Personal Finance
Today on radio: 'Getting Your Dough to Rise'
Host Chuck Noel has three interesting guests lined up for tonight's "Getting Your Dough to Rise" program at 6 on KSER-FM (90.7):
Date: 05/29/2012 | Bizblog
Yes, I can hear you now, and that's the problem
Enough.I've had it with people and their smartphones, iPads, Kindles or whatever who are interrupting my experiences at the movies, during a play or while dining at restaurants. I'm fed up with the loud conversations over cellphones on buses and trains.
Date: 05/27/2012 | Business
Help for planning retirement
Are you expecting too much, or too little, out of whatever retirement you'll have? There's no guarantee, of course, but everyone should do some planning, and these sites can guide the way.Retire in style
Date: 05/27/2012 | Business
Here's what you need to know about home security systems
An electronic home security system can be the source of great peace of mind or great financial headache. But buying a system can be a thorny purchase, fraught with such perils as wildly differing prices, high-pressure sales tactics and unfriendly contracts.
Date: 05/27/2012 | Business
Eating well, exercising saves retirement nest egg
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. -- Ruth H. Clark of Pompano Beach, Fla., is a 95-year-old aerobic wonder, working out seven days a week.But Clark is not just flexing her muscles, she's protecting her retirement nest egg by staying healthy.
Date: 05/27/2012 | Business
What to consider before taking on student loan debt
During a recent online discussion, lots of people had questions about student loan debt. Here are my answers to a couple I didn't get a chance to address.
Date: 05/24/2012 | Business
How to fight off aggravating cellphone spam
Ding. Ding.It's 3 a.m., and your cellphone starts making its instantly recognizable, impossible-to-ignore you-just-got-a-text sound.Your heart starts pounding. Is a loved one hurt? Is there some crisis at work?
Date: 05/20/2012 | Business
You can find a reliable car and not go into debt
You can buy a car with cash.I have to say this because there are a lot of people who have just accepted that borrowing for a vehicle is the only way to get one.
Date: 05/20/2012 | Business
Screen tenant's credit, criminal history before renting
Question: I have read your articles in The Herald and like your practical advice. My husband and I independently rent a home in our neighborhood. Our question is how does an independent landlord run a credit report on prospective tenants?
Date: 05/20/2012 | Business
Track health, oversight of banks
Last week's financial news included reports of a monster investment loss at JPMorgan and new rules for salvaging failed banks. Here are some sites for tracking banks' health and oversight.Who's in charge?
Date: 05/20/2012 | Business
Even with a hedge investment, there’s a risk of loss
"A billion here, a billion there, pretty soon, you're talking real money." That quotation is usually attributed to the late U.S. Sen. Everett Dirksen even though researchers have not found a record of his ever having said it.
Date: 05/18/2012 | Business
Financial advice graduates should CASH in
Every year I like to provide advice to college graduates. By the time I graduated, I had in place some pretty good money habits thanks to my grandmother Big Mama. Because of her, I've made it my mission to pass on the financial wisdom she taught me.
Date: 05/17/2012 | Business
Agency wants to make home loan fees easier to grasp
If you're as busy as I am, asking you to weigh in on yet another request for comment from the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau is likely to be greeted with a well-understood “humph.”
Date: 05/13/2012 | Business
Use these sites to break bad financial habits
We all seem to do something wrong when it comes to money. Whether your problem is not saving enough, or investing in money-losers, these sites could help you begin to change.
Date: 05/13/2012 | Business
Gray areas of community property law
Question: Years ago, my in-laws gave my husband a house that really needed a lot of work to make it livable. We have spent thousands of dollars fixing the place up.
Date: 05/13/2012 | Business
Book a bargain at Mill Creek library sale
Scout out used book sales to save big bucks and recycle in a big way. It's markdown madness at the Friends of the Mill Creek Library sale from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday at the Mill Creek Library.
Date: 05/13/2012 | Life
Online investment tools great retirement resources
On my first day as a full-time journalist, I called my grandmother, Big Mama, to tell her what it was like.
Date: 05/10/2012 | Business
Safely get rid of personal papers at Shred-A-Thon
Shredding sensitive personal papers can take hours, especially when we let them pile up, and just tossing them is gambling with identity theft.
Date: 05/08/2012 | Life
U.S. consumers stepped up borrowing in March
WASHINGTON — Americans swiped their credit cards more often in March and took out more loans to attend school. That drove the biggest one-month increase in U.S. consumer borrowing in a decade.
