With the payroll tax deduction expiring, consider these financial remedies to make the pain on your wallet a little more bearable.
saving
Retirement Saving: Working Longer May Be False Hope
Life is full of trade-offs, and boomers have made their share. One big one coming home to roost now: A generation that avoided saving in the face of a crumbling pension system has resolved to work longer instead. But things may not be that simple.
Financial Education: A Job for Teachers or Parents?
The idea that teaching kids about money should be left to parents is strictly old school, a panel of experts agreed. Personal finance is “Reality” in the post financial crisis world and should be regarded as the Fourth R. This is …
Why Reform Will Push Money Market Fund Yields Even Lower
Left for dead in August, the effort to reform money market mutual funds is getting a renewed boost. The stable $1 share price may be a casualty. Here’s why reform would push the low yields on these funds even lower.
What You Should Save By 35, 45, and 55 To Be On Target
Getting started is half the battle when it comes to building retirement security. Setting near term goals are important too. Here’s how to do both.
Retirement Saving: What Comes Natural is Worst Approach
Most people delay saving for retirement until their income goes up and retirement age is on the horizon. It makes sense. But it doesn’t work. Here’s why.
New Frontier in Student Debt: It Stifles the Housing Recovery
With the start of another school year, the air is once again filled with angst over the high cost of college. But the discussion is shifting. It’s not just about runaway tuition inflation anymore, or even the individual …
How Eating Girl Scout Cookies Helps Kids Learn About Money
The venerable Girl Scout cookie drive has morphed from simple fund raiser into a personal finance tutorial for kids, lending the organization heightened relevance as it celebrates its 100th anniversary this year.
How to Save $2,500 a Year on Lunch
Most workers eat lunch out at least once a week. It’s convenient and maybe even fun. But if you simply stop going to the deli or pizza shop you can retire on the savings. The trick is getting set up. Here’s how.
401(k) Plans Back to Pre-Crisis Levels (and Improved)
New data show that the percentage of companies offering a 401(k) match is back at pre-recession levels. Meanwhile, features like advice and auto enrollment are way up. Now, if we can just get workers to pay attention.
Why Higher Future Tax Rates are Certain but Won’t Matter
An important part of retirement planning is estimating your future tax rate. Most financial planners assume tax rates will go up in the future. But while that may be true it doesn’t necessarily mean the amount of tax you pay …
What Do You Mean We’re Going to Get Old?
Everyone seems to want lifetime-income products as a 401(k) option. But our retirement system is so skewed toward accumulating, not drawing down, assets that the income problem managed to catch us by surprise. Change is coming–but not nearly fast enough.