Rainy Day Savings
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Archived Under: Money Management , Moneysmartz Editor , The Moneysherpa Pages
Tags: Emergency Fund, Money Management, Moneysmartz Editor, Personal Savings, The Moneysherpa Pages
A recent post in The Red Tape Chronicles highlighted the fact that many Americans do not have an emergency fund to cover about 3- to 6-months of living expenses.
So, if you don't have enough socked away in your rainy day fund, then what can you do?
First, don't panic, you can start saving today and in less than a year you'll be much better prepared.
Next, and this is hard to do, try to pay yourself first. Set aside a small amount every month before spending or investing. We are notoriously bad about taking action in this way, so continue reading.
Liz Pulliam Weston, an MSN personal finance columnist recommends getting a line of credit from your bank. If you do this, then be careful to avoid using the line to pay for non-emergency expenses. Otherwise, you'll only dig a deeper hole.
By taking a few simple steps, you'll be thankful when the rain starts to pour.
Wex
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Archived Under: Law , Moneysmartz Editor , New and Notable
Tags: Law, Moneysmartz Editor, New and Notable
Are you looking for a top-notch source for legal information? Maybe you are worried about the reliability of information from Wikipedia. Try Wex, by the Legal Information Institute at the Cornell Law School. Wex is a collaboratively-created, public-access law dictionary and encyclopedia. If you are looking for information on personal finance related topics like real estate law, income taxes, estate taxes, and a lot more, then Wex provides a wealth of insight that will hone your financial decision-making and save time wading through search engine results.
PayScale
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Archived Under: Benefits , Compensation , Moneysmartz Editor , New and Notable
Tags: Benefits, Compensation, Moneysmartz Editor, New and Notable
How does your salary compare? What should you do to negotiate a pay raise? You'll find answers to these questions and more at PayScale, the market leader in global online compensation information for employers and individuals. PayScale was designed to give you the accurate facts and negotiation expertise you need in order to make smart, informed career decisions. A free compensation report and advice is available by completing a brief online questionnaire. If you are looking for an edge, then PayScale is worth a few minutes of your time.
Estate Planning Mistakes
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Archived Under: Estate Planning , Moneysmartz Editor , The Moneysherpa Pages
Tags: Estate Planning, Moneysmartz Editor, The Moneysherpa Pages
Providing for your family through estate planning can be very a complicated and confusing process, even for financial professionals. Michael T. Ohlman, columnist for the Bradenton Herald, compiled the following list of estate planning mistakes to watch out for:
Not funding your living trust.
Too much JTWROS property.
Leaving too many assets to a surviving spouse.
Not equalizing assets through gifts between spouses.
Not having a will.
Improper ownership of life insurance.
Being donor and custodian of a uniform-gift-to-minors-act/uniform-transfer-to-minors-act account.
Not knowing where all the "stuff" is.
Naming the wrong executor.
Not periodically updating an estate plan.
This list should be a helpful reference as you fine-tune your estate plan or work with estate planning experts to create your estate plan for the first time.
Rating College 529 Savings Plans
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Archived Under: College Financing , Moneysmartz Editor , The Moneysherpa Pages
Tags: 529 Education Savings Plans, College Financing, Moneysmartz Editor, The Moneysherpa Pages
The best way to combat the rising cost of college for your children is to begin saving as early as possible. A great way to jumpstart your savings and enjoy some valuable tax advantages is to enroll in an education 529 savings plan. With every state offering at least one 529 plan, it's important to understand plan differences and choose the one best suited to your situation. Savingforcollege.com will help you understand the nuances of 529 plans with their Five-Cap ratings on each state-sponsored plan. The rating system determines the usefulness of each plan based on more than investment attractiveness including plan flexibility and additional economic benefits. By combining the benefits of saving early and often and understanding which 529 plan is best for your situation, you'll have a fighting chance to help your children pay for college.
Fix Your Finances in a Month
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Archived Under: Financial Planning , Moneysmartz Editor , The Moneysherpa Pages
Tags: Financial Planning, Moneysmartz Editor, The Moneysherpa Pages
The New Year is in full swing and many of us have already forgotten our resolutions. If personal finance is still on your list, then the Simple Dollar weblog has a series it posted in January called 31 days to fix your finances. The series breaks down the financial fixes into five stages, including figuring out your goals and values, evaluating your situation, building your own life budget, looking at your life, piece by piece, and setting the stage for lifelong success. It's February, so you'll need a little more than this month to fix your finances, but it will be worth the effort if you decide to get started.
