http://www.examiner.com/x-5474-SF-Financial-Planning-Examiner?cid=exrss-SF-Financial-Planning-Examiner en-us Mon, 23 Nov 2009 13:21:59 -0700 Sat, 07 Nov 2009 22:18:11 -0700 BlogCFC http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss http://www.examiner.com/x-5474-SF-Financial-Planning-Examiner~y2009m11d7-Dollar-cost-average-investing-works-well-in-bear-markets?cid=exrss-SF-Financial-Planning-Examiner  This is a parable about two retired farmers. Farmer #1 The first farmer sold his farm in October 2007 and put his two-million dollar after tax proceeds into a well-known and respected S&P 500 Index Fund. Today, he has a ... finance Financial planning Stocks Retirement planning Sat, 07 Nov 2009 22:18:11 -0700 http://www.examiner.com/x-5474-SF-Financial-Planning-Examiner~y2009m11d7-Dollar-cost-average-investing-works-well-in-bear-markets?cid=exrss-SF-Financial-Planning-Examiner http://www.examiner.com/x-5474-SF-Financial-Planning-Examiner~y2009m11d7-Cash-What-to-do-with-it-now?cid=exrss-SF-Financial-Planning-Examiner With money fund yields hovering around .05% your mattress is probably looking like a pretty good storage place for your cash. Take heart, even in these low interest times it pays to have a plan. Here are some considerations.Keep some liquid cash inve... finance Financial planning Family financial planning Sat, 07 Nov 2009 22:08:42 -0700 http://www.examiner.com/x-5474-SF-Financial-Planning-Examiner~y2009m11d7-Cash-What-to-do-with-it-now?cid=exrss-SF-Financial-Planning-Examiner http://www.examiner.com/x-5474-SF-Financial-Planning-Examiner~y2009m7d23-Provide-your-young-adult-children-with-straight-talk-about-credit-card-debt?cid=exrss-SF-Financial-Planning-Examiner  It only makes sense that graduates starting their work lives with little or no debt, can concentrate on careers and families instead of stressing over unpaid credit card bills.Unfortunately, the trends and indications regarding young ... finance Financial planning Family financial planning Thu, 23 Jul 2009 21:26:11 -0700 http://www.examiner.com/x-5474-SF-Financial-Planning-Examiner~y2009m7d23-Provide-your-young-adult-children-with-straight-talk-about-credit-card-debt?cid=exrss-SF-Financial-Planning-Examiner http://www.examiner.com/x-5474-SF-Financial-Planning-Examiner~y2009m6d22-Life-cycle-funds-with-the-same-target-date-can-have-vastly-different-results?cid=exrss-SF-Financial-Planning-Examiner The target-date fund concept Target-date funds, also called “life-cycle funds” are retirement savings vehicles designed to switch from stocks to bonds over the course of years without investor involvement.  They work on the hist... finance Financial planning Stocks Retirement planning Mon, 22 Jun 2009 22:09:46 -0700 http://www.examiner.com/x-5474-SF-Financial-Planning-Examiner~y2009m6d22-Life-cycle-funds-with-the-same-target-date-can-have-vastly-different-results?cid=exrss-SF-Financial-Planning-Examiner http://www.examiner.com/x-5474-SF-Financial-Planning-Examiner~y2009m6d16-Social-Security-payments-in-2010?cid=exrss-SF-Financial-Planning-Examiner  The Social Security Administration will set the 2010 rates in October 2009.  Experts are predicting that because the annual cost of living increase is based on inflation, which is expected to be low, individuals on Social Security may... finance Financial planning Retirement planning Government and Finance Tue, 16 Jun 2009 21:07:02 -0700 http://www.examiner.com/x-5474-SF-Financial-Planning-Examiner~y2009m6d16-Social-Security-payments-in-2010?cid=exrss-SF-Financial-Planning-Examiner http://www.examiner.com/x-5474-SF-Financial-Planning-Examiner~y2009m6d15-How-to-gain-by-unloading-depressed-stocks-and-funds-before-the-market-rally?cid=exrss-SF-Financial-Planning-Examiner In a previous article in this series on financial basics, I suggested opening an after-tax retirement account to supplement your employer 401(k) account so you can take