10 Simple Steps For Your Estate Executor’s Duties During the Probate Process Family Tree Estate Planning has created this helpful infographic and document explaining the 10 simple steps to help your Estate Executor’s duties throughout the Probate process. Here’s a PDF version of the Estate Executor’s Duties:
What You Should Know Before Hiring a Tax Attorney or a CPA This article was originally published on UpCounsel. I see or talk to my CPA about once a week. That may seem a little extreme, but it’s because he’s brilliant, he gives great advice, and because he’s also my dad. Many […]
What to Do If Your Business Is Selected for a Tax Audit This article was originally published on UpCounsel. By UpCounsel Business Attorney Leah Jacobs Don’t Panic This is my first bit of advice to anyone who has a business selected for a tax audit. Whether you are a small business CEO or a […]
What Does the New Tax Bill Mean for C-Corporations? This article was originally published on UpCounsel. By UpCounsel Business Attorney Ramsey Taylor Startup founders often have a lot of questions, but one of the most common is whether they should set up a C-Corporation for their new business. Alternatives usually considered are the […]
Tax Business Plan Template: Everything You Need to Know This article was originally published on UpCounsel. Its a strategy for all aspects of your business. It is a necessity for those looking to start a tax preparation or tax consulting business.3 min read A tax business plan template is a strategy for all […]
What is a Contract? Everything You Need to Know This article was originally published on UpCounsel. What is a contract? Contracts are a part of our everyday world. A contract might include a simple transaction at the local store.3 min read What is a contract? Contracts are a part of our everyday world. […]
Type of Corporations for Small Business This article was originally published on UpCounsel. There are five types of corporations for small business to select from. They include sole proprietorship, partnership, LLC, C corporation, and S corporation.3 min read There are five types of corporations for small business to select from. They include sole […]
How to Hire a Great Business Lawyer? Written by Arleen Atienza This article was originally published on UpCounsel. A good foundation is crucial in starting any business and one of the pillars that keep a business stout and upright is a great business lawyer. As a business owner, you want to allot your […]
Online Estate Planning: How To Make a Will For Your Digital Life This article was originally published on AZCentral. Big-name websites and companies can track your activities to deliver targeted advertising and build up an astonishingly detailed profile. Question: Do you have suggestions for creating a digital will? Answer: Estate planning is one of […]
Executive Summary When confronting an abusive supervisor, employees often assume they have two choices: confrontation or avoidance. But new research suggests a third option: Targets of abuse can flip the script, shifting the balance of power in their favor when bosses make life miserable. As subordinates gain leverage over time, they can strategically influence supervisors to stop […]
Executive Summary We all know that in the modern economy, we can’t just stop learning. But how to keep educating ourselves is a complicated question. Is it a worthwhile investment to get a formal degree, like an MBA or PhD? Should you take a more targeted approach, with a short-term executive education program? Or perhaps DIY […]
In August, The New York Times published a guest op-ed by a man named David Roberts who suffered from severe chronic pain for many years before finally finding relief. The piece immediately went viral, with distinguished news journalist and personality Dan Rather posting it to his Facebook page with the addendum that it could “offer […]
Executive Summary Modern medicine’s true healing potential depends on a resource that is being systematically depleted: the time and capacity to truly listen to patients, hear their stories, and learn not only what’s the matter with them but also what matters to them. Some health professionals claim that workload and other factors have compressed medical encounters to […]
Executive Summary The variables that make for a successful innovation program are independent of whether the company is seeking disruptive or incremental innovations. It doesn’t matter whether they’re asking for process or product innovation, what industry the company is in, or even, for the most part, whether the company is large or small. That’s according to […]
Executive Summary It’s time that retailers re-think their approach to the holiday shopping season. It no longer makes sense to rely on disproportionate revenue from the holiday season to make up for softness in sales during the rest of the year. Customers don’t want retailers to dictate their shopping schedule; wealthy customers are getting used […]
Five key lessons from a breathtaking one-day plunge in the Dow Jones industrial average. A week before the 1987 stock market crash I had all of my investment money in Twentieth Century Ultra, an aggressive stock fund that has since been renamed American Century Ultra (symbol TWCUX). That included money to pay for my stepson’s […]