Date: 05/07/2012 | Business
White House moves to protect GI Bill users from ‘bad actors’
President Barack Obama's high-profile signing Friday of an executive order to protect GI Bill users from predatory practices of for-profit schools is viewed by veterans service organizations as a big step, but also a first step, toward curbing abuses within the U.S. education industry.
Date: 05/07/2012 | Business
Find out how inflation affects your finances
Inflation erodes the purchasing power of money over time. Its effects on your life depend on how well your income and investments do keeping up. Take a look at these sites to see how you're doing.
Date: 05/06/2012 | Business
Book is the 'Scared Straight' of personal finance
I vividly recall the 1978 television documentary "Scared Straight," about inmates serving anywhere from 25 years to life trying to scare juvenile delinquents from ending up in prison themselves. The intervention was raw. It was scary.
Date: 05/06/2012 | Business
Understanding the whys, hows of an IRA
Do you feel like an IRA dummy?If so, you have company. About a third of Americans have an IRA, and confusion, rather than money, is often what stands in the way of getting started.
Date: 05/06/2012 | Business
Berkshire holders trust Buffett on health outlook
OMAHA, Neb. -- Warren Buffett worked to reassure shareholders that he's feeling good after his recent prostate cancer diagnosis, and that Berkshire Hathaway is ready to replace the revered 81-year-old investor when the need arises.
Date: 05/05/2012 | Business
Without a will, your family has no way to avoid chaos
My brother Ross recently died of complications from lung cancer. He was 40.Ross left a wonderful personal legacy. He was a good father, friend and coach. He was a dedicated educator who devoted his career to working with children with emotional, developmental and physical disabilities.
Date: 05/03/2012 | Business
Fidelity: 401(k) balances grew average 8% in 1Q
BOSTON -- Employee 401(k) accounts grew nearly 8 percent last quarter as a surging stock market boosted investment returns and worker contributions increased.
Date: 05/01/2012 | Business
These websites help prepare you for buying a car
Car buying, the other great American pastime, is experiencing a resurgence. The work of auto shopping, along with the pesky issue of selling or trading an old car, can be simplified with these sites.
Date: 04/29/2012 | Business
Advice for a novice real estate investor
Question: It looks like the housing market might be starting to pick up so it seems like this would be a good time to find some bargains and refurbish old homes and sell them for a profit.
Date: 04/29/2012 | Business
Consult a financial planner before buying long-term care insurance
Paying for long-term care is a worry for many, particularly aging baby boomers. Certified financial planner Kevin Young, of Young Wealth Management in Davis, Calif., offers the following advice on whether it's wise to invest in a long-term care insurance.
Date: 04/29/2012 | Business
Ranks of uninsured grow as employers drop coverage
We know that most people get their health insurance coverage through their jobs or through a family member's employer. But a report just released by the nonpartisan Employee Benefit Research Institute found that the percentage of the population with employment-based health benefits has been...
Date: 04/26/2012 | Business
Don't get ripped off on Craiglist
Buying and selling on Internet classified sites such as Craigslist can be a great way to find a deal and make extra cash. But it can also expose you to a host of scams. Here are some tips to help keep you from being ripped off:
Date: 04/22/2012 | Business
Avoid budget backfire
Is there a downside to keeping a personal or family budget? Yes, according to some experts and bloggers. But knowing the drawbacks should help you stay on the path to financial health.
Date: 04/22/2012 | Business
What bankrupt pro athletes can teach us about business
Looking at former NFL star Warren Sapp's bankruptcy filing, it's hard not to focus on the Florida mansion he owns (18,000 square feet, according to property records) or the number of pricey athletic shoes he's purchased (240 pairs, many still in the box unworn).
Date: 04/19/2012 | Business
Financial literacy at core of good small business
Perhaps you're aware that April is Financial Literacy Month. It certainly seems appropriate, given that many of us have been pouring through receipts, tax forms and reconstructing our personal finances from 2011 recently -- a reminder why most Americans dread accounting.
Date: 04/17/2012 | SCBJ Business News
Financial literacy at the core of good small business
Perhaps you're aware that April is Financial Literacy Month. It certainly seems appropriate, given that many of us have been pouring through receipts, tax forms and reconstructing our personal finances from 2011 recently -- a reminder why most Americans dread accounting.
Date: 04/16/2012 | Business
Quiz: How much do you know about finances?
Success in life and money usually stems from making good decisions. But you're unlikely to make good decisions without knowledge. And survey after survey shows Americans, young and old, just don't have enough knowledge about basic money issues to make those good decisions.
