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The best way to have a good idea is to have a lot of ideas.
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Author Archives: Dave Carpenter
5 ways to balance retirement and college savings
Imagine if retirement were financed by scholarships, grants and loans. You could qualify for a substantial aid package to pay for your senior years. Your stellar job “grades” and career achievements would be rewarded with significant merit aid. Read More
Last-minute tax tips for procrastinators
Getting an extra two days to file taxes beyond the usual April 15 tax filing deadline isn’t likely to cure a nation of procrastinators this year. Tens of millions of us routinely wait until just before the deadline to file returns. Read More
Schwab daughter: Financial literacy starts at home
Growing up with a financial services icon for a father surely gave Carrie Schwab-Pomerantz an inside advantage in learning about money. After all, she got to constantly “talk to Chuck,” as the long-time advertising slogan for Charles Schwab & Co. urges. The real Chuck, Charles R. Schwab: company founder and chairman, pioneer in the discount brokerage business, and Dad. Read More
It’s OK to get a tax refund if you don’t blow it
Getting a big tax refund is supposed to make you feel guilty. Financial planners say it means you’ve had too much withheld from your paychecks. You let the government keep your money and failed to collect interest for all those months. Read More
Retirees’ withdrawal syndrome: How much to live on
Avoiding the nightmare financial scenario in retirement — running out of money — is getting trickier.
Rising life expectancy means having to pay for a longer retirement. The lack of a pension or frozen benefits translate to fewer, smaller checks from ex-employers. And the days of being able to count on averaging 10 percent annual returns from the stock market are over Read More
Romance & Finance: 5 financial tips for couples
This may sound like a heartless thought, but Valentine’s Day is tough on the wallet. Even if you skip buying bling for your beloved, the standard flowers and romantic dinner out can be a blow to your budget. Read More
Investors learn lessons in ’11 on hot stocks, IPOs
To paraphrase Yogi Berra, it’s tough for investors to make predictions, especially about the future. That was certainly the case in 2011 for investors whose portfolios were hurt by unforeseen developments — from Libya to Japan to Europe to Washington. Read More
Money-smart retirement: 9 tips for sound spending
Retirement tests everyone’s money skills. Seniors have to stretch savings over as much as three decades, face steep health care costs and have few ways to make up for any shortfall. Read More
5 tips for selling your home in winter
Just your luck — you have to sell your home in winter, the slowest and dreariest sales season of all. But cheer up. You can use staging, the reduced competition and some seasonal opportunities to your advantage. Read More
5 things you need to know about life insurance
The 10th anniversary of Sept. 11 was a stark reminder about the importance of preparing for sudden loss. Life insurance is often the foundation for such preparations. Read More
Undoing a Roth IRA conversion may save money
The stock market’s summer nosedive was extra painful for those who recently converted their Individual Retirement Accounts to Roths. Read More
Longevity insurance: Old-age money protection
Odds are growing that you’ll live past 85. But will your money last that long? And what if you make it to 95 or 100? With lifespans lengthening, those nearing retirement may want to consider financial protection to guard against the possibility of outliving their money. Read More
A look at the best options for stashing your cash
Cash is king again for many unsettled investors. The crisis in confidence that has spooked investors this summer is prompting many to pull their money from the stock market, with others poised to follow.
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With default looming, what investors should do now
How do you prepare for a financial cataclysm that may not happen? Read More
