PFBlog Network Headlines

Retirement? Spouses Don't Think Alike

2007-05-13T23:07:24-08:00

You would expect marrying couples in the 50s talk a lot about retirement, but apparently they don't. I have been starting to prepare my wife for the retirement since the 30s :-)

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Social Security Tips and Traps

2007-05-12T16:08:06-08:00

Social security withdrawal to me is still 30 years aways from me. I'll only pray if most of the tips and traps will still hold true. Nevertheless, Sue Stevens contributed a good article for those in need a few quick doses of Social Security education.

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ETF or Mutual Fund. Who Is The Winner?

2007-05-12T16:06:02-08:00

WSJ added another featured story to the neve-eding comparison of ETFand index-tracking mutual fund performance. The result? Based on Morninstar's calclation, mutual funds stay ahead in most of the games.

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Bank of America Promotes No-Fee Mortgage

2007-05-08T20:22:03-08:00

Is it no fee, or no cost? Apparently, Bank of America is burying much of the cost to interest rates. Clever move BofA!

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Is It The Right Time for Mid-Cap?

2007-04-29T19:48:35-08:00

Interesting WSJ article that pitches domestic mid-cap stocks for its timeliness. However, the PEG ratio comparison is quite misleading. Given that the economy has more downside risks than upside ones, it is prudent to assume the growth potential implied in these growing P/Es will not materialize. Disclosure: I'm still in ...

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Freddie Mac: Housing Worst Isn't Here Yet

2007-04-28T16:03:43-08:00

I would be too naive to think the cumulative effect of many years' of reckless lending has already been unwound. How will this affect the economy in the next few years when the Class of 2006 faces graduation?

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Vonage: IPO to Bankruptcy in One Year?

2007-04-22T22:13:28-08:00

I'm so glad I didn't take Vonage's invitation to partcipate in its IPO. Less than one year after, the VOIP company is seriously looking at bankruptcy as an option.

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Why Term Life Insurance from Employer May Not Be The Cheapest

2007-04-22T20:55:32-08:00

WSJ's columnist Diana Ransom discussed the same thing I recognized a few years ago: for employees young and healthy, buying term life insurance from employee-sponsored plans may not be the most economical way to get coverage.

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Foreign Markets Provide Better Diversifaction Now

2007-04-22T20:55:28-08:00

WSJ reports that the correlation between US market and other developed markets is becoming weaker, suggesting exposure in foreign markets can achieve better diversification now.

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Tax Advice: How to Avoid Getting Audited

2007-04-08T22:30:20-08:00

IRS audits for high income households are on the rise, and WSJ's Tom Herman has some advices for us. To be honest, producing accurate tax returns is a growing pain now. My last year's tax return adds up to 45 pages, and I couldn't do it without professional help.

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Review: LifeInsure.com Provides Instant Insurance Quotes

2007-04-08T18:04:49-08:00

With the proliferation of internet, it is becoming common for people to getting life insurance quotes online, especially for term life insurance, a product that is so commoditized that it usually only takes applicants a few minutes to answer a bunch of questions before getting the rate quotes from various ...

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It's a Buyer's Market: More Housing Inventory Everywhere

2007-04-04T21:54:38-08:00

For people who are thinking at selling their houses, the timing couldn't be worse. Higher inventory numbers are reported in each of the 18 major markets. Will it be a slippery slope from here?

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Review: TermLifeOptions.com

2007-04-04T20:24:38-08:00

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Review: Credit Demystified

2007-04-02T07:53:58-08:00

If you need a healthy dose of quality credit education, look no further than CreditDemystified.com. This credit education web site, backed by Countrywide Home Loans (Countrywide is one of the largest mortgage product provider in the nation), includes the following sections: 1) How to Improve One's Credit: Information regarding credit ...

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Should You Perform Roth IRA Conversion AFTER Retirement?

2007-03-10T08:23:56-08:00

Fairmark brought a good case about when to convert your IRA to Roth IRA for several tax benefits even after you retire. Among them, you can reap extra tax-advantaged growth provided by Roth IRA, avoid required distributions in IRA and potentially save on tax. Still, one needs to carefully evaluate ...