Date: 04/15/2012 | Business
Online tool allows easy comparison of college costs
My oldest daughter just returned from touring several colleges she's interested in attending next year.
Date: 04/15/2012 | Business
IRS program offers struggling taxpayers six extra months to pay up
If you can't pay your federal income taxes by April 17, do you think you could six months from now?The question isn't flip.
Date: 04/08/2012 | Business
Nation rapidly switching to e-reading, study finds
Here's what's happening on the plugged-in side of the digital divide: an extraordinarily swift change in how people are reading books and other media, driven by the rapid acceptance of tablets and e-readers.
Date: 04/08/2012 | Business
Four reasons why you should be paying in cash
What's more unfashionable than paying in cash? Not much. But the advantages in many situations outweigh the hassle of counting your change.
Date: 04/08/2012 | Business
Student loan debt is not ‘good' debt
Come graduation time next month, there will be many grandparents -- many with student loans themselves -- sitting at the ceremonies for their grandchildren, who will leave college with their own education loans. Some in both groups will take those loans to their graves.
Date: 04/08/2012 | Business
Haven't filed your taxes yet? Here are some quick tips
You still have time to get help figuring out and then filing your federal tax return.
Date: 04/05/2012 | Business
Grants offered to groups teaching financial literacy
EVERETT -- April is National Financial Literacy Month, and United Way of Snohomish County is taking it to heart.
Date: 04/04/2012 | Local News
Insider’s novel examines Wall Street from woman’s perspective
I typically make selections for the Color of Money Book Club on topics such as investing, retirement saving, getting a mortgage or buying long-term care insurance. You know, important but not very sexy stuff.
Date: 04/01/2012 | Business
Get the lowdown on your credit rating at these websites
Your personal credit rating, to a great extent, determines what loans you'll qualify for and the interest you'll pay. Check these sites to find out where you stand, and how to fix credit problems.
Date: 04/01/2012 | Business
Taxes taxing you? United Way can help
Whoa, March is about gone. The tax deadline is about here. If a refund is coming, tax time means bill-paying or a spending spree.For Monroe's Juan Gutierrez, a tax refund meant savings.
Date: 03/30/2012 | Local News
Gordon Gekko got it wrong; greed is killing our economy
Gordon Gekko got the math right. Greed is one word and there is no better one. Gekko, the corporate raider played by Michael Douglas in the 1987 movie, "Wall Street," in his memorable appeal to stockholders, said, "Greed, for lack of a better word, is good."
Date: 03/30/2012 | Business
Ask yourself: Are you financially literate?
Survey after survey continues to conclude that consumers don't have the best grasp of personal finance issues.
Date: 03/29/2012 | Business
In sports or finance, there should be no bonus for harm done
I'm not a huge football fan, but I have been following the bounty scandal that has hit the New Orleans Saints.
Date: 03/25/2012 | Business
Don’t let dealer roll old car loan into new loan
I met a woman who was having trouble making her car payments. When I saw how much she was paying -- more than $1,000 a month -- I could understand why.
Date: 03/18/2012 | Business
Saving for retirement can be a balancing act for workers
There are arguments for saving less than the minimum 10 percent of income many experts say you'll need for retirement. Are they good arguments? No. But airing them might be a healthy exercise.
Date: 03/18/2012 | Business
Some taxpayers try to push the limits of legitimate deductions
I have never been one to take risks on my taxes, but there are some folks who boldly go where most of us would never even try to go.
Date: 03/15/2012 | Business
Professor looks to Grateful Dead for money acumen
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. -- Nova Southeastern University Professor Barry Barnes tells his management classes the Grateful Dead can teach us a lot about business and personal finance.
Date: 03/11/2012 | Business
Website helps 20-somethings nourish their finances
When it comes to managing money, there's no lack of advice online, whether it's figuring out a budget or calculating your retirement plan.But for 20-somethings? Not so much.
Date: 03/11/2012 | Business
The good and bad of a cashless society
David Wolman can envision a time when we won't need to use cash. In his cashless society, people can text money.But I'm not buying it. Didn't we learn something from the Great Recession, when an over-reliance on all things not cash nearly took down our economy?
Date: 03/11/2012 | Business
Steps to take to avoid an audit
The Philadelphia InquirerCan you avoid an IRS audit by staying on the straight and narrow when preparing your tax return? There's no guarantee, but some forethought may help you avoid hassle later.
Date: 03/10/2012 | Business
Stock rally helps regain wealth lost in recession
WASHINGTON -- Americans are climbing further out of the hole they sank into during the Great Recession.