The Self Employment Tax
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Archived Under: Business Ownership , Moneysmartz Editor , Taxes , The Moneysherpa Pages
Tags: Business Ownership, Moneysmartz Editor, Taxes, The Moneysherpa Pages
Starting a business is daunting. Adding to the stress is an array of administrative tasks, not the least of which is dealing with the IRS. If you are self-employed and wondering how to calculate and pay your taxes, there are many helpful online resources that should lower your blood pressure, get your taxes out of the way, and allow you to focus on important tasks, like making money.
For an easy to digest overview of self-employment taxes, visit Wachovia's Self-Employment Tax page with ways to report the self-employment tax to the IRS and available income tax deductions.
For forms and an in-depth review of the self-employment tax, visit the Internal Revenue Service.
To estimate your self-employment taxes, visit H&R Block's self-employment tax estimator. If you are paying self-employment taxes for the first time, then prepare for a shock. The good news is that a portion of your self-employment tax is an income tax deduction.
Finally, Moneysmartz offers a complete list of self-employment tax resources.
Tracking Your Financial Goals
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Archived Under: Moneysmartz Editor , Net Worth , The Moneysherpa Pages
Tags: Moneysmartz Editor, Net Worth, The Moneysherpa Pages
During the holiday season, the gap between Christmas and the New Year is usually a good time for quiet reflection and planning, allowing us to step back from the hustle and bustle of our daily lives and take in the big picture.
If you are in the mood for a financial assessment, then the December issue of Money Magazine offers tools and advice for tracking your financial goals and comparing where you stand to your peers.
For extra motivation to get you started, see how your net worth stacks up with others. Results are by age and income, with the median net worth for youngsters around $400 and for seniors around $175,000.
Additional tools and advice include:
How to Afford an Expensive College for Your Children
How to Launch Your Own Business
If you don't start now, then it may be another year before you catch your breath and have a chance to plan again.
Best Brokerages for Stock Advice
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Archived Under: Investing , Moneysmartz Editor , The Moneysherpa Pages
Tags: Investing, Moneysmartz Editor, The Moneysherpa Pages
Sometimes the best financial advice is to be still and listen to your own counsel. However, for even the most skilled and self-reliant stock-pickers, an occasional dose of outside perspective can be helpful.
If you are looking for a brokerage for advice, then StarMine's recent ranking of big brokerage performance is a good place to start.
Wachovia Securities is at the top of the list, in part because of a strong buy on Comcast, with a 46% gain over the rating period.
The remaining top ten includes Citigroup, Merrill Lynch, RBC Capital Markets, JPMorgan, Bear Stearns, Stifel Nicolaus, Deutsche Bank, UBS, and CIBC World Markets.
Planning for a Better 2007
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Archived Under: Financial Planning , Moneysmartz Editor , The Moneysherpa Pages
Tags: Financial Planning, Moneysmartz Editor, The Moneysherpa Pages
For many of us, the holiday season is a time to get together with family and friends and take a brief time out from our hectic lives. For others, it's a time to plan and prepare for a successful new year. If you are in the latter group, then Money Magazine's Best ideas for 2007 will jumpstart your planning process with investment, home buying, home selling, retirement, and savings tips. My favorite is for homebuyers. Money recommends buying from a builder, since they can't afford to sit on the sidelines while the market recovers. You'll probably be able to negotiate a lower price with a lot more upgrades.
Securities Donation Calculator
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Archived Under: Moneysmartz Editor , Philanthropy , Taxes , The Moneysherpa Pages
Tags: Moneysmartz Editor, Philanthropy, Taxes, The Moneysherpa Pages
According to Giving USA, Americans gave total contributions of $260.28 billion for 2005. Generous by most standards and partly fueled by tax savings.
If you are considering a year-end charitable gift, Fidelity Charitable Gift Fund's Securities Donation Calculator will help you measure the tax savings from selling the securities and contributing the proceeds to charity and paying any associated capital gains tax compared to giving the securities directly to charity and avoiding capital gains tax.
The tax savings from contributing directly can be significant, so if you are inclined to give securities this year, consider giving directly to cut your tax bill.
How Are You Doing Financially?