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The Fastest Way To Blow Up Your IRA

2007-03-09T09:14:16-08:00

Do you think the Real Estate IRAs fancy? A misstep and you can destroy all the tax savings you are entitled to in an Individual Retirement Account (IRA). Take this Fairmark Tax Tips to the heart and forget about mixing real estate investment with IRA.

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Should Bill Gates Oppose of Estate Tax Repeal?

2007-03-07T13:38:10-08:00

While I can understand where Mr. Gates and Mr. Buffett come from, should they, arguably the best two capitalists of our generation, believe they, or their desginated agents, can spend more effectively than the government?

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Most Recalled Cars of 2006

2007-03-07T05:03:47-08:00

Can you believe Honda's popular Civic is making its way to the list of most recalled vehicles?

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Payday Loan Companies Change Practices (for the Good)

2007-03-07T05:03:47-08:00

I'm a believer of free market. As long as the nature of payday loans are properly disclosed, and the industry stops misleading marketing, I don't see an issue with the high interest rates. We have to allow borrowers to make decisions based on free will.

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New 401(k) Disclosure Rules May Be Coming

2007-03-05T23:36:51-08:00

I'm all for more transaparency. Also, I feel we need to radically reform 401(k) and 529 Plans by allowing plan participants to invest in any stocks and mutual funds instead of the few blessed by the plan administrators you don't know in person and cannot influence.

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Beating The Market Is Easy (and Here Is How)

2007-03-05T23:36:49-08:00

Settling for the average by index investing is ok, but one can surely do better. Tim Middleton at MSN Money offers some time-tested mutual fund recommendations.

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Payday Loan ABC Tracks Industry Developments

2007-03-05T06:49:46-08:00

If not for the news section, Payday Loan ABC is just a me-too payday loan site that seeks to solicit online applications from people in bad credit and in urgent need of cash. It provides up to $500 next-day cash advance to almost all states (excluding AR, CT, GA, NJ ...

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Unpaid Tax Per Household: $2,680

2007-03-05T05:01:17-08:00

Isn't it a surprisingly high number? It is estimated that the tax gap, or the difference between what taxpayers owe and what they pay, is $300 billion, or $2,680 per household now. But is there any quick fix? Our tax system is too complicated to allow effective enforcement. There is ...

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Millionaire's Growing Problem: Tax Audit

2007-03-05T05:01:17-08:00

If you are receiving 7 figure income, your tax return is six times more likely to get audited. Still, it is probably a nice problem to have -- I wish I will have this level of annual income one day.

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Explainer: Who Owns Our National Debt?

2007-03-05T04:03:47-08:00

It is quite refreshing to know that foreign governments only own a quarter of our $8.5 trillion national debt.

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An Imperfect Mortgage Calculator

2007-03-04T23:38:47-08:00

Mortgagecalculatorplus.com is a web site with only one purpose: an online mortgage calculator. Unfortunately, it didn't do its job too well. Like other mortgage calculators, this one asks for your loan amount, interest rate and term (number of years). It also goes one step further by asking you to estimate ...

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Some Nice Loan Calculators

2007-03-04T20:51:17-08:00

When it comes to personal finance, there is usually no one-size-fit-all decision. Options need to be carefully examined, usually in a quantitative way, to determine whether a particular decision is a nice fit to one's specific financial situation. To this end, I found the dozens of online calculator at iloancalculator.com ...

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Are Mutual Fund Managers Gaming The (Morningstar) System?

2007-03-04T18:50:05-08:00

While it is certainly true that one can game the system by being risk-averse -- Morningstar values risk-adjusted returns instead of absolute returns -- I still believe in the franchise of Morningstar and the effectiveness of its rating system. At the end of the day, Morningstar's rating is a relative ...

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CreditProvide.com, Destination for Subprime Loan Offers

2007-03-03T23:36:52-08:00

If you have low credit score and are looking for credit options, Credit Provide may be your one-stop destination. This website, specializing in cataloging sub-prime loan products, probably can help you to find any loan product you are looking for. Specifically, for each of the following loan types, CreditProvide lists ...

