Financial advisers have a saying: When the stock market is going up, everyone looks like a genius. These days, folks aren’t feeling so smart—and not just about their investments, but about many aspects of their personal finances.
Psychology of Money
A new poll by the Marist Institute for Public Opinion suggests that as little as $50,000 brings about genuine happiness.
The term “consumers” is routinely used in place of “people” and “citizens.” While most people (consumers?) don’t notice or care much about the terms being used interchangeably, there are those who resent being labeled as “consumers,” as if their sole purpose and reason for existence on this planet is to consume—to eat, drink, use, watch, [...]
While it’s possible to file your taxes months in advance, it’s commonplace to procrastinate and not get to the task until the last minute—increasing the chances of making mistakes and overpaying while you’re at it. So why is it that so many of us stall so much when it comes to filling out 1040s?
Considering that Black Friday is a totally made-up event meant to stir up retail sales during the peak winter holiday shopping season, it shouldn’t come as a surprise that stores are loosey-goosey with what “Black Friday” means. Even so, the current Black Friday hosted by Home Depot seems a bit much.
What’s an acceptable level of income inequality in America? Some surprising insight into this complex question comes from a remarkable recent study by Michael Norton of the Harvard Business School and Dan Ariely of Duke University. You might be surprised by the results, whatever your political persuasion or net worth.
At some level, all shoppers know that a game is being played in every aisle of every store. Original prices, weekly promotions, clearance racks, coupons, Black Friday, blue-light specials, flash sales, oddly specific prices ending in .99 or .97 — these are just a few of the strategies employed to entice shoppers into making a [...]
Parents overwhelmingly believe they have a better shot at meeting E.T. than their kids have at striking it rich. That’s partly because adults are such horrible role models, according to a new study. Here are five strategies for helping your kids gets get it, financially speaking.
Recent research suggests that a major, news-making recession can actually be good for marriages.
Once widely seen as money of last resort, reverse mortgages are fast entering the mainstream. Increasingly, those approaching retirement view home equity as a key source of future income.
Boomers are making a lot of the same mistakes their parents made when it comes to discussing money with family. That is, they aren’t doing it. But it’s time to have the The Talk, with aging parents and grown kids. Here’s how.
