Moneysmartz Custom Search Engines
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Archived Under: Custom Search Engines Updates
Tags: Custom Search Engines Updates
Are you frustrated by search engine results or concerned about the quality of results? What if you could narrow in on the financial information you need much faster than through a standard search?
To address these concerns, Moneysmartz recently launched its first custom search engine, letting you search the best financial sites on the web, evaluated and selected by Moneysmartz editors.
The Moneysmartz Best Sites custom search engine combines the power of Google's standard search with the in-depth knowledge of Moneysmartz human editors to make it easier for you to locate the relevant information you need about personal finance.
Moneysmartz evaluates and selects the best sites for inclusion in the Best Sites Search engine. As we add sites, our custom search engine becomes more valuable to you, allowing you to search with more confidence.
Macroeconomics Update
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Archived Under: Directory Updates , Economics
Tags: Economics, Macroeconomics
Category: Economics > Macroeconomics
Recent Update: October 27, 2006.
Category Overview: Today the Commerce Department reported that economic growth as measured by Gross Domestic Product (GDP) declined to its lowest level in three years. What does this decline in GDP mean to you? More importantly, how can you monitor the economic situation to make better decisions about your personal finances? The recently updated Moneysmartz Macroeconomic category provides an overview of macroeconomic basics, including GDP, inflation, recession and a link to current economic statistics. It's dry stuff, but should clarify the meaning of important economic terminology and help you gain a better understanding of where the economy is heading.
Featured Site: An introduction to macroeconomics from Wikipedia.
Real Estate Rules for a Down Market
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Archived Under: Baby Boomers , Moneysmartz Editor , Real Estate , The Moneysherpa Pages
Tags: Baby Boomers, Moneysmartz Editor, Real Estate, The Moneysherpa Pages
Because home equity represents a significant percentage of total household net worth for most Americans, particularly the baby boomer generation that is now approaching retirement, real estate market downturns wreak havoc on our collective state of well-being.
Our current market downturn has captured the attention of a host of real estate bubble blogs and more recently cover stories from financial and general news magazines.
One of these cover stories worth a read comes from the November issue of Business 2.0, featuring real estate guidance, including where to buy, where not to buy, bubble proof markets, and new rules of real estate.
For the Rich Dad, Poor Dad crowd, the feature provides advice on buying low and renting high including a tidy formula for how to make the rent pay.
With the raft of real estate guidance, you have a fighting chance to protect your home equity or even increase your net worth with a few well-informed moves.
Investing Games Update
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Archived Under: Directory Updates , Investing
Tags: Investing, Investing Games
Category: Investing > Games
Recent Update: October 23, 2006.
Category Overview: If you are looking for some fun while improving your investment skills, then investing games sites may be your answer, with features like a fantasy sports pool. For free and sometimes a fee, investing game sites simulate the experience of investing in the real stock market. For neophyte investors or those looking to test their mettle against others, investing game sites provide the adrenaline rush of a fantasy sports site with the added benefit of investing knowledge and experience to improve the bottom line.
Featured Site: An introduction to prediction markets from Wikipedia.
Editor Picks: Investopedia's Stock Simulator, Marketwatch's Virtual Stock Exchange, and PredictWallStreet, where you can predict a stock or index and see what others think.
Baby Boomers and Real Estate
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Archived Under: Baby Boomers , Life Events , Moneysmartz Editor , Real Estate , Retirement Planning , The Moneysherpa Pages
Tags: Baby Boomers, Life Events, Moneysmartz Editor, Real Estate, Retirement Planning, The Moneysherpa Pages
As the first of the baby boomers turn 60 and begin to seriously contemplate retirement, get ready for even more coverage about this cohort of 78 million Americans. The good news for everyone is that the information and advice should be helpful for all generations, particularly since so many pundits regularly voice concern about the sad state of retirement planning and savings in the United States.
An example of this media barrage, Newsweek's The Boomer Files, is a noteworthy boomer resource. The most recent installment focuses on real estate, with advice about where to retire, second homes, and real estate strategies such as reverse mortgages and mortgage payoffs.
This is serious stuff for boomers turning 60 and for the rest of us a glimpse into our future and opportunity to get ahead of the game.
Eons
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Archived Under: Baby Boomers , New and Notable , Retirement Planning
Tags: Baby Boomers, Eons, New and Notable, Retirement Planning
Site Name: Eons
Site Description: It's inevitable that as the baby boomer generation reaches retirement age, more websites and blogs will be devoted to helping this cohort make the most of their time and financial resources. Eons, the MySpace for seniors and boomers, started by Monster.com founder Jeff Taylor, and seeded with significant venture capital funding, launched in July with the goal of reaching baby boomers and seniors. Eons is a 50+ media company inspiring a generation of boomers and seniors to live the biggest life possible. The Eons website features articles, information, and discussion on a range of topics important to boomers and seniors, including health, travel, relationships and money.
