Volunteerism up among Americans in 2009
A million and a half more Americans volunteered to help with such activities as raising money, collecting food and tutoring children during the span of a year ending in September 2009, a period marked by job losses and a lousy economy. . . . read more
Your Career: How to get organized as work piles up
Multitasking. It’s a practice many workers were familiar with before the recession, but now millions more must do it because they’re being asked to do more with less. . . . read more
Jobless rate said likely to stay high through 2010
The Obama administration is predicting little improvement in the nation’s unemployment rate by the end of the year.
Although President Barack Obama says the multitrillion-dollar spending plan released Monday is designed to get Americans back to work . . . read more
How much are you paying? A guide to 401(k) fees
Retirement savings is a central topic in the Obama administration’s proposed initiatives to help struggling middle class families. And one of the concerns to be addressed is improving the ability of workers to determine how much they’re paying for the management of their 401(k) plan.
Making smart spending decisions often means . . . read more
Tools to help rebalance an investment portfolio
Shifting markets can throw an investor’s mix of stocks, bonds and other assets off-target. For example, if stocks rally, a portfolio with 60 percent in stocks and 40 percent in bonds may grow to 70 percent in stocks. This means the investor is taking on more risk than intended. It’s possible to get back on track by rebalancing the portfolio to restore the desired asset allocation. Here’s a look at some tools to help determine an ideal mix for you, and stick with it:
—CHOOSING A PLAN: Most major investment companies offer guidance on their Web sites on how to choose an appropriate asset allocation, and how to shift it as you approach retirement . . . read more






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