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Mortgage Defaults Are Climbing For Alt-A Customers

2007-03-03T19:01:49-08:00

Woo ... it looks like the housing market slowdown and default nightmare for mortgage underwriters will be worse before getting better. If these Alt-A customers are turning in 2.4% delinquency rate, there is no wonder why my person-to-person lending experience at Prosper.com is abysmal.

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The Best and The Worst 529 Plans

2007-03-03T18:50:13-08:00

Not two 529 plans are identical. In fact, the difference between the best and the worst 529 plans can be huge. While you may be able to deduct state tax by investing in your home state's 529 plan, the high fees in a bad plan can quickly wipe out any ...

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Finance Market Commentary, The UK Flavor

2007-03-03T18:47:13-08:00

Facing the turmoil of recent global financial market slowdown, it is probably helpful to get some perspective from outside the U.S. One can certainly count on Financial Times for some good editorial content from the Europe, but how about some grassroot content? Finance Markets is one site you can get ...

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New Capital One Credit Card with 1.25% Cash Back

2007-02-26T23:30:41-08:00

A good summary from WSJ on top flat-rate cashback card offerings. I still prefer my Fidelity Investment Rewards card which rewards me with 1.5% no-hassle cashback.

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How To Manager Your Tax Bracket With IRA Withdrawal

2007-02-26T23:18:37-08:00

What should you do in a year with low income? Withdraw more from your IRA account so the withdrawal is taxed at a lower rate. This WSJ article provided some excellent food for thought for long-term tax planning, and actually I'm planning on doing the very similar thing by timing ...

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Do We Have Too Many ETFs?

2007-02-25T18:04:39-08:00

I love the phrase "ETF pollution." People are crafting too many ETFs for exotic strategies, and some ETFs are simply designed to be short-lived. For ETF operators, it is becoming a casino of whose strategy will be most favored by the market for longer.

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Funniest Tax Writeoff (Attempts)

2007-02-22T18:04:39-08:00

Bankrate compiled some super-funny attempts to write off more expenses. Of the 9 stories, I love the following the best:

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A Quick $30 Refund You Shouldn't Overlook

2007-02-22T17:48:34-08:00

This is probably the easiest $30 (or $40, or $50, or $60) tax refund you can get. Don't miss it!

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What's Your Marginal Tax Rate?

2007-02-21T17:48:35-08:00

Two Bosten University economists claimed that almost everyone in this country is having the same marginal tax rate of 40%. It is probably true: the poorer has to pay My marginal tax rate? It is about 46%, including my PRC marginal income tax rate of 45% and the Medicare tax.

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Term Life Insurance: It's Getting Cheaper and Cheaper

2007-02-21T17:48:34-08:00

It shouldn't be a surprise that term life insurance is getting cheaper because people are generally living longer. Also, the popularity of getting insurance coverage from online outlets reduced the cost of insurers, which also drives the cost down. Is it time for me to double-size my million-dollar policy?

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10 Tips for Value Investors

2007-02-13T15:04:52-08:00

In 2002, Fool.com recommended some of Bob Olstein's wisdom on value investing. I am a huge fan of value investing and do believe in the right hands, it can be used to consistently beat the market. Despite the passage of five years, it is still worth reading:

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Tax Reminder: Telephone Excise Tax Refund

2007-02-11T22:04:01-08:00

Good to keep in mind you may get $30 or more refund from what the government illegally charged you in the last four years.

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More Money = Better Sex?

2007-02-09T22:11:12-08:00

At first sight, this survey provides one more reason to become a multi-millionaire. But the average net worth of the survey respondents is a whopping $89 million, making this path toward sex quality almost irrelevant for ordinary Joes.

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Managed-Futures Funds Available To Small Investors Soon

2007-02-09T22:11:12-08:00

Want to play in the future market? Mutual fund innovator Rydex is going to launch an open-end managed futures fund next month, enabling anyone with at least $2,500 to have access to the future market.

