• To borrow in 2009 will take a plan
    01/01/2009 - 03:00

    Consumer Borrowing in 2009 Will Mean Making a Plan

    If you’re planning to buy a home or a car in 2009, the process is going to be a lot tougher without an excellent credit score and a significant down payment. So that means you’re going to have to work harder—and possibly wait a little longer—to make those key purchases.

    What’s a good credit score? According to credit scoring giant Fair Isaac Corp., the best FICO score range as of late 2008 stood at 760-850, according to reports; that minimum is roughly 20 points higher than it would have been a year ago.

  • Roth IRA conversions in 2010
    01/01/2009 - 03:00

    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.

  • Spending Plan for 2009
    01/01/2009 - 03:00

    Taking Steps to Safer Investment Decisions in 2009

    It’s tough to tell how much one investor can do alone to preserve their assets in 2009, particularly with unprecedented government intervention in world markets. But there are some general ideas to employ as markets and economies hopefully stabilize in the New Year:

  • Investment Planning for 2009
    12/01/2008 - 03:00

    Taking Steps to Safer Investment Decisions in 2009

    It’s tough to tell how much one investor can do alone to preserve their assets in 2009, particularly with unprecedented government intervention in world markets. But there are some general ideas to employ as markets and economies hopefully stabilize in the New Year:

  • New Year's Resolutions
    12/01/2008 - 03:00

    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 No. 1 worry, but if it’s yours, why not consider the following New Year’s resolutions to improve your financial life?

    Resolve:

  • Kids and Money Mistakes
    12/01/2008 - 03:00

    Helping Your Kids Recover after a Major Money Mistake

    The average college graduate is $20,000 in debt, and today’s young adults are clearly exposed to more opportunities for self-directed financial disaster than any group in history.

    Despite the current credit crunch, credit cards are still a common way most young people afford their new adult lifestyle, and rising costs on everything from rent to gasoline presents deeper challenges.

  • Be ready for retirement
    12/01/2008 - 03:00

    What if Your Employer Wants You to Retire Slowly or Come Back From Retirement? Be Ready with a Plan

    Roughly 25 percent of the U.S. workforce is nearing retirement age, according to a recent survey by Hewitt Associates. This has important ramifications for the retirement many Americans will have in the future.

  • Medical Expense Deductions
    11/01/2008 - 02:00

    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.

  • Incentives to Keep Boomers on the Job
    11/01/2008 - 02:00

    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.

  • Charitable Donations for 2008
    11/01/2008 - 02:00

    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.

    Charitable giving is an important part of tax planning at yearend, so let’s look at the cash and noncash aspects of giving. It makes sense to contact a tax expert or financial planner to talk about what giving makes sense for you:

Market Snapshot

NameLastChange
Dow Jones Industr
10,624.70
12.85
S&P 500 INDEX,RTH
1,149.99
-0.25
NASDAQ Composite
2,367.66
-0.80
30-YEAR TREASURY
46.02
0.00