Check out our weekly earnings calendar and read the latest quarterly earnings previews. Getty Images By Kyle Woodley, Senior Investing Editor October 2, 2017 Below is a weekly earnings calendar of the most important upcoming quarterly reports schedule to be released by publicly traded companies. There are also earnings previews for select companies. Please check […]
Silicon Valley is the heart of the technology sector. Naturally, you’d assume that shares of the publicly traded tech companies based in such storied California cities as Cupertino, Mountain View and Menlo Park must be producing scorching returns in the current bull market. We set out to determine if that’s an accurate assumption for the […]
The financial effects of unexpected events like death or illness can be blunted or controlled with some preparation, advisers say. Source: NYTimes How to Plan for the Unforeseen
Executive Summary U.S. hospitals and healthcare groups have experimented over the past decade with new management structures and alternative payment models to provide quality healthcare at lower cost. But physicians have been slow to embrace these for a host of reasons. Chief among them, Bain and Company research shows, is that they feel excluded from […]
Executive Summary The pressure of tight deadlines and the pace of technology mean that fewer Americans are finding friendship in the workplace. But connecting with others at work shouldn’t be a nice to have. Research shows that having high-quality connections can help us be more creative, resilient, and even live longer. To connect, you need […]
Executive Summary To be successful, young workers need to be seen as credible before they have had the opportunity to build expertise from the ground up. It’s an incredibly difficult obstacle for younger workers in their first job to overcome. But there are five activities that young professionals can do to jumpstart their career trajectories: leverage your research […]
Executive Summary Despite more evidence about the benefits of the increasing the number women on boards, 2016 saw a decline in the percent of women on U.S. corporate boards. Considering how much influence CEOs have over board appointments, they can do a better job of advocating for getting more women on the board. Interviews with […]
When I look at the typical breakfast food offerings at many restaurants, supermarkets, and food trucks, and I think about the health of our nation, I want to cry. Muffins, bagels, donuts, pancakes, waffles, French toast sticks… Want some bacon, sausage, or fried potatoes with that, ma’am? Then there’s what marketing tells you is a […]
Formerly known as Kraft Foods, Mondelez is the world’s largest snack company, operating in more than 80 countries with seven brands generating over $1 billion in annual sales, including Oreo, Cadbury and Trident gum. But the company has recently been the victim of shifting consumer trends. North American food shoppers are increasingly eschewing middle-aisle packaged […]
The infamous “doughnut hole,” the coverage gap in which you pay a big portion of Part D drug costs, will shrink a bit more next year. Getty Images By Kimberly Lankford, Contributing Editor October 6, 2017 QWhat will be happening with the Medicare Part D doughnut hole in 2018? Will it continue to close? AThe […]
Hidden costs could be holding back the returns on your investment portfolio. Here are three places investors should take a closer look at when evaluating mutual funds. Most people invest in mutual funds because they’re easy. The fund manager does the research for you, so you don’t have to spend a lot of time choosing […]
Even hot stock markets eventually cool off, and that could leave those near retirement (and those who recently retired) especially vulnerable. Financial professionals spend a lot of time talking about volatility, and with good reason. It’s every investor’s worst enemy. Over time, it can harm your returns. SEE ALSO: 12 Strategies to Generate Income in […]
Joyce’s remarks came a month after Equifax hackers gained access to the Social Security numbers and birth dates of more than 145 million Americans. He said the Social Security number has “outlived its usefulness,” according to the Hill newspaper. “It’s a flawed system that we can’t roll back after a breach.” Another problem, he said, is that once a […]
The Michelin stars, however, are the coveted prize. They will be unveiled this month on separate days for each city, perpetuating the drama that surrounds them in the industry. San Francisco’s stars will be announced Oct. 12; Washington’s, Oct. 17; Chicago’s, Oct. 20; and New York’s, Oct. 30. The guidebooks will be available in print […]
Dorie Clark, a marketing strategy consultant, answers a burning question: how do people make money off of what they know? She outlines the options for experts who want to monetize their knowledge. Clark explains, using herself and other successful solopreneurs as examples, how to earn revenue from public speaking, podcasting, e-books, and online courses. She […]
Executive Summary The best way to truly win the hearts and minds of people, and generate huge returns for your organization and its stakeholders, is by leading with civility. This means spending a considerable amount of effort acknowledging people’s contributions, listening better, respecting others’ time, and making people feel valued. Research has shown that prioritizing civility can […]