Date: 03/10/2012 | Business
Income falls short for 9 million retirees as cost of living rises, study finds
LOS ANGELES -- More than 9 million retired Americans don't have enough money to cover basic living expenses, according to a new study.
Date: 03/04/2012 | Business
Let's talk caulk
How to lay a good bead of caulk and keep heating bills down
Date: 03/04/2012 | Business
Google's new ‘privacy' policy would be less creepy if users could opt out
Several weeks ago, I purchased some exercise videos online. Then I noticed that whenever I did an Internet search about anything, an ad for that same video package and other similar workout videos kept popping up. It was spooky.
Date: 03/04/2012 | Business
High prices bumming you out? Hey, it could be a lot worse
Prices for gasoline are rising. It could be worse, though, so here are some reminders, via the Web, that it is still possible to avoid the most expensive things in life.
Date: 03/04/2012 | Business
Decoding those inscrutable fees on your phone bill
Take a close look at your phone bill and you'll find a list of taxes, fees and surcharges going by obscure and slightly mysterious names. Some of these items are government-mandated. Others are devised simply to enrich your provider. Here are some of the fees you might see (although the exact...
Date: 03/04/2012 | Business
Don’t make life easier for identity thieves
We've become a society that shares too much of our personal information, and all that voluntary transparency makes us vulnerable to crooks.
Date: 03/01/2012 | Business
The case for life insurance
Buying life insurance isn’t a sexy purchase, but it’s fundamental to financial planning. That’s why it’s alarming that ownership of policies in the U.S. is at a 50-year low.
Date: 02/26/2012 | Business
Consumer agency wants your comments on banks’ overdraft fees
Bank overdraft fees drive me crazy. It's just wasted money. Sure, overdraft protection is a good backup for the times you miscalculate, but sometimes the fees run into the hundreds of dollars a month and are the most burdensome on the people least able to afford them.
Date: 02/26/2012 | Business
Watch for these tax scams as you prepare your return
Each year, the Internal Revenue Service puts out a list of the top 12 tax scams to avoid, as victim or perpetrator. This year’s list:
Date: 02/26/2012 | Business
Financial and retirement planner featured on KSER radio show Tuesday
Certified financial planner Lisa Peters of Lakeview Financial Group in Seattle returns for the entire hour of "Getting Your Dough to Rise," at 6 p.m. Tuesday on Everett's KSER (90.7 FM) to discuss financial and retirement planning.
Date: 02/25/2012 | Business
In helping parents dig out of debt, don’t get dragged down, too
During a recent online discussion, one reader titled his post "Big, big problem."
Date: 02/23/2012 | Business
Six ways to save on auto insurance
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. -- Government officials and insurers are pushing for changes aimed at lowering automobile premiums by fighting inflated or fraudulent personal injury protection claims, but there are other ways you can save.Consider this advice from industry experts.
Date: 02/21/2012 | Business
Four reasons to look at financial choices and websites to help you do that
Can you trust conventional wisdom, or your gut, in financial matters? Not always. And in some cases, perhaps never, according to the economists and other experts at these sites on money.
Date: 02/19/2012 | Business
Shooting a bratty kid’s laptop is harsh, but the sentiment against overindulgence is understandable
I've taken away my 16-year-old daughter's laptop. I've confiscated her cellphone.
Date: 02/19/2012 | Business
Contractors anticipate better market for remodeling
ORLANDO, Fla. -- Residential contractors are hoping that tight-fisted consumers will decide they need a new bathroom.Or maybe it's time for those old kitchen counters to go.Perhaps it would be better to add another bedroom than move?
Date: 02/19/2012 | Business
Be careful of web phishing scams on travel, rental sites
Shauna Kattler thought she'd found the ideal rental home in Playa del Carmen, Mexico, for her Christmas vacation: a two-bedroom penthouse condominium with a hot tub and an impossibly perfect view of the Caribbean.
Date: 02/18/2012 | Life
Fame and fortune of celebrities such as Whitney Houston offers cautionary tales
Like so many others, I was stunned to hear about Whitney Houston's death at age 48. You just can't overlook the pleasure Houston's music brought into the lives of so many. Several of her songs could immediately make me tear up with joy.
Date: 02/16/2012 | Business
Learn the real estate lingo, get suggestions at websites
Real estate is no easy game, as "underwater" homeowners have found in recent years. You need your wits about you, and these sites help you do that with plain language and suggestions.
