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Hurricanes Likely Affecting Sales

Kiplinger’s latest forecast on retail sales and consumer spending iStockphoto By David Payne, Staff EconomistSeptember 27, 2017 Overall sales tumbled in August as sales of autos, building materials, clothing and electronics declined. Hurricane Harvey can partially be blamed, just as Irma is likely hitting September sales. But expect a rebound in the final quarter of […]
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5 Stocks to Sell Now

Symbol: TSLA Share price: $345.25 Market capitalization: $57.7 billion 52-week range: $178.19 – $389.61 Year-to-date return: 61.6% Estimated 2017 earnings: – $7.46 Estimated 2018 earnings: – $0.78 Price-earnings ratio: Not meaningful Tesla has had plenty to celebrate this year. In July, the company finally launched its first mass-market sedan, the Model 3, to rave reviews, […]
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The Solution to the Active vs. Passive Investment Management Debate Isn't Either/Or

Retirement savers can put the good points of both systems to work with “core-satellite investing.” In every great debate, there’s a middle ground, and often it’s home to a good compromise. SEE ALSO: The 7 Most Common 401(k) Mistakes to Avoid Unfortunately, when the believers on either side are positive they’re right, that midway point […]
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The Skinny on Fat Investing Costs

Do you know how much you’re paying to invest your money? Several factors are pushing prices down for consumers, so savvy retirement savers have options. Getty Images By Andy Burdsall, Investment Adviser | Riverbend Financial GroupSeptember 2017Contact Me Recently, a new client joined my practice and her investing costs dropped by almost 70%. She was […]
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Traits of Scam Victims: Industriousness, Curiosity, Geniality

Industriousness Knowing you’re a diligent worker, scammers send out most malware-containing emails and mobile scams early in the business day, when you’re busiest or most distracted. The flow spikes right around lunchtime. Advice: Slow down. “Think before clicking on a link — especially during high activity times such as the upcoming holidays,” suggests Gary Davis […]

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The True Cost of Gray Divorce

Typically, the longer you’ve been together, the more assets you’ve acquired, and the more expensive the process. I’ve seen couples spend $200,000 in legal fees. And you have less time to recover financially from divorce the closer you are to retirement. Source: Kiplinger The True Cost of Gray Divorce
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50 Ways to Save on Health Care

Some facilities charge hundreds of dollars more for x-rays and tests than competing providers. “I’ve seen people get charged $500 for an x-ray that should be about $30. It happens all the time,” says Jeffrey Rice, CEO of Healthcare Bluebook, which compares prices using a nationwide database of medical payments. Independent radiology centers often charge […]
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Loans Offered by SBA for Hurricane Victims

There are a number of types of relief available from the agency: physical business loans to repair or replace disaster-damaged property; economic injury loans to help small businesses meet ordinary and necessary financial obligations; and home business loans to repair or replace disaster-damage real estate and personal property. Loans for physical businesses and economic injury […]
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IRS Extends Tax Relief to Hurricane Irma Victims

The announcement applies to Floridians in Alachua, Baker, Brevard, Broward, Charlotte, Citrus, Clay, Collier, Columbia, DeSoto, Duval, Flagler, Gilchrist, Glades, Hardee, Hendry, Hernando, Highlands, Hillsborough, Indian River, Lake, Lee, Levy, Manatee, Marion, Martin, Miami-Dade, Monroe, Nassau, Okeechobee, Orange, Osceola, Palm Beach, Pasco, Pinellas, Polk, Putnam, Sarasota, Seminole, St. Johns, St. Lucie, Sumter, Suwannee, Union and […]
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Financial Impact of Florida Keys Shutting Down

The storm and subsequent closings are, of course, a massive blow to the area’s $2.7 billion tourism industry; the island chain is typically abuzz with visitors snorkeling, fishing and dolphin-spotting. Hotels are reimbursing visitors who’ve already paid for rooms, according to Ashley Serrate, a representative from the Keys’ Tourism Development Council. The businesses here have […]
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Scam Alert: Anti-Aging Snake Oil, Lawsuits, Wrinkles – AARP Bulletin

But even if Harry’s Supreme Formula HGH and Youthful Vigor HGH actually contained human growth hormone, consider this bit of knowledge: When taken in pill form—and not injected—real HGH is degraded by enzymes in the intestines before it can reach the bloodstream, rendering it useless, says Marc R. Blackman, M.D., of the National Center for […]