What is a “smart” society? While flights of imagination from science-fiction writers, filmmakers, and techno-futurists involve things like flying cars and teleportation, in practice smart technology is making inroads in a piecemeal fashion, often in rather banal circumstances. In Chicago, for example, predictive analytics is improving health inspections schedules in restaurants, while in Boston city […]
I have always considered myself a happy person, even though I may not always look it thanks to inheriting my father’s furrowed brow. Are there times when I’m not happy? Of course. Do I wish I could be happier more often? Who wouldn’t? While it seems everyone is looking for the answer to the age-old […]
Executive Summary Rarely do people ask, “How many people can actually run a large, publicly traded company?” The answer to this question is critical in determining whether CEO pay is excessive, because an important part of the value equation for any CEO position is how many well-qualified executives make up the labor pool of viable […]
Executive Summary Across industries and across countries, a small number of “superstar” firms are pulling away from the competition. But why are these companies doing so well? One answer shows up in study after study: superstar firms are succeeding in large part due to information technology. However, superstars aren’t succeeding because of IT per se, but because […]
Executive Summary It’s a strange world we live in when large companies such as Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion are able to store huge quantities of our personal data and profit from it in a way that doesn’t benefit us. And when those same companies lose our personal data and make us susceptible to identity theft, […]
While some kids have a unique bucket list of travel dreams and goals, nearly every child dreams of going to Disney World one day. For many kids — and many families — Disney is a box that must be checked off no matter the cost or the inconvenience involved. SEE ALSO: 31 Best Travel Sites […]
To help keep costs under control during the school year, here are 15 things that parents of college students can think about trying. It’s back-to-school time, and if you have a child starting or returning to college, no doubt tuition costs are on your mind. Hopefully you’ve been saving up for years, but even if […]
Quiz By Anne Kates Smith, Senior Editor | Kiplinger’s Personal FinanceOctober 2017 Getty Images There are few things scarier to an investor than bear markets. But they are a fact of life when it comes to both stocks and physics—what goes up must come down. The good news is that the long-term trend of stocks […]
Look beyond the P/E. These five firms are inexpensive based on free cash flow. Anyone who dabbles in individual stocks is probably familiar with price-earnings ratios. The P/E—simply a stock’s share price divided by the underlying company’s earnings per share—is the simplest, most elegant way of assessing value. It essentially tells you how much investors […]
You can file your Free Application for Federal Student Aid as early as October 1 — and the sooner, the better. Getty Images By Kimberly Lankford, Contributing Editor October 5, 2017 QMy son is a senior in high school, and we’ll be applying to colleges this fall. When can I hand in my federal financial […]
Gasoline is just gasoline — or is it? Also, we wade into the premium vs. regular debate. By David Muhlbaum, Online Editor From Kiplinger’s Personal Finance, November 2017 My father was an all-gas-is-the-same guy who considered it a personal failure if he filled up at one station only to see gas sold for a few […]
Your best strategy is to carry on with what’s working, which is almost everything except the energy sector. By Jeffrey R. Kosnett, Senior Editor From Kiplinger’s Personal Finance, November 2017 Financial markets have had their pick of several key ingredients for a full-on panic (or at least a U-turn to bearish sentiment). Start with the […]
Helpful tips to take the hassle out of getting away. Holiday air travel is hectic. Between long lines, weather delays, harried passengers and employees, and the stress of wanting to make the season perfect, getting to your destination can feel like a long, difficult process. SEE ALSO: 31 Best Travel Sites to Save You Money […]
Wellington, a balanced fund, is almost 100 years old. Getty Images By Nellie S. Huang, Senior Associate Editor From Kiplinger’s Personal Finance, November 2017 The world has changed considerably since Vanguard Wellington (VWELX) opened to investors in July 1929, months before the stock market crashed. But the fund’s objective, to provide growth and income with […]
Baron Real Estate has cashed in by owning everything from builders to cruise lines. By Daren Fonda, Senior Associate EditorFrom Kiplinger’s Personal Finance, November 2017 Mutual funds that focus on real estate investment trusts—owners of apartments, offices and other types of property—have, on average, lost money over the past year. But a few real estate […]
From a misguided decision on when to retire to going too heavy in stocks, people make these same five mistakes every day. Don’t be one of them. It’s never too late to start getting smart about money. Maybe you’ve made it this far with few problems… you’ve done pretty well all alone just by winging […]