Personal Finance Category: Life Events>Retiring
Bottom Line: For boomers and seniors, Eons offers a wealth of relevant information and a place to interact with others. Eon's money section is a one-stop-shop of boomer and senior financial information and advice. Finally, a unique search engine, called cRANKy, provides links and blogs for the 50+ set.
OnGuard Online
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Archived Under: Fraud , New and Notable
Site Name: OnGuard Online
Site Description: Maintained by The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) with support from numerous partners including the US Department of Justice and the Better Business Bureau, OnGuard provides practical tips from the federal government and the technology industry to help you be on guard against Internet fraud, secure your computer, and protect your personal information. The site offers an overview of online risks, including identity theft, Internet auctions, spyware, wireless, phishing, social networking sites, spam scams, online shopping, p2p file-sharing, voip, cross border scams and online investing.
Personal Finance Category: Internet Fraud
Bottom Line: OnGuard's overview of threats to your security are a necessary read, giving you the knowledge you need to make more informed decisions about where you spend your time online. For Internet-challenged parents, OnGuard's tips and information will help you protect your children online. Since the threats will continue to grow, OnGuard is worth a bookmark and frequent visits.
Kiplinger's Best of Everything 2006
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Archived Under: Moneysmartz Editor , The Moneysherpa Pages
Tags: Kiplingers, Moneysmartz Editor, The Moneysherpa Pages
The November 2006 issue of Kiplinger's offers its best of list for 2006, including online brokers, stock picking newsletters, retirement plans, insurance sites, and a lot more. The Moneysmartz Personal Finance Resource Directory lists many of Kiplinger's best, including several Moneysmartz Editor's Picks. Here are our favorites from the Kiplinger's list:
- Dodge and Cox Funds - Established in 1930, San Francisco-based Dodge & Cox provides professional investment management services to individuals, retirement funds, and tax-exempt institutions through mutual funds and separate accounts. Kiplinger's Best U.S. Stock Fund and Best International Stock Fund.
- Yahoo! Finance - Investing information and resources. Kiplinger's Best Overall Online Investing Site and Best Free Stock Screener
- OptionsXpress - Online options and stockbrokers. Comprehensive site for both experienced and novice equity option investors. Kiplinger's Best Online Broker
- ClearStation.com - Online investment community powered by Etrade. Kiplinger's Best Forum to Chat with Other Investors
- Investinginbonds.com - Information about bond investing from The Bond Market Association. Bond price information, articles, introductory guides, and links to related sites. Kiplinger's Best Bond Investing Site
- NoLoad Fund*X - NoLoad Fund*X uses a proprietary screening system to classify funds according to risk based primarily on their historical performance, with emphasis on their downside records. Kiplinger's Best Fund Newsletter Co-Champion
- No-Load Fund Analyst - Monthly. Provides analysis of financial markets and mutual funds. Kiplinger's Best Fund Newsletter Co-Champion
- The Turnaround Letter - Stock pricing newsletter which finds companies that have had some problems and are temporarily out-of-favor, but are in the process of turning around. Kiplinger's Best Stock-Picking Newsletter
- Moving.com - Tips, advice, and tools for moving. Kiplinger's Best Cost-of-Living Calculator
- Salary.com - Help to determine your expected salary before finding your new job. Kiplinger's Best Salary-Rating Site
- Nolo - Law books, legal forms, legal software, tips, and articles. Kiplinger's Best Do-It-Yourself Legal Advice
- Charity Navigator - America's premier independent charity evaluator, works to advance a more efficient and responsive philanthropic marketplace by evaluating the financial health of America's largest charities. Kiplinger's Best Charity-Rating Site
- EverBank - Offers Internet banking and other financial services. Kiplinger's Best Checking Account
- Federal Trade Commission - Offers step-by-step instructions to report identity theft. A recent Moneysmartz post featured the FTC's Deter, Detect, Defend, and Avoid Identity Theft program. Kiplinger's Best Place to Report ID Theft
- HSBCDirect - Provides trading, market information, free stock quotes, charts, and Internet banking. Kiplinger's Best Online Savings Account
- Insure.com - Offers online insurance quotes and an extensive library of consumer-oriented articles covering many insurance topics. Kiplinger's Best Sites for Life-Insurance Quotes
- AccuQuote.com - Offers life insurance quotes including agent assistance at 1-800-442-9899. Kiplinger's Best Sites for Life-Insurance Quotes
- InsWeb - Online insurance quotes, including auto, life, homeowners, and health. Kiplinger's Best Site for Auto-Insurance Quotes
- AccuCoverage.com - Calculate the replacement cost of your home for $7.95. Kiplinger's Best Site for Homeowners-Insurance Help
- eHealthInsurance.com - Compare and buy health insurance online. Kiplinger's Best Site for Health-Insurance Quotes
- Medicare.gov - Information on Medicare, including comparisons of medicare and medigap plans. Kiplinger's Best Site for Medicare Quotes
- Scottrade - Low minimum investment IRA from Scottrade. Kiplinger's Best Low-Cost IRA
- T. Rowe Price - Provides domestic and international equity funds as well as taxable, tax-free, and international bond funds. Kiplinger's Best Target Retirement Fund and Best Place for IRA Rollovers
- Fidelity - Retirement information, resources, and financial services from Fidelity Investments. Kiplinger's Best Place to Manage Your Retirement Income
- ImmediateAnnuities - Consumer resource for annuity information. Kiplinger's Best Place to Shop for an Annuity
Debt and Bankruptcy Moneynavigator
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Archived Under: Debt and Bankruptcy , Directory Updates , Money Management
Tags: Banking and Credit, Debt and Bankruptcy, Money Management, Moneynavigators
Are you trying to cope with unexpected financial setbacks and possibly considering filing for bankruptcy or consolidating your debt? Use the Debt and Bankruptcy Moneynavigator to learn bankruptcy and debt management basics, find bankruptcy lawyers and credit counselors, consolidate your debt, get a free credit report, or join a debt and bankruptcy support group. The Debt and Bankruptcy Moneynavigator highlights best of category sources of debt and bankruptcy services and information.
