MONEY and HAPPINESS

Do they go hand in hand?
 
Does money actually buy a degree of happiness? In this recessionary holiday season, it is worth thinking about the effect money has on our lives. What role does money play in our happiness? Is that role overrated?
Most psychologists and sociologists will tell you that our happiness comes largely from [...]

GM, Chrysler get $17.4 BILLION

Both automakers must meet demanding terms.
 
A loan at last. On December 19, President Bush announced that $17.4 billion in TARP funds would be loaned to General Motors and Chrysler in December and February. The two companies will receive a total of $13.4 billion in bridge loans this month; an additional $4 billion could be borrowed [...]

ARE YOU STILL PRACTICING PATIENCE?

2008 is just one (bad) year in stock market history.
Before it ends, you can still make moves to improve financially.

A time for perseverance. This is the type of financial climate that separates disciplined investors from impatient ones. Barring an amazing Santa Claus rally, 2008 will end up as the worst year for [...]

FED SETS KEY INTEREST RATE NEAR ZERO

A historic decision comes at an important time.

Rates have never been this low. That’s not a cliché from a mortgage commercial. That’s reality in Washington D.C., where the Federal Reserve brought the federal funds rate down to a target zone of between 0% and 0.25% on December 16.1
The cut was greater than expected [...]

IN-SERVICE 401(k) WITHDRAWALS/INCOME PLANNING

An option you can use to develop your retirement income plan while you work.

Can you withdraw money from your 401(k) while you are still employed? Not everyone should; not everyone can. However, if you can, it may mean that you can effectively implement part of your retirement income plan before you retire.
If your [...]

WILL MANDATORY IRA WITHDRAWALS BE DEFERRED IN 2009?

If President Bush signs the bill Congress just passed, yes.

Imagine not having to take your RMD next year. On December 11, H.R. 7327 was approved by Congress – and if President Bush signs it into law, it will temporarily suspend Required Minimum Distributions (RMD) for IRAs and 401(k) and 403(b) plans.1 H.R. 7327 [...]

AN INVESTOR’S BEST FRIENDS

Meet diversification, patience and consistency.

Any investor would do well to call on three friends during the course of his or her financial life: diversification, patience and consistency. Regardless of how the markets perform, they should be a part of your investment philosophy.

Diversification. The saying “don’t put all your eggs in [...]

PARTNERSHIP PLANS FOR LONG TERM CARE

Many states are assisting their residents to buy LTC insurance.

A helping hand for a pressing need. With the baby boom generation maturing, numerous studies and articles have pointed out the rising need for long term care. Some state governments have directly responded to it.
Now, many states have created partnership programs to encourage their [...]

CHARITABLE GIVING FOR THE MIDDLE CLASS

You don’t need to be a multi-millionaire to make a difference.

As the year ends, you might be thinking about making a gift to your old school or a charity – especially if you dislike taking Required Minimum Distributions (RMDs) from your IRA. After all, your altruism has the potential to bring you [...]

THE Big THREE GET CLOSER TO A BAILOUT

Billions in relief may soon reach U.S. automakers.

Will the Big Three get what they’ve asked for? Maybe. This week, Congress could approve approximately $15 billion in bridge loans to help General Motors, Chrysler and Ford make it through the next few months.
The central question last week was where the money would come [...]