Star fund managers are a vanishing breed, but I still think they offer value to the investor. By James K. Glassman, Contributing Columnist From Kiplinger’s Personal Finance, November 2017 The era of the great mutual fund manager appears to be over. Investors are flocking to index funds, which essentially use computers to assemble portfolios that […]
Jon Lovette/Getty Images A recent study ranked the South Carolina city tops among places in America where residents are best at living within their means. The residents of Greenville, S.C., are the best among America’s metro areas at keeping their spending within their means, according to a new study by online loan marketplace LendingTree. The […]
“Which app works for you might depend on your phone’s operating system,” FTC consumer education specialist Alesha Hernandez advised in an article on the agency’s website. “Before you consider downloading any app, think about the call protection that you need and do your research.” She referred consumers to the CTIA, a trade association that has a comprehensive list […]
“Earworms” are unwanted catchy tunes that repeat in your head. These relentless tunes play in a loop in up to 98% of people in the western world. For two-thirds of people they are neutral to positive, but the remaining third find it disturbing or annoying when these songs wriggle their way into the brain’s memory […]
Executive Summary The employment shift from occupations in the middle of the skill distribution toward those at the high and low ends is one of the most important trends in the U.S. labor market over the past 30 years. Previous research has suggested that a primary driver of this job polarization is something called routine-biased technological […]
Executive Summary Why do we procrastinate, even though we know it’s against our best interests? And how can we overcome it? A careful look at the science behind procrastination reveals five tips. First, figure out which of seven triggers are set off by the task you want to avoid. Is it boring, frustrating, or difficult? […]
State income tax: 3% (on less than $5,000 of taxable income) — 5% (on more than $10,000 of taxable income). Beginning in 2018, income tax rates will be gradually reduced. By 2022, the first $5,000 of taxable income will be exempt.Effective income tax rate: 4.6%/individual, 4.9%/jointAverage state and local sales tax: 7.07%Gas taxes and fees: […]
Before you get into the landlord biz (or if you’d like to get out of it), there could be an easier way to invest in real estate, a Delaware Statutory Trust. Many people like to round out their portfolios with real estate investments. SEE ALSO: I’m a Landlord: Can I Ever Truly Retire? Some start […]
Symbol: T Share price: $39.48 Dividend yield: 5% Consecutive annual dividend increases: 33 Forward P/E: 13 Analysts’ opinion: 5 strong buy, 1 buy, 12 hold, 0 underperform, 0 sell The telecommunications services sector is well-known for dividends, and AT&T offers one of the best all-around yields in the space. The company has paid uninterrupted dividends […]
Better-than-expected sales and profits after Thursday’s closing bell would help allay investors’ Amazon.com fears. Courtesy Thelmadatter via CC BY-SA 3.0 Don’t blame owners of Costco Wholesale (COST) stock if they’re a little on edge as Thursday’s earnings report nears. After a go-go half-decade that saw shares of this safe consumer staples play more than double […]
Compare state tax rates and rules — on income, ordinary purchases, gas, “sin” products, property, and more — across the U.S. Click on any state in the map below for a detailed summary of state taxes on income, property, and everything you buy. View additional maps below, including our picks for the 10 most tax-friendly […]
Netflix (NFLX) is another company I really hate to include on this list because I consider management to be visionary, and I love their product. Netflix has changed the way that all of us watch TV. You can have anything you want anytime you want, on demand. “Binging” a TV show is no longer the […]
State income tax: 3% (on less than $5,000 of taxable income) — 5% (on more than $10,000 of taxable income). Beginning in 2018, income tax rates will be gradually reduced. By 2022, the first $5,000 of taxable income will be exempt.Effective income tax rate: 4.6%/individual, 4.9%/jointAverage state and local sales tax: 7.07%Gas taxes and fees: […]
Even if you’ve been a diligent saver, any of these often-overlooked dangers might pose a threat to your future happiness. If you go to a retirement seminar looking only to score a free dinner, that might be all you’ll get. SEE ALSO: Top 10 Retirement Procrastination Problems Thank goodness, that’s not why a lot of […]
State income tax: 1.4% (on income of up to $2,400/individual, $4,800/joint) – 8.25% (on income of more than $48,000/individual, $96,000/joint) Effective income tax rate: 6.5%/individual, 7.1%/joint Average state and local sales tax: 4.35% Gas taxes and fees: 44 cents per gallon (varies by county) Hawaii has the highest effective income tax rate of all 50 […]
So where do you begin? There are several formulas. In a recent Yahoo Finance article, David Rae, a certified financial planner, suggested this: “Add up all of your life savings — your 401(k), your investments, the money under the mattress — and then divide that by 25. Could you live on that amount comfortably for […]