advantage of the capital gains and loss provisions of the tax code, which ar... finance Financial planning Stocks Retirement planning Government and Finance Tax planning Mon, 15 Jun 2009 23:50:01 -0700 http://www.examiner.com/x-5474-SF-Financial-Planning-Examiner~y2009m6d15-How-to-gain-by-unloading-depressed-stocks-and-funds-before-the-market-rally?cid=exrss-SF-Financial-Planning-Examiner http://www.examiner.com/x-5474-SF-Financial-Planning-Examiner~y2009m6d12-Index-Funds-are-still-the-best-way-to-buy-stocks?cid=exrss-SF-Financial-Planning-Examiner  The argument in favor of index fund investing is stronger than ever. Today's investors want to play a bigger role in determining their financial future, and when it comes to purchasing stock funds, the easy answer is indexing. The cos... finance Financial planning Stocks Retirement planning Fri, 12 Jun 2009 19:12:41 -0700 http://www.examiner.com/x-5474-SF-Financial-Planning-Examiner~y2009m6d12-Index-Funds-are-still-the-best-way-to-buy-stocks?cid=exrss-SF-Financial-Planning-Examiner http://www.examiner.com/x-5474-SF-Financial-Planning-Examiner~y2009m4d15-All-over-America-taxpayers-are-talking-Tea-Party?cid=exrss-SF-Financial-Planning-Examiner The internet has provided a new means for publishing and discussing topics not suitably covered by the network and syndicated news media. Many now consider our national news anchors and editors so biased as to be virtually ineffective as objecti... finance Financial planning Government and Finance Tax planning Wed, 15 Apr 2009 15:59:51 -0700 http://www.examiner.com/x-5474-SF-Financial-Planning-Examiner~y2009m4d15-All-over-America-taxpayers-are-talking-Tea-Party?cid=exrss-SF-Financial-Planning-Examiner http://www.examiner.com/x-5474-SF-Financial-Planning-Examiner~y2009m4d11-Four-more-ways-to-diversify-your-savings-or-retirement-account?cid=exrss-SF-Financial-Planning-Examiner This is the third in a series of articles for the financial novice about investment diversification. Following are four more asset classes to consider.  Real Estate Until recently most real estate investments in growing markets were a slam-... finance Financial planning Retirement planning Sat, 11 Apr 2009 18:24:44 -0700 http://www.examiner.com/x-5474-SF-Financial-Planning-Examiner~y2009m4d11-Four-more-ways-to-diversify-your-savings-or-retirement-account?cid=exrss-SF-Financial-Planning-Examiner http://www.examiner.com/x-5474-SF-Financial-Planning-Examiner~y2009m3d28-Obama-recants-plans-to-curve-ball-veterans-health-program?cid=exrss-SF-Financial-Planning-Examiner The Wall Street Journal recently published an article written by David Rehbein who is the national commander of the 2.7 million members American Legion.Mr. Rehbein had visited with president Obama in the White House, and the meeting did not go well.&... Financial planning Government and Finance Sat, 28 Mar 2009 23:06:03 -0700 http://www.examiner.com/x-5474-SF-Financial-Planning-Examiner~y2009m3d28-Obama-recants-plans-to-curve-ball-veterans-health-program?cid=exrss-SF-Financial-Planning-Examiner http://www.examiner.com/x-5474-SF-Financial-Planning-Examiner~y2009m3d23-How-to-gain-from-the-sale-of-your-worst-stocks-and-funds-and-be-ready-for-the-next-bull-market?cid=exrss-SF-Financial-Planning-Examiner The answer to the question follows. However, there are two prerequisites to taking advantage of the answer.The distressed stocks you sell must be held in a non-qualified – not a 401(k) or IRA type account. You must keep the proceeds o... finance Financial planning Stocks Retirement planning Mon, 23 Mar 2009 22:35:11 -0700 http://www.examiner.com/x-5474-SF-Financial-Planning-Examiner~y2009m3d23-How-to-gain-from-the-sale-of-your-worst-stocks-and-funds-and-be-ready-for-the-next-bull-market?cid=exrss-SF-Financial-Planning-Examiner http://www.examiner.com/x-5474-SF-Financial-Planning-Examiner~y2009m3d19-Why-it-pays-to-hold-stocks-outside-your-401k-or-traditional-IRA?cid=exrss-SF-Financial-Planning-Examiner