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When Should You Get Rid of Financial Documents?

2007-02-07T22:11:12-08:00

Here is a handy reference of when you can shred your financial documents. I'm not sure why one has to keep tax returns for 7 years, though. Isn't it said that IRS cannot bother you for returns that are three years old?

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Best and Worst Housing Markets in America

2007-02-06T22:11:12-08:00

I start to have a bit seller's remorse now. Seattle's housing market is still strong after many year's doyble-digit price appreciation. Can I still afford a house when I move back?

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What Is Mortgage REIT?

2007-02-06T12:06:54-08:00

Morningstar's analyst Erin Swanson masterfully explained what is Mortgage REIT, and why it is not a timely bet in today's market. I invested in one of the Mortgage REIT before (which later merged with an investment firm to today's Friedman, Billings, Ramsey Group - FBR) with some good gains, but ...

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How To Survive On $12,000 A Year (And Still Save)

2007-02-05T04:54:45-08:00

I do admire the author who intends to live on $12,000 a year. Our household probably cannot survive for four times the amount -- I know we have some fat that can be cut in our cost structure, but as long as we can grow the top line and still ...

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Frequent Flier Miles Are Expiring Faster

2007-02-03T01:45:31-08:00

USA Today did a good job in compiling the expiration policies of major U.S. frequent flier programs. Time to strategize your usage of mileage programs!

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Taxpayers May Direct Refund To Three Accounts

2007-02-02T18:29:52-08:00

Yes, it is good to have the flexibility of sending your tax refunds to three accounts, and you may use it to defeat your spending habits so you can save more for retirement. However, it is a bit over-engineering for me. By the way, the split-refund function is not implemented ...

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Exxon Mobile Is Minting Money

2007-02-01T22:04:01-08:00

$39.5 billion annual profit! That's more than $100 million a day and $1,252 per second. It will be hard to exceed, even by Exxon itself.

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Average Size of Tax Refund (1995 - 2005)

2007-02-01T11:29:51-08:00

Do you know the average tax refund is over $2,000 for the last five tax years? Some quick adjustment of your W-4 form may allow you to touch the refund earlier.

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5 Biggest 401(k) Mistakes

2007-01-31T04:54:54-08:00

This article is a must-read for those who are new to the 401(k) game -- any of the five mistakes can cost you dearly.

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Why You Shouldn't File Your Tax Early

2007-01-31T03:29:49-08:00

WSJ tax columnist Tom Herman discussed why some recent changes in IRS regulations may bring confusion in investment income reporting, and you'd better to wait for your brokerage firms to sort it out before filing your return.

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When It Is OK To Use Credit Card To Pay Off Home Equity Loan

2007-01-31T02:29:47-08:00

WSJ discussed the controversial practice of paying off home equity loans using your credit card. It did give a balanced view -- this practice is not for the general audience, but if used properly, it can save you some interest payments.

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Mutual Fund Tax Bills Are Climbing

2007-01-29T22:28:18-08:00

It shouldn't be a surprise to mutual fund investors that after a few years of steady returns, mutual funds are returning more money to investors as capital gain distributions. How should smart investors respond? Stay with those funds with low turnover and long-term perspective.

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The China Stock Market Is Red Hot

2007-01-29T22:07:59-08:00

The China stock market is obviously a bubble that will surely burst. Two good examples: 1) More brokerage accounts were opened in one week in 2007 than the whole 2004. 2) China Life, a local life insurer, is trading at 200 times of P/E Since November, I have gradually downsized ...

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Why ETFs Are Usually More Tax Efficient?

2007-01-29T20:44:40-08:00

Mutual fund rating company Morningstar explains why ETFs are usually more tax efficient. At the top of the list: lower turnover because ETFs are usually index funds instead of actively managed funds.

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Money Market Account Yield Outlook for 2007

2007-01-09T17:30:21-08:00

Since mid 2006, I have been content with the 5% annual return by parking my cash in high yield money market accounts. Will this savers' party end soon?