Bankrate.com surveyed the 10 biggest banks in the top 25 metro areas in the U.S. The most expensive city in which to make an out-of-network withdrawal is Pittsburgh, where the average transaction will set you back $5.19. The cheapest place to withdraw cash among the 25 biggest metro areas? Dallas, where a transaction costs you […]
Executive Summary AI is a prediction technology. Its improvement is akin to turning up the volume knob on a speaker dial. But rather than volume, you’re turning up the AI’s prediction accuracy. What happens to Amazon’s strategy as their data scientists, engineers, and machine learning experts work tirelessly to dial up the accuracy on the prediction […]
Executive Summary Scientific studies have long suggested that investing in the right people will maximize organizations’ returns. In a world of unlimited resources, organizations would surely invest in everyone.In the real world, however, limited budgets force organizations to be much more selective, which explains the growing interest in high potential (HiPo) identification. If we are […]
Follow me on Twitter @drClaire The habits we learn early can stay with us for a lifetime — which is why it’s better to learn good habits early, not bad ones. This is especially true with eating habits. More and more, research shows that overweight babies grow into overweight children, who grow into overweight adults. […]
At a time of profound volatility in the U.S. health system, change management is an essential skill for public and private leaders alike. For these leaders — and young people aspiring to careers as health care managers — one very practical question emerges. What are the critical skills for leading major change in our health system? As […]
By Glen Robinson, Emerging Technology Advisor, Leading Edge Forum, DXC Technology We have moved from the Internet era in the early 2000s to the cloud era today; however, we will soon transition into the Matrix era – the Matrix being the term the Leading Edge Forum (LEF) uses to describe the intersection of multiple game-changing […]
As digital technologies permeate all aspects of their operations, companies around the world anticipate the need for massive change over the next five years, according to a new global survey by Harvard Business Review Analytic Services. But can these organizations adapt fast enough? Almost all of the 376 business leaders in the survey said they […]
Don’t settle for the first one who asks for your number. Do some checking to know the type of person you’re dealing with. It seems to me that people too often take the path of least resistance in finding a financial professional. And that’s probably at least partially the industry’s fault. SEE ALSO: Bigger Isn’t […]
If converting from a traditional IRA to a Roth makes sense, do it. If tax rates drop, you can undo the conversion later. Getty Images By Kimberly Lankford, Contributing Editor From Kiplinger’s Personal Finance, November 2017 QI’m thinking of converting money from a traditional IRA to a Roth IRA, but I’m hesitant to make the […]
The way in which you tap your assets can have long-term tax consequences for you and for your heirs. It’s always nice to have options, and when retirees have $1 million or more in assets, they have a lot of options. But they also have a lot of decisions. SEE ALSO: How Do You Know […]
Whether you’re starting out, have already retired or are somewhere in between, we show you how to make your money grow and last. Getty Images/Echo By Elizabeth Leary, Contributing Editor From Kiplinger’s Personal Finance, November 2017 If you’re a typical investor, you’ll likely spend some 60 years of your life moonlighting as a money manager. […]
Yet another family-driven throwback ownership structure – and another one many investors don’t even realize is in place – is that of Ford (F, $12.09). As of the most recent look, Henry Ford’s family only owns about 6% of the company’s total equity – but claims about 40% of the car company’s voting rights thanks […]
The research behind our judgments. To create our rankings, we evaluated data and state tax-policy details from a wide range of sources. These include: Kiplinger Tax Map, 2017 Income tax We looked at each state’s tax agency, plus this helpful document from the Tax Foundation. To determine the effective tax rates in each state, we […]
Certified financial planners aim to put you first at all times. Getty Images By Eileen Ambrose, Senior EditorFrom Kiplinger’s Personal Finance, November 2017 Back in June, it appeared that the Department of Labor regulation that requires financial professionals to act in the best interests of clients when giving retirement account advice would be implemented on […]
Colleges have many potent options for getting students to square their accounts. Getty Images By Knight Kiplinger, Editor in Chief From Kiplinger’s Personal Finance, November 2017 Q I hear that some public colleges turn over the overdue bursar accounts of current students to private collection agencies, which sometimes charge fees as high as 30% of […]