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Archived Under: Moneysmartz Editor , Net Worth , The Moneysherpa Pages
Tags: Moneysmartz Editor, Net Worth, The Moneysherpa Pages
With almost 9 million millionaire households in the United States and a steady stream of net worth lists including the Forbes 400 Richest Americans, we are constantly reminded where we stand in the financial pecking order.
If you are interested in seeing how your are doing, not only your net worth, but in all aspects of financial planning, like college savings, asset protection, retirement planning, and budgeting, then the December 2006 issue of Kiplinger's Personal Finance magazine offers a financial fitness test to compare where you are.
The test will show you where you stand compared to others taking the test including a small group of Kiplinger's readers. Tips for staying and getting ahead will help you improve your long-term financial health.
Not surprisingly, the test shows that the meaning of millionaire is changing, with the majority of respondents saying they need to be at least a millionaire to meet their long-term financial objectives.
Housing Values in 152 Markets
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Archived Under: Moneysmartz Editor , Real Estate , The Moneysherpa Pages
Tags: Moneysmartz Editor, Real Estate, The Moneysherpa Pages
With so much of our net worth tied up in real estate, it's not surprising that we are obsessed with home prices. Is your home overvalued? Fairly valued? Undervalued?
To answer these questions and learn more about the state of the housing market, the December issue of SmartMoney includes a spreadsheet of housing values in 152 markets and a review of what's happening in real estate now that the bloom is off the housing boom.
Five Questions for a Better Retirement
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Archived Under: Financial Calculators , Financial Goal Setting , Moneysmartz Editor , Retirement Planning , The Moneysherpa Pages
Tags: Fidelity, Financial Calculators, Financial Goal Setting, Moneysmartz Editor, Retirement Planning, The Moneysherpa Pages
With the experts telling us how unprepared we are for retirement, it's no surprise that many of us put off retirement planning for as long as possible. If the experts are right, then most Americans will have a day of reckoning when confronting a retirement with inadequate savings.
If you are willing to feel some pain today with the hope of a brighter retirement, then Fidelity's My Plan, requiring answers to five simple questions, is a relatively painless way to determine how much you'll need when you retire and what you need to do to get there.
The My Plan tool is intuitive and pleasant; delivering good and bad news with a smile while providing concrete steps to change your investment habits and begin preparing for a better retirement.
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.
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.
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
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.
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.
Credit Card Company Websites
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Archived Under: Banking Services , Moneysmartz Editor , The Moneysherpa Pages
Tags: Banking and Credit, Banking Services, Credit Cards, Moneysmartz Editor, The Moneysherpa Pages
How many credit card offers do you receive in the mail? By now, you are probably numb to the message and only consider switching credit cards or adding a new one based on an event like a hefty renewal fee or nasty interaction with a credit card issuer's automated phone system.
For those considering a switch, a study by Keynote Systems ranks credit card company websites in areas like ease of use, service, privacy, and security.
We've included the two leaders from the Keynote study, Chase and Bank of America, as picks in the Credit Card Issuers category in the Moneysmartz Directory. We particularly like Chase for its high customer service rating.
Peer-to-Peer Stock Picking
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Archived Under: Investing , Moneysmartz Editor , The Moneysherpa Pages
Tags: Clearstation, Forbes, Investing, Marketocracy, Moneysmartz Editor, SocialPicks, Stock Picking Communities, The Moneysherpa Pages, Value Forum, Value Investors Club
The October 2, 2006 issue of Forbes offers a list of peer-to-peer stock picking websites. These sites provide tips, insights, and virtual portfolios. A site on the list, Marketocracy, even pays stellar performers asset management fees. Online investment communities offer a forum to exchange ideas, an additional venue to conduct research, and even a way to compare your stock picking ability with others.
- ClearStation - Free online investment community powered by Etrade.
- Marketocracy - Stock picking community, mutual fund, and research. Free basic membership and fee to access leading performer picks.
- SocialPicks - Called the MySpace for investors by Forbes. Community for stock market investors to share investment ideas, exchange market research, and track peers' investment performance.
- ValueForum.com - Investment discussion community for value investors focusing on more exotic investments including REITs and commodities. Membership fee required to access most services.
- Value Investors Club - An exclusive online investment club where top investors share their best ideas. Must complete an application to join.