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How To Negotiate A Lower Credit Card Rate

2007-01-09T17:15:13-08:00

Credit card companies are more willing to reduce your credit card rate by a few percentage points than you think. All it takes is to ask the right question -- according to this WSJ report, more than 75% of such requests are accepted.

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The 10 Hottest Selling Mutual Funds

2007-01-09T17:15:04-08:00

Morningstar's Russel Kinnel found out the best selling funds in 2006 are not the trendist funds. "For 2006, though, I was pleased to see that the trendiest stuff didn't make the list. No China funds, no Russia funds, not even a real-estate fund. Rather, the top-selling funds were broadly diversified ...

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How To Get The Right Unsecured Personal Loan

2007-01-07T23:08:14-08:00

It is not an uncommon thing in today’s society for people to face financial downfalls, with an unsecured personal loan you can easily get right back on your feet again and start anew. An unsecured personal loan generally is not granted at a bank or larger institution, so many people ...

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2006 Morningstar Fund Managers of the Year

2007-01-03T18:28:31-08:00

Morningstar announced its 2006 award of Fund Managers of the Year. The report also includes some good fund picks too.

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2007 Credit Card Trends

2007-01-02T01:16:46-08:00

WSJ's Aleksandra Todorova identified five trends in the credit card business. It is no surprise that most of the new trends involve getting more money from consumers in one way or another.

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Online Banks Beef Up Security

2007-01-02T01:16:44-08:00

WSJ reported that banks are required to follow new federal online-security guidelines by December 31 of 2007. No wonder I'm finding out new ways literally everyday that makes online logon harder. More recent examples: 1) Eloan online savings bank requires verification of a pre-determined image at the password screen. 2 ...

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What Is Bad Credit Unsecured Loan?

2006-12-31T22:11:12-08:00

It’s a general discernment that people with a bad credit history do face problems in the procurement of loans. If this is so, then situation may get worse, if such people apply for unsecured loans. Well, bad credit unsecured loan is a tailor made loan solution for such people, who ...

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Making Sense of Personal Loans (Secured and Unsecured)

2006-12-21T22:04:03-08:00

Personal loans are becoming more and more popular since they are convenient and reliable. Personal loans are basically meant to provide you financial backing for all your monetary needs. From sponsoring your child’s education to bearing a medical expenditure, personal loans can serve you many purposes. While availing personal loans ...

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Common Misunderstandings of Stock Market

2006-12-14T23:13:37-08:00

Here is a list of some of the biggest misconceptions that the average trader believes. 1. There is a such thing as a perfect system. I assure you there is no perfect system. You may feel you need to convince yourself that technical analysis, trend following, fundamentals, options hedging, or ...

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How to Take Advantage of Secured Personal Loans

2006-12-11T23:07:52-08:00

You can have your own reason to get a secured personal loan. Secured personal loans can fulfil almost any of your financial requirements. You may be in the need of funds for holidaying with your family or you may be planning to carry out some home improvements or you may ...

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Zillow And Zestimates Facing Question Markets

2006-12-09T14:59:47-08:00

Seattle Times business reporter Elizabeth Rhodes examined the accuracy of the free online home price appraisal site Zillow and the result is not positive. After all, online appraisal can never replace a realtor's experience in a neighborhood and access to the physical details of a property.

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Goldman Sachs Hires Previous Amaranth Traders

2006-12-09T14:59:33-08:00

Amaranth Advisors, LLC. is officially dead, but I'm glad its employees were taken good care of.

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How To Get A Cheap Unsecured Loan in UK

2006-12-08T22:04:02-08:00

An unsecured loan comes without any collateral and therefore, it has become a favourable loan option for all those looking to raise money, but do not have any property to offer as security. However, non-involvement of security poses a great threat for the lender. Therefore, the lender forces some stringent ...

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How Small Personal Loans Can Help You To Repair Your Credit

2006-11-30T23:13:41-08:00

Bad credit can really become an obstacle when searching for finance. Thus, it is important to act quickly when your credit starts going bad. With the aid of small personal loans that are not that hard to qualify for, you can begin to improve your credit and with time you’ll ...