It’s tough to get started saving when you have debt hanging over you. But once you get access to a retirement plan, make sure to fund it. By Elizabeth Leary, Contributing Editor From Kiplinger’s Personal Finance, November 2017 If you’ve never invested before, you should start once you land your first job with access to […]
You’ve accumulated money. Now, time to shuffle it around and get everything in order. iStockphoto By Elizabeth Leary, Contributing Editor From Kiplinger’s Personal Finance, November 2017 Once you reach your final five years in the workforce, you should begin shifting your portfolio toward the types of investments you’ll hold in retirement. Best Investing Moves at […]
A recent lawsuit against private student loan borrowers has been dismissed. Here’s what you need to know. Getty Images By Kaitlin Pitsker, Staff Writer From Kiplinger’s Personal Finance, November 2017 Judges recently dismissed dozens of lawsuits against private student loan borrowers because of shoddy record keeping by companies claiming to own the debt. That could […]
This what you’ve planned for. Now, to keep the income flowing. By Elizabeth Leary, Contributing Editor From Kiplinger’s Personal Finance, November 2017 You can finally head off into the sunset, enjoying your hard-earned financial security without a care in the world. Alas, not quite. Now you shift your focus from helping your money grow to […]
Don’t let family demands on your income stint your retirement savings. By Elizabeth Leary, Contributing Editor From Kiplinger’s Personal Finance, November 2017 You probably have multiple goals for your money at this stage. The best way to plan, save and invest is to do so for each goal separately. Best Investing Moves at Every Age […]
Women often face a savings shortfall as they approach retirement. The goal is to catch up as soon as possible. A number of years ago, I wrote a book about women and money called Think Single! The title wasn’t a reference to marital status. Rather, it counseled all women to think independently about their finances. […]
If you’re a frequent flier, this rewards card may be worth your while. Getty Images By Lisa Gerstner, Contributing Editor From Kiplinger’s Personal Finance, November 2017 Pricey premium rewards cards, such as Chase Sapphire Reserve (annual fee: $450), promise cardholders luxury perks. The Bank of America Premium Rewards card, scheduled to debut in September, offers […]
To prevent ID theft, credit card issuers monitor the dark web for your personal information. Getty Images By Lisa Gerstner, Contributing Editor From Kiplinger’s Personal Finance, November 2017 With identity theft on the rise, credit card issuers are introducing new benefits designed to make you feel more secure. Discover recently announced that cardholders can sign […]
Is it suddenly quiet around the house? Knuckle down and get those retirement funds topped up. By Elizabeth Leary, Contributing Editor From Kiplinger’s Personal Finance, November 2017 The birds have flown, and the tuition bills have been paid. Retirement may still be a decade away, giving you plenty of time to plan and fund catch-up […]
Tips on how to steer clear of fraud and late shipments when you’re doing your holiday shopping. Getty Images By Brendan Pedersen, Editorial Intern From Kiplinger’s Personal Finance, November 2017 With the winter holidays approaching, there’s a good chance you’ll start chipping away at your gift list online. But the rise in e-commerce has also […]
Before you agree to work with a particular remodeling company, here’s what you need to know. Hiring a contractor is the most important step in any remodeling project, so carefully check out candidates, even those recommended by friends and neighbors. SEE ALSO: How to Remodel Your Home Our organization, Consumers’ Checkbook, can help with the […]
It may seem like you’re facing the storm of the century every time you turn on the news, but the markets have survived far worse. By Kathy Kristof, Contributing Editor From Kiplinger’s Personal Finance, November 2017 My husband, Sean, is a methodical guy who carefully weighs all possibilities before acting. So when he broached the […]
Transform your home the way you want, on time and on budget. By Pat Mertz Esswein, Associate Editor From Kiplinger’s Personal Finance, November 2017 Jason and Carrie Kelroy of Wauwatosa, Wis., loved their 2,200-square-foot, 1930s-era colonial, and they loved their neighborhood, where they could walk to schools, their church and a coffee shop, or drive […]
Even do-it-yourselfers may want a pro’s help with an exotic vacation or a complicated itinerary. Before the internet put trip-planning tools at your fingertips, you might have popped into a travel agency to shop for airline tickets or flip through brochures. Now, online booking engines and review sites can spark vacation ideas and point you […]
I took control of my parents’ finances when Dad showed signs of dementia. We cite a statistic in this month’s article about helping aging parents with their finances that hit a little too close to home: Our ability to handle complex tasks diminishes as we age (okay, I knew that), and when it comes to […]
BJ’s, Costco and Sam’s Club Our pick: Costco All three warehouse clubs offer their members free buying services that hook you up with a vehicle at a predetermined price so you don’t have to haggle. We like Costco’s program for its focus on customer service and its competitive prices. In our own sampling of each […]