Date: 02/12/2012 | Business
Talk to your spouse about your retirement, and not just about investments
There are many reasons why I agreed to marry my husband, but one thing that clinched it for me was his answer to a question I asked early in our courtship."Where do you see yourself when you retire?" I wondered.
Date: 02/12/2012 | Business
A love note to the economy: Valentine's Day spending jumps
Romance doesn't come cheap -- at least, not on Valentine's Day.A dozen red roses usually cost about $60, according to the Society of American Florists, but with Valentine's Day coming this week, most people will pay about $80, the trade group said.
Date: 02/12/2012 | Business
Deal will mean $648 million for those with troubled mortgages in the state
OLYMPIA -- A $25 billion agreement reached Thursday between states and the nation's biggest mortgage lenders should help several thousand Washington homeowners refinance, and thousands more who've lost their houses through foreclosure could receive checks for $2,000 each.
Date: 02/09/2012 | Business
Q&A: What the mortgage settlement might do for you
WASHINGTON -- The mortgage settlement that government officials announced Thursday is intended to help victims of foreclosure abuses that followed the housing bust.
Date: 02/09/2012 | Business
How to avoid someone using your name for a tax rebate
I've set up the tax table. Every year, my husband and I pull out a white folding table to begin organizing our tax documents that will eventually be handed over to our tax preparer. We put it up early this year, instead of waiting until the end of March when we're scrambling madly. This time, we're...
Date: 02/09/2012 | Business
Don't let scammers steal your heart
With Valentine's Day approaching, now might be a good time for lonely consumers to watch out for a con called the "romance scam."
Date: 02/05/2012 | Business
Know your rights when a collector calls on an old debt
What would you do if you received a court summons indicating that you were being sued for thousands of dollars in debt on a credit card you had no recollection ever applying for or using?
Date: 02/05/2012 | Business
Web startups analyze investment choices for younger investors
SAN JOSE, Calif. -- Silicon Valley, birthplace of personal finance and investment heavyweights like Intuit, Financial Engines and Mint, is percolating with new startups that help people manage their money and portfolios online.
Date: 02/05/2012 | Business
DIY or call a pro?
When to tackle a job yourself and when to call for help
Date: 02/05/2012 | Business
Free library classes teach a wide variety of skills
Want to know how to download e-books, make travel plans, fix your finances? Head to your local Sno-Isle Library for one of the Librarians as Information Guides free sessions.
Date: 02/04/2012 | Life
New rules compel disclosure of 401(k) fees
LOS ANGELES -- The Obama administration is taking steps to make the fees charged in 401(k) plans more transparent and broaden the options retirees have for drawing on their nest egg.
Date: 02/03/2012 | Business
FTC settlement with debt collector is a message to all debt collectors
In the world of civil penalties, getting a major company to pay a $2.5 million settlement doesn't seem like much, maybe the equivalent of a $100 parking ticket. This is an ouch factor, but not financially devastating.
Date: 02/02/2012 | Business
One's career must be a consideration before investing in college degree
I continue to debate with people about the purpose of college. Is college a time for young adults to just enrich their minds, or should students use that time to concentrate on a major that will prepare them for a career?
Date: 01/29/2012 | Business
Tax season has three extra days
Tax season is officially here, with the Internal Revenue Service now accepting electronically filed returns.
Date: 01/29/2012 | Business
Websites to help you plan your financial future
Planning your life, or even a weekend getaway, can be daunting. But without a road map of some kind, it's hard to get there from here. That's why financial planning is important. Here are sites to help on the journey.
Date: 01/29/2012 | Business
Death's high price tag
Showing respect for departed need not mean a costly funeral
Date: 01/29/2012 | Business
Mandatory arbitration leaving credit customers at a disadvantage
If you look carefully -- and you probably haven't -- in the fine print in your credit card agreement or in many of the consumer contracts you sign, you'll likely find a provision that says if you have a dispute and want your day in court, you're out of luck. Instead, you are forced to go to binding...
Date: 01/22/2012 | Business
Sites help students save money on their taxes
As the cost of higher education continues to rise, many college students can use all the financial breaks they can get.One source of assistance: the federal tax code, which has a tuition and fees deduction as well as tax credits for higher education.
Date: 01/22/2012 | Business
12 ways to rebuild your credit
Rebuilding credit should be at the top of the list for 2012. Too many credit scores took fairly big hits during the recession."It's been rough," said Todd Albery, CEO of Detroit-based Quizzle, a credit information website that's part of the Quicken Loans family.
Date: 01/22/2012 | Business
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