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Bank of America Surpassed Citigroup in Market Cap

2006-11-28T20:21:16-08:00

Bank of America (BAC) finally reached this milestone. I have both horses in my portfolio since last November and I cannot complain the performance so far: 22.5% return on BofA and 12.7% on Citigroup (C).

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Is Anheuser-Busch (BUD) A Buy?

2006-11-26T19:22:05-08:00

Bob Frick at Kiplinger's Personal Finance argues Anheuser-Busch is a great value now. Although I drink Bud a lot, the current P/E ratio is too rich for my taste.

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When Does Car Leasing Make Sense?

2006-11-26T19:06:35-08:00

This Kiplinger's Personal Finance article will probably change some people's mind about whether to lease or buy a car. To me, the time-tested rule is still to buy a 2-to-3-year-old used car. You will get the best of both worlds: easier maintenance and better value.

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Will Fidelity Magellan Ever Beat The Market Again?

2006-11-26T19:06:35-08:00

Although those at Kiplinger's Personal Finance remain positive, I seriously doubt the new manager Harry Lange can master a turnaround story for this $45 billion fund.

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Roth IRA Income Limit To Rise in 2006

2006-11-26T19:03:25-08:00

Roth IRA should be the retirement fund vehicle of choice (after company matching in 401(k)-like plans). Unfortunately, even with this round of increase in income limit, my family is still priced out of the market.

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What Are Indexed Annuities?

2006-11-26T19:03:22-08:00

Kiplinger's Personal Finance discussed a few pros and cons about indexed annuities. In short, you need to study the fine prints and make sure you understand what you are about to buy. Like elsewhere in the spectrum of investments, there is no free lunch.

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How To Buy QQQQ Without Commission

2006-11-25T15:11:54-08:00

QQQ Direct is NASDAQ-100's DRIP program, which allows you to buy into NASDAQ's top companies at as little as $10 a month without paying commission. Good deal for starters!

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Rule 72(t) and How To Make Withdrawal from IRA Legally

2006-11-25T14:50:35-08:00

If you don't know yet, IRS actually provides a leeway for you to use what's in your 401(k) or IRA before retirement without penalty. The trick is to do it right. Actually, it is always in my "grand plan" that after I semi-retire, I will tap into my retirement funds ...

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Best Western's China Strategy: Premium Upscale Hotel Chain

2006-11-25T14:50:30-08:00

The strategy is probably flawed. I am not sure if Best Western can efficiently build brand image as an upscale hotel chain in China, given all major hotel chains have invested in 4-/5-star hotels heavily in China, and more people have visited the U.S. (and therefore know one thing or ...

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How Will Democrats Resolve the AMT Issue?

2006-11-25T14:50:28-08:00

It is in both parties' best interest to extend the AMT relief, but given Democrats' preelection commitment of better fiscal discipline, it will be hard battle to find where to cut budget or raise taxes to offset the loss of AMT revenue.

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Bad Credit? You Can Still Get A Home Equity Loan

2006-11-24T23:14:07-08:00

When you choose to apply for a loan with bad credit your options are very limited. If you happen to find a lender willing to approve your loan, you’ll have to pay higher interest rates. Bad Credit Personal Loans are prohibitive due to the fact that lenders don’t have any ...

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Best ETF for 2007

2006-11-22T00:53:42-08:00

Vanguard Emerging Markets Index (VWO) was named the best ETF for 2007 by Fool.com

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Do You Know The Pros and Cons of Payday Loans?

2006-11-21T22:11:12-08:00

Short term instant loans are known as payday loans. These are cash advances that are to be returned with interest on payday. Within a few minutes of applying online the loan will be approved and you will have the cash within a couple of hours. All it needs is your ...

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Featured Fund: Vanguard Wellington (VWELX)

2006-11-21T19:03:20-08:00

Kiplinger's Personal Finance reviews the legendary balance fund Vanguard Wellington.

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Target-Date Funds Launched at American Funds

2006-11-18T14:35:33-08:00

Morningstar reported that American Funds has launched nine target-date funds. It shouldn't be a surprise since almost every major fund family has launched similar offerings.