Some taxpayers who have suffered dramatic stock losses in their 401(k)s and traditional IRAs are learning - for the very first time - that the losses within a qualified retirement account are useless for offsetting any capital gains they may have in ... finance Financial planning Stocks Retirement planning Thu, 19 Mar 2009 22:43:21 -0700 http://www.examiner.com/x-5474-SF-Financial-Planning-Examiner~y2009m3d19-Why-it-pays-to-hold-stocks-outside-your-401k-or-traditional-IRA?cid=exrss-SF-Financial-Planning-Examiner http://www.examiner.com/x-5474-SF-Financial-Planning-Examiner~y2009m3d17-More-ways-to-diversify-your-investment-portfolio-and-secure-your-retirement--Part-2?cid=exrss-SF-Financial-Planning-Examiner  In part one of this series on the fundamentals of personal finance, I explained why investment diversification is important. In this second installment, I discuss another key element to consider for your asset mix. Bonds Bon... finance Financial planning Tue, 17 Mar 2009 20:39:44 -0700 http://www.examiner.com/x-5474-SF-Financial-Planning-Examiner~y2009m3d17-More-ways-to-diversify-your-investment-portfolio-and-secure-your-retirement--Part-2?cid=exrss-SF-Financial-Planning-Examiner http://www.examiner.com/x-5474-SF-Financial-Planning-Examiner~y2009m3d15-More-than-ever-diversification-is-the-key-to-a-successful-retirement?cid=exrss-SF-Financial-Planning-Examiner   This is the first in a series of articles on the fundamentals of family financial planning. After a difficult year of watching personal net worth crumble, concerned individuals are interested in exercising more direct control ov... Sun, 15 Mar 2009 21:21:23 -0700 http://www.examiner.com/x-5474-SF-Financial-Planning-Examiner~y2009m3d15-More-than-ever-diversification-is-the-key-to-a-successful-retirement?cid=exrss-SF-Financial-Planning-Examiner http://www.examiner.com/x-5474-SF-Financial-Planning-Examiner~y2009m3d13-The-new-California-Sales-Tax-means-it-is-time-to-adjust-the-family-budget-again?cid=exrss-SF-Financial-Planning-Examiner The one percent California sales tax increase will take effect on April 1, 2009. The California State Board of Equalization indicates that depending on where you live, your “new” sales tax rate will be between 8.25% and 10.25%Now is ... Fri, 13 Mar 2009 14:31:49 -0700 http://www.examiner.com/x-5474-SF-Financial-Planning-Examiner~y2009m3d13-The-new-California-Sales-Tax-means-it-is-time-to-adjust-the-family-budget-again?cid=exrss-SF-Financial-Planning-Examiner http://www.examiner.com/x-5474-SF-Financial-Planning-Examiner~y2009m3d11-Try-adding-your-Social-Security-benefits-to-your-net-worth?cid=exrss-SF-Financial-Planning-Examiner Have you considered the "annuity" value of Social Security in your net worth calculation? Social Security is not generally thought of as an "annuity," but the features and benefits are very similar.  If you are already r... finance Financial planning Retirement planning Government and Finance Wed, 11 Mar 2009 21:51:40 -0700 http://www.examiner.com/x-5474-SF-Financial-Planning-Examiner~y2009m3d11-Try-adding-your-Social-Security-benefits-to-your-net-worth?cid=exrss-SF-Financial-Planning-Examiner http://www.examiner.com/x-5474-SF-Financial-Planning-Examiner~y2009m3d11-Converting-to-a-Roth-IRA-before-stock-prices-rebound-can-be-a-wise-tax-strategy?cid=exrss-SF-Financial-Planning-Examiner If your Individual Retirement Account (IRA) consists of stocks and stock funds, the last 12 months have been devastating. On top of the teetering economy and stock market debacle, there is also the fact that the United States taxpayers will eventual... finance Wed, 11 Mar 2009 20:04:19 -0700 http://www.examiner.com/x-5474-SF-Financial-Planning-Examiner~y2009m3d11-Converting-to-a-Roth-IRA-before-stock-prices-rebound-can-be-a-wise-tax-strategy?cid=exrss-SF-Financial-Planning-Examiner