time job and do things the "traditional" way...
  The Expense, Rewards, Challenges and Dysfunction of Youth Sports
And, the truth about athletic scholarships and if they are worth pursuing
  The Habits of Highly Effective Savers
It's not about how much you make: modest earners can amass wealth too
  Worried About Parents' Retirement Funds
Q: I am writing to ask for some advice for my parents. They are retired, in their 70s, in good health but their living expenses outpace their income...I am very concerned about their future.
 
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