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Kraft (KFT) Spin-Off At Altria (MO) Is Near

2006-11-16T12:37:26-08:00

Today is a good day for Altria investors, myself included. Management of Altria (originally Philip-Morris) is now fully committed to spinoff the food maker Kraft Foods Inc., which will supposedly unlock lots of the value in both companies. Should I sell today, Altria will be my first double-bagger in stock ...

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Featured Card: Citi Driver's Edge Platinum Select Card

2006-11-15T13:49:44-08:00

The Citi® Driver's Edge® Platinum Select® Card, issued by Citibank, is designed for those with very good credit who would like to earn rebates toward the purchase or lease of any new or used car, foreign or domestic. The card provides a rebate of 6% for supermarket, gas station, and ...

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IRS May Simplify Form 1040 By 2009

2006-11-15T13:46:45-08:00

Is this an irony? Yes, you can simplify Form 1040, but not at the expense of creating yet another new schedule. Isn't it apparent that the root cause of the dozens of hours every taxpayer needs to spend every year is the complicated tax system, not the complicated tax forms?

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10 Most Expensive Colleges in the U.S.

2006-11-13T11:55:54-08:00

What is really surprising is except for Columbia, these colleges are not really top-tier colleges. How can they sustain the pricing power?

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Mutual Fund Investors: $20 Billion Tax Bomb On The Horizon

2006-11-13T11:46:52-08:00

The time tested truth is if you have a profitable year in mutual fund investing, be prepared for a big tax bite.

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Mutual Funds Pass $10 Trillion Mark In Assets

2006-11-13T11:38:37-08:00

Baby boomers, exchange-traded funds and stock market performance were mentioned as forces behind the $10 trillion achievement of the mutual fund industry. Will the collective actions by baby boomers someday cause massive cash outflow?

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The Hidden Fees in 401(k) Plans

2006-11-13T11:38:20-08:00

Good reminder from USA Today that it is too easy to losea couple of points in invisible fees in a 401(k). The problem is, you cannot switch 401(k) plans as you switch 529 plans, and I bet hardly anyone will leave a company just because a mediocre 401(k) plan.

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How to Start Investing in Mutual Funds

2006-11-12T23:14:07-08:00

If you are into investments but you don't want to invest in one kind of stock or another, perhaps you would rather invest in a mutual fund. With mutual funds you can diversify, meaning you can buy more than one kind of stock. By diversifying you reduce the risks without ...

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Best Hotels In Shanghai Featured in WSJ

2006-11-11T01:27:59-08:00

Wall Street Journal discussed some amazing hotels in Shanghai. For example, Grand Hyatt Shanghai, famously located in the highest building building in Shanghai, offers breathtaking views of the Bund. Because all these hotels were only opened in the last several years, you can really expect posh interior design and impeccable ...

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How To Make A Million Dollars In Ten Years

2006-11-11T01:27:56-08:00

SmartMoney highlights some important aspects of preserving and creating new worth, although I doubt if this plan can guarantee a million dollars in ten years.

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Top 20 Highest Paying Careers in the America

2006-11-11T01:27:51-08:00

Yes, you may say higher degree and professional certification usually lead to higher paying jobs, but degrees and degrees are different, and it is a harsh reality that some degrees just never pay off.

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ReviewMe: Another Income Stream for Bloggers?

2006-11-10T21:53:30-08:00

There seems to be countless ways for bloggers to monetize their content, and ReviewMe just created another one. By signing up for ReviewMe, you will have a chance to become a "hired gun." That is, someone who is interested in introducing his products to your readership can recruit you to ...

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E-Loan's High Yield Savings Account Is Off A Good Start

2006-11-10T03:31:45-08:00

Yes, at 5.50% APY, there is no wonder many interest-rate-sensitive folks (like me) are moving to E-Loan. On a related note, Eloan also silently reduced its CD rate from 5.75% for terms over 2 years to 5.35% to 5.45%. (Still, the 2-year CD at 5.60% is still a great buy.)

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