They aren’t for everyone, but this donation could generate income. By Eileen Ambrose, Senior EditorFrom Kiplinger’s Personal Finance, November 2017 Q. My alma mater is offering a charitable gift annuity. Is that a good way to generate income? See Also: Are Annuities Right for You? If you want to give money to your school as […]
Crackdown aimed at protecting nest eggs of clients age 65 and older. Getty Images By Eileen Ambrose, Senior EditorFrom Kiplinger’s Personal Finance, November 2017 Regulators are adding new tools to help investment firms protect older clients against fraud. Starting in February 2018, the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority will require brokerages to ask clients for the […]
When it’s time to step in, avoid the stumbling blocks with these strategies. By Eileen Ambrose, Senior Editor and Sandra Block, Senior Editor From Kiplinger’s Personal Finance, November 2017 Mark Kress, 59, of Sterling, Va., first realized his 88-year-old father, Willard, needed help after he saw some bills with past-due balances stacked on his father’s […]
Most large employers plan to boost salaries for 2018, but the average increase will be about 3%. If the low unemployment numbers make you think that you’ll finally get a bigger raise in January, think again. Most large employers plan to boost salaries for 2018, but the average increase will be about 3%—roughly the same […]
Amino, a health care start-up that gathers data from insurance claims, culled these and many other unusual happenings from the International Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems, 10th Revised Edition. Medical providers must determine a code for reimbursement purposes, and the publication lists every diagnosis for a medical condition and the corresponding code. It covers […]
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Executive Summary Researchers have long studied how to make brainstorming sessions more effective — for example, by setting quantity goals, instead of quality ones. A recent study indicates that people can also be primed for more creative idea generation when they kick-off such sessions by sharing embarrassing stories, which lowers their inhibitions and, thus, improves […]
Follow me on Twitter @RobShmerling While there are more than 100 types of arthritis, osteoarthritis is by far the most common. Osteoarthritis is the form of joint disease that’s often called “wear-and-tear” or “age-related,” although it’s more complicated than that. While it tends to affect older adults, it is not a matter of “wearing out” […]
Jack is well-known in his company for delivering growth through high-performing, cross-functional teams. Where others get stuck in silos, he fosters innovation through collaboration. But these days, when you exit the elevator on his floor, you sense fear wafting through the halls. He’s nine months into a new role as Business Unit Leader, and a […]
Executive Summary For decades, we have heard that emerging markets are poised for huge growth that will yield even greater prosperity. But a long list of obstacles always seems to be getting in the way of realizing this potential. Startup accelerator programs have been touted as one path to faster progress. But is the boost that accelerators give in […]
Corporate leaders are increasingly concerned about energy, seeing it not just as a cost to be managed but as a key to the future sustainability of their companies. Climate change also is a major concern. How are leading organizations dealing with this challenge? In this edition of the Quick Take, insights from the latest Harvard […]
Solving the retirement puzzle can require using investments for liquidity and growth, insurance products for income and principal protection and possibly alternative investments for diversification. That requires a plan. Remember that famous line from the movie Jaws: “You’re gonna need a bigger boat”? SEE ALSO: Bigger Isn’t Always Better When It Comes to Financial Advice […]
The Tisch family are value investors. That’s all they know. Since the beginning of 1966 through the end of 2016, Loews Corporation (L) stock has delivered a compound annual return of 17%. However, the past decade has been a tough one, lowering the return considerably from what it might have been had L stock not […]
Regularly updated insights on the economy’s next moves. Gross Domestic Product Gross domestic product is the broadest indicator of the economy, measuring the value of final goods and services produced in the U.S. in a given time period. It is perhaps the most closely watched indicator as well, serving as a guidepost for Federal Reserve […]
Global Entry speeds you through security wherever you go. iStockphotos By Miriam Cross, Staff Writer From Kiplinger’s Personal Finance, October 2017 Your laptop is safe from the cargo hold, now that airline passengers no longer need to check their electronics if they’re en route to the U.S. But new security measures may mean longer wait […]
New high-tech hearing aids let you listen to what you want and tune out everything else. Chances are that if you grooved to Motown, the Beatles and Simon and Garfunkel in the 1960s and ’70s, the sounds of silence may mean something different to you now. Roughly one-third of seniors between the ages of 65 […]