Finding the Best Insurance Providers
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Archived Under: Insurance , Moneysmartz Editor , The Moneysherpa Pages
Tags: AM Best, Insurance, Moneysmartz Editor, The Moneysherpa Pages
If you've spent time with an insurance agent, then you may have left the conversation with a lot of anxiety about the personal and professional risks for which you are unprotected. The good news is that many of us overcome this hurdle and eventually protect ourselves against these risks. The bad news is that we often forget to look at the risk associated with the companies providing the insurance. In times of economic and political instability, marginal insurance providers are at risk, placing policyholders at risk.
For individuals interested in doing a little homework before buying insurance, A.M. Best offers an extensive database of insurance company ratings. Since 1899, A.M. Best has been collecting insurance information, for both professionals and consumers. To gain full access to the ratings, you'll need to register and wade through some technical information. If you have limited time and perhaps comfort with the more technical aspects of the site, then print out the following page describing Best's ratings, and ask you insurance provider how they rank. Most should have the answer, which you can then use to compare against other providers.
By taking these necessary steps, you’ll be better prepared to weather the next unexpected financial, economic, or political crisis.
BBBOnline Reliability Program
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Archived Under: Fraud , Government Resources , Moneysmartz Editor , The Moneysherpa Pages
Tags: BBBOnline Reliability Program, Internet Fraud, Moneysmartz Editor, The Moneysherpa Pages
Verifying the authenticity of a website or finding an authoritative third-party referral is something we often overlook when searching online. As it becomes easier and less expensive to produce a polished and professional looking website, the threat of visiting a fraudulent site increases.
Fortunately, there are programs to combat Internet fraud, including the BBBOnline Reliability Program, which connects consumers with legitimate businesses.
Participating companies, after pledging to meet the BBBOnLine Reliability standards for ethical online business practices and agreeing to resolve complaints using the BBB's dispute resolution program or a similar program, may post the BBBOnline Reliability Seal on their websites.
In addition to looking for the seal, consumers should visit the BBB site and browse the directory of BBBOnline Reliability Program participants.
One final thought. Be sure to click the seal. After clicking, you should go to a page verifying that the company participates in the program or that their participation has lapsed. Since it's easy for sites to copy and post the seal online, make sure that the clicked seal goes to the BBBOnline site. Help other consumers by reporting abuse of the seal to BBBOnline.
Banking Services Moneynavigator
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Archived Under: Banking Services , Directory Updates
Tags: Banking Services, Banking Services Moneynavigator, Moneynavigators
Moneysmartz helps connect individuals with relevant and reliable sources of financial products, services, and information. We are creating a safe place for finding information and services to help you make better financial decisions. We want you to confidently manage your personal finances and ultimately reach your financial summit.
With these goals in mind, the Moneysmartz Directory recently launched Moneynavigators, your guide to best of category products, services, and information. Each Moneynavigator provides a safe haven to help you quickly and reliably find the information and services you need, including a category introduction, links to best of category sites, recent blog posts, and related categories in the Moneysmartz directory.
Our first Moneynavigator, Banking Services, will help you find a reliable bank, choose the best credit card for your unique financial situation, start banking online, pay your bills through the Internet, and even order checks.
Fighting Back Against Identity Theft
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Archived Under: Fraud , Government Resources , Moneysmartz Editor , The Moneysherpa Pages
Tags: FTC, Government Resources, Identity Theft, Moneysmartz Editor, The Moneysherpa Pages
October conjures images of ghosts, goblins, and mail order costumes. It's the time of year when getting scared is fun.
According to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), over 10 million Americans every year get spooked for real by identity theft. Unlike an amused laugh from a poorly carved pumpkin, identity theft elicits fear and causes untold pain and suffering by those having information about them used to commit fraud.
Fortunately, there are resources to help consumers fight back.
The FTC, through its Deter, Detect, Defend, and Avoid Identity Theft program offers easy to follow tips and tools including a must view 10-minute identity theft video with ways you can protect yourself.
Taking action won't remove the threat of identity theft, but it may keep the boo where it belongs and away from you.