Goog Swoon and Portfolio Rebalancing
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Archived Under: Investing , Moneysmartz Editor , The Moneysherpa Pages
Tags: Investing, Moneysmartz Editor, Portfolio Rebalancing, The Moneysherpa Pages
This morning's sharp drop in shares of Google (GOOG) provides a reminder to pay attention to regular portfolio rebalancing. The experts say regular portfolio rebalancing aligns investment portfolio mix (stocks, bonds, and cash) with investment plans. When things get out of whack, like when an investment appreciates or declines rapidly, then the mix should be revisited. For a primer on portfolio rebalancing, visit About Stocks or Efficient Frontier.
Free Retirement Advice, Really (But for only two days)
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Archived Under: Financial Planning , Moneysmartz Editor , Retirement Planning , The Moneysherpa Pages
Tags: Financial Planning, Kiplingers, Moneysmartz Editor, NAPFA, Retirement Planning, The Moneysherpa Pages
Kiplinger's and the National Association of Personal Financial Advisors (NAPFA) are sponsoring Kiplinger's Jump-Start Your Retirement Plan Days. On Thursday, September 21, and Friday, October 6, from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. eastern time, NAPFA members will be waiting to help with your retirement and financial-planning questions. What's the catch? There's just one, you'll need to dial 888-919-2345. The call and consultation are free.
Google and Quickbooks 2007 Align
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Archived Under: Business Ownership , Moneysmartz Editor , The Moneysherpa Pages
Tags: Business Ownership, Google, Moneysmartz Editor, Quickbooks, The Moneysherpa Pages
Today Intuit said it would be incorporating many of Google's most popular services for small business, including Google Adwords, Google Base, and Google Maps, into the 2007 version of QuickBooks accounting software. This partnership should be most helpful for small businesses looking to easily set-up and manage online marketing campaigns using Google Adwords, small businesses selling products using Google Base, and small businesses marketing locally using Google Maps.
Kiplinger's Must-Read Investing Bloggers
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Archived Under: Financial Blogs , Investing , Moneysmartz Editor , The Moneysherpa Pages
Tags: Financial Blogs, Investing, Investing Blogs, Kiplinger's, Kiplingers, Moneysmartz Editor, The Moneysherpa Pages
The October 2006 issue of Kiplinger's offers a list of must-read investing blogs, including nine blogs featured in Moneysmartz. Investing blogs appear to have some staying power as most of the blogs in previous Moneysmartz Directory updates, including Investing Blogs, Economics Blogs, Financial Podcasts, and Personal Finance Blogs are still actively posting. The Kiplinger list offers blogs for the hard-core number cruncher, including the 10Q Detective and one of our favorites, Footnoted.org, and a wide-range of blogs covering economics, personal finance, and mutual funds. Blogs continue to move toward the mainstream, as a blog in the Kiplinger list, Seeking Alpha, now provides content to Yahoo! Finance. From the perspective of financial decision-making, many investment blogs provide fresh insights directly from investment professionals. However, anyone can start a blog and begin offering advice, so as always, it's important to consider the source before devoting a lot of time to a blog.
- The Buffett Blog - Dedicated to studying the Oracle of Omaha while celebrating the Muse from Margaritaville. Maintained by the Buffett Group at the University of Chicago Graduate School of Business.
- Consumerism Commentary - A blog about personal finance.
- Controlled Greed - Undervalued stock investing.
- Cramerwatch.org - Dedicated to holding Jim Cramer accountable.
- Dear Economist - Answers Financial Times reader problems with the tools of Adam Smith.
- Footnoted.org - Uncovering the story behind financial statements.
- Freeakonomics - A rogue economist explores the hidden side of everything.
- Fund Alarm - Helping investors decide when to sell mutual funds.
- The Kirk Report - Independent and award-winning stock picks and investment advice.
- Mad Money Machine - Podcast that reviews the Mad Money recommendations of Jim Cramer.
- PFBlogs.com - Aggregates feeds from many of the top personal financial webloggers.
- Random Roger's Big Picture - Stock market blog about portfolio management, navigating the current market environment, how to analyze and choose foreign stocks, exchange traded funds, and options.
- Seeking Alpha - Dashboard for network of stock market and personal finance blogs.
- Stockblogs.com - Stock market blog directory.
- 10Q Detective - Investors often overlook SEC filings, and it is the job of the 10Q Detective to dig through businesses 8-K and 10-Q SEC filings, looking for financial statement soft spots, such as depreciation policies, warranty reserves, and restructuring charges.
- Thoughts From The Frontline - Investment insight and commentary.