Though debit and credit cards look virtually identical, they aren’t. A debit card is essentially a check. As soon as you use it at a retailer, the funds are gone from your checking account and you have spent your own money. When you buy something on a credit card, you are spending someone else’s money […]
Among their savings secrets: Live cell-phone free (“It’s a quality-of-life issue, too”), wear your clothing until it’s truly worn (“It’s like losing a friend when we consign a shirt to the rag bin”), and save twice the amount needed for a major purchase before you buy it (“It lets you make sure you really want […]
Executive Summary Despite the billions of dollars companies spend on employee training, research shows that workers are unconsciously incompetent in 20% to 40% of areas critical to their performance. How can you teach people skills and knowledge they don’t know they lack? By redesigning corporate learning programs so they are adaptive and force users to […]
Executive Summary In late August, Lee Jae-yong, the heir apparent of Samsung, was sentenced to five years in prison. It was once unthinkable that the head of South Korea’s largest conglomerate could be sent to prison; Lee’s father, Lee Kun-hee, was twice pardoned by the government. But public sentiment, which used to hold that what […]
Executive Summary Want to be surrounded by some of the most competitive people on the planet? Work in sales, where paychecks, bonuses, promotions, and stature are usually tied directly to organizational quotas and individual results. A little competition can be a good thing. But often it goes too far — and ironically, performance can suffer […]
For most of us, whether to screen for cancer is a no-brainer. Who wouldn’t want a simple test to prevent cancer or identify it at an earlier, more treatable stage? However, as with many things, the screening decision is more complex than it may appear. For example, the test may not be particularly “simple,” such […]
Some of the money your child earned over the summer could grow tax-free into a nice nest egg in a Roth IRA. Here are some tips to get them started and ideas to offer incentives. As kids across the country head back to school, many are leaving behind their summer jobs. Whether it’s a teenager […]
Stocks continue setting new all-time highs, so it’s understandable if some investors are getting nervous about holding on to their gains. It doesn’t help that it’s almost October – a month that has hosted some of the worst market crashes in history. If it’s all too much for your nerves, there’s nothing wrong with adding […]
For small business owners in need of a loan, getting an application approved can seem as mystifying as the illusions performed in a Las Vegas magic show. But the process gets a lot easier with the right preparation and an understanding of the importance of cash flow. SEE ALSO: 11 Sources of Funding for Your […]
Puerto Rico and other Caribbean islands will be recovering for years from Hurricane Maria’s destruction. If you want to help the islands and their residents, check out these charities. Irma Maldanado stands in what is left of her home in Corozal, Puerto Rico, that was destroyed by Hurricane Maria. Getty Images QAfter a month filled […]
If you travel much on your own — as Evelyn Hannon has since her divorce 30-some years ago — it’s crucial to find ways to save. The blogger, called by some the grandmother of women’s travel, is founder of Journeywoman.com, which seeks to inspire women to explore the world. Although she’s reached a point where […]
Welcome to what experts call the illusion of invulnerability — the belief that frauds happen to others but not you. Overconfidence in your ability to spot bad guys is a dangerous thing. Impostor fraud is among the fastest-growing scam types precisely because so many of us think we are immune to it. To help, here […]
Satya Nadella, Microsoft’s third CEO, opens up about his effort to refresh the culture of the company and renew its focus on the future. He reflects on important life lessons he learned growing up in India, immigrating to the U.S., and working for Microsoft for 25 years. Nadella thinks of the past, he says, for […]
Executive Summary When you’re working from home, you can easily be distracted by household chores, personal priorities, and even friends and family. To focus more effectively, you need to set boundaries. Here are some tips for how you can make remote work more productive and satisfying, whether it’s an everyday occurrence or an occasional day […]
Executive Summary It’s difficult enough to stay resilient in the face of high demands and changing circumstances. Imagine adding extreme physical conditions, threats to personal safety, natural disasters, armed conflict, large numbers of traumatized people, minimal infrastructure, and complex, multi-stakeholder relations to your list of challenges. While most of us do not face situations this […]
Plenty of research supports the common-sense notion that a healthy lifestyle can prevent or treat many diseases. A diet high in fruits, veggies, whole grains, and plant protein and low in processed carbs, added sugars, saturated fats; regular physical activity; and emotional well-being are the potent treatments that can prevent the need for or even […]
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