Category Archives: Personal Finance
Steps to Overcome Bad Debt Management
More people are having more financial problems than ever before. Bankruptcy is at an all time high. Financial stress is tearing families apart. Bad debt management is at an all time high. Several people think debt consolidation is the answer to all their financial problems. Just think… you get one loan to pay off all … Continue reading
Readers Top the Darts
The readers’ stock picks beat the darts in Sunday Journal’s 42nd Investment Dartboard contest, the second win in a row for readers.South Florida Sun Sentinel reader Susan Fleming’s pick, Ziopharm Oncology, gained 31% during the six-month period ended June 30, making her the winner of the contest.“It has been holding its own,” says the administrative … Continue reading
Under Armour Shareholders May Not Be Well Protected
Under Armour might be getting too much love from investors.Since going public in 2005, the Baltimore-based sports-apparel company has sprinted to $1 billion in annual sales, challenging giant rivals Nike and Adidas as it pioneered sweat-wicking T-shirts and shorts. Now it’s looking to double annual revenue to $2 billion.But like the company’s clothing, such ambitious … Continue reading
Wall Street’s Summer Book List
The sun is up, the beach beckons and many of us have visions of kicking the feet up and curling up with a nice book (or Kindle or iPad).So, what to read (apart from Tom Clancy’s latest)? Darren Gygi Nearly three years after the financial crisis peaked with the collapse of Lehman Brothers in September … Continue reading
Coverage for Vaccines
It’s almost time for back-to-school vaccines. And there are some ways to cut costs or have them covered altogether.Under the Affordable Care Act, many individuals or families who enroll in a new group or individual health plan on or after Sept. 23, 2010, can get free vaccines. That means no co-payment, deductible or co-insurance, as … Continue reading
Multitasking: More Is Less
There’s growing evidence that multitasking can be harmful, and businesses need to re-examine goals for workers, experts say.With the ubiquity of mobile devices and other communications technology, many workers are expected to multitask, with some employees taking pride in their perceived ability to switch between complex tasks. But all this multitasking is putting workers, as … Continue reading
Summer Alert: Check the Back Seat
As you head out for July 4th festivities, you might want to double-check your car’s back seat.Parked cars can quickly become ovens in the summer heat, posing a major health threat to children — and pets — who are forgotten or who play in unattended vehicles. The problem: drivers who overestimate their brains’ ability to … Continue reading
All in the Family
Except for a two-year stint after college, Matt Wapnick has worked at his dad’s Los Angeles company since he was 13, first stuffing envelopes and sorting folders, later helping with data entry. Now he’s learning the basics of the company, CourtCall, which arranges courtroom testimony from remote locations.“I didn’t come here to look for another … Continue reading
Mutual Funds for Tough Times
It’s often said that the best defense is a good offense. Unfortunately, when it comes to mutual funds, many have developed an unpleasant reputation for not protecting shareholders in tough times.Of course, any fund that invests in stocks or bonds carries the risk of losing money, especially during a period of extreme crisis such as … Continue reading
A Midyear Guide to Going Global
While the U.S. stock market has done OK this year, the picture beyond the borders is much messier.The earthquake and tsunami in Japan, roiling unrest across the Middle East and North Africa, fiscal crises in Europe and questions about the pace of global growth have all conspired to drive share prices lower from Beijing to … Continue reading
Apply for Help With Loans
In danger of foreclosure? You have until July 22 to apply for the federal government’s Emergency Homeowners’ Loan Program.Eligible homeowners can qualify for an interest-free loan to pay a portion of their monthly mortgage for up to two years, or up to $50,000, whichever comes first. The money also can be used to pay missed … Continue reading
Take the Heat Off Your Cooling Bill
It’s expected to be a scorcher of a summer in some parts of the country. But that doesn’t mean homeowners need to deal with exorbitant power bills.All it takes is a little thought and effort to keep home cooling costs down during the hottest months of the year. Tim Goldman “In the summer months, the … Continue reading
Where to Find Work for Teens This Summer
Teenagers may have to dig harder to find a job this summer.Only about one-quarter of 16- to 19-year-olds are expected to find seasonal work this year, down from nearly half in 2000, according to a report from the Center for Labor Market Studies at Northeastern University in Boston. That’s projected to be the lowest figure … Continue reading
The Market at Midyear: What’s Coming Next?
It’s been a first half of upheaval, surprises and disappointing returns for investors.Worries about how Greece and several other European nations will handle their debt problems, and recent signs of weakness for the U.S. economy, have weighed on markets. Concerns that China’s economy, the world’s second-largest and crucial to the commodity markets, is slowing, adding … Continue reading
Extreme Tax Frustration
Commodities are hot, but exchange-traded funds and other vehicles that hold them are causing massive tax headaches for investors. Just ask Darren Neuschwander, an accountant in Robertsdale, Ala., with high-net-worth clients around the country. In April Mr. Neuschwander billed one wealthy executive $3,500 to prepare his tax return—triple the tab from the year before.Matt Collins … Continue reading