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Category Archives: AP
Retired couples may need $240,000 for health care
Couples retiring this year can expect their medical bills throughout retirement to cost 4 percent more than those who retired a year ago, according to an annual projection released Wednesday, May 9, by Fidelity Investments. Read More
Buffett says investors shouldn’t act on headlines
Billionaire Warren Buffett said Monday that Europe will have a hard time resolving its fiscal problems because of the structure of the European Union and this weekend’s election results in Greece and France. Read More
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
Tools to research 529 college savings plans
Nearly all states offer 529 plans, popular ways to save for a child’s future college expenses. The plans allow withdrawals for college expenses that are free of federal taxes. Two-thirds of the states also extend state tax deductions or credits to residents enrolling in their 529s. Read More
US housing market boosted by jobs, higher rents
It’s been a long time since the market for new homes has looked this good. Rising rents and a healthier job market are inspiring more people to consider buying. Builders are responding to the demand by laying plans for more homes this year than at any other point in past 3½ years. Read More
4 tax tips for mutual fund investors
Duncan Richardson routinely keeps a quarter in his pocket, but it’s not spending money. The chief equity investment officer of investment manager Eaton Vance frequently digs the coin out and uses it as a prop to illustrate the drain that taxes can have on investments. Read More
Tech dividends: What fund investors should know
Investing is about give and take. Consider growth-oriented companies, which are focused on building business and expanding market share. When the economy improves, their stocks are likely to rise more sharply than those of well-established companies. 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
Making car payment takes priority, study finds
The recession and its hangover may have turned bill-paying habits upside down. Cash-strapped Americans are paying off their car loans before they pay credit card bills and make mortgage payments, a study finds. 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
Homeownership can translate into tax savings
Mortgage interest is just the beginning. Owning a home can provide some significant advantages when it’s time to file your federal tax return. From green energy credits to deductions for damage from natural disasters, there are a number of items homeowners may be able to claim that could reduce a tax bill. 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
Smart Spending: Spring cleaning for fun and profit
The ritual of spring cleaning can bring lots of poetic benefits: spiritual renewal, charitable donations, a clutter-free lifestyle. But it also can be a way to save money — and even make a dollar or two. Here’s how to get the biggest bang for your buck out of this annual ritual. Read More
