When finances are tight, it can be hard to designate some cash to give away. But even the Grinch-iest and Scrooge-iest among us can be moved to donate during the holiday season. In fact, the Tuesday after Black Friday was recently called “Giving … [Read more...]
Rational Investing: Why I Don’t Sweat the Big Stuff
November 19, 2012 by
It’s not easy being rational. When your 401(k) drops several thousand dollars in a few months, when the people on your TV are chattering about another recession, when newspapers lead with headlines a fiscal cliff (whatever that is) putting … [Read more...]
Best Tax Software Compared
November 17, 2012 by
Ever wondered what the differences are among tax software programs? Maybe that only keeps nerds like me up at night, but there are differences. Examples: The most popular tax software is also the most expensive. And some cheaper programs charge … [Read more...]
Taxes and Unemployment; How to Avoid Surprises and Owe Less Tax
November 5, 2012 by
There aren’t many – if any – perks of being unemployed. We all know that. But if you do lose your job, it may be possible to lean on the government for awhile and survive on unemployment compensation. These government-funded unemployment … [Read more...]
What’s Your Number?
October 24, 2012 by
-- What’s your number? -- Excuse me? -- The amount of money you would need to be able to walk away from it all and just live happily-ever-after. See, I find that everyone has a number and it’s usually an exact number, so what is … [Read more...]
How Much Should You Contribute To Your 401k?
October 21, 2012 by
Ten percent? Twenty percent? More? Recently I wrote about the benefits of both 401ks and IRAs offer. We also looked at the emerging Roth 401k option and when it makes sense for young investors. But everybody’s next question is: “Okay, okay, … [Read more...]
How to Give Investments as a Gift
October 16, 2012 by
Not to freak you out, but holiday gift-giving time is around the corner. I find the holidays stressful not only because they’re expensive, but because there’s so much pressure to choose the perfect gift. Here’s a gift option you might not … [Read more...]
How to Invest for Short-Term Goals (Less Than 10 Years Out)
October 2, 2012 by
Raise your hand if you’re trying to save for something big in the next 10 years. A new car? Your wedding? The down payment on a home? More education? Most financial advice tells you to save for two –- maybe three -- things: A rainy day (the … [Read more...]
Motif Investing Review: At new Broker, Trade ‘Buckets’ of Themed Stocks for $9.95
October 2, 2012 by
As somebody who avoids stock picking and frequent trading, it’s hard to get excited about the latest research tools and bells and whistles offered by online brokers like E*Trade or TDAmeritrade. Quite frankly, as long as I’m investing in a few … [Read more...]
5 Mutual Funds to get you Started
October 1, 2012 by
Let’s proceed carefully. Although I’ve done it once or twice before, I try to avoid recommending individual stocks or funds. Such “picks” are a dime a dozen on other blogs, in major financial magazines or on Jim Cramer’s TV shows. At … [Read more...]
