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J.J. Zhangs Winner Take All The downsides to indexed investing

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 00:57:27 -0400

However, there is a basic economic rule: there is no such thing as a free lunch. With so many people and places all advocating passive indexing, it's important to look at the contrarian side. Stepping into the other side of the argument, just what are the downsides to ...

L.A. converts 141089 street lights to energy-saving LEDs

Wed, 19 Jun 2013 00:55:34 -0400

LOS ANGELES -- City officials today celebrated the completion of a project to replace thousands of street-light bulbs with LEDs in an effort to brighten city streets while slashing carbon emissions by 47,583 metric tons. "When you talk about energy conservation, this has been part of a number of game-changing initiatives the city has been involved in during the last eight years," ...

Leander Police saving in fuel costs

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 20:46:37 -0400

LEANDER, Texas (KXAN) - Leander Police say theyre saving thousands of dollars in fuel costs after installing a small device that changes the way gasoline burns in their patrol vehicles. A pilot project began a year and a half ago with six vehicles and newly released data are so encouraging the department plans to expand the program to all of its 31 vehicles. The need to innovate started with a ...

The Six Rules of Intelligent Investing

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 19:44:30 -0400

What does it take to manage money? How do you know which assets to buy and sell? How do you know which stocks to buy and sell? What should you do in a market correction? When you should adjust your portfolio? How can you avoid costly mistakes? Should you pay someone to manage your money for you? The answers to all these questions are condensed in six investment rules in a little book ...

Young Face Decades Of Saving To Buy Homes

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 19:34:38 -0400

Young people trapped by high property prices face having to save for up to 30 years before they can afford a deposit on their first home, a charity has said. Research commissioned by housing ...

Perk Backlash Do Surprise Upgrades Make Us Uneasy

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 18:46:06 -0400

A new study finds that while "receiving unearned preferential treatment does generate positive reactions, it is not always an entirely pleasurable experience." Examples include getting a free upgrade on a hotel room. Whether it's a free upgrade on a hotel room or skipping ahead in the check-in line, many businesses give preferential treatment to some customers, hoping to ...

Bucks Blog Consumers Help Slow Growth in Health Spending

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 18:28:54 -0400

health care spending is expected to slow next year, in part because of a shift in consumer behavior, a report from PricewaterhouseCoopers’s Health Research Institute predicts.The institute, the research arm of PricewaterhouseCoopers’s health care consulting practice, forecasts overall medical inflation of 6.5 percent in 2014 -- down from the institute’s estimate of 7.5 percent ...

Thank you for saving my friends life man tells Canadian Tire manager who rescued homeless buddy from fire

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 17:26:53 -0400

Abbotsford resident James Cunningham is being hailed as a hero for saving a homeless man from a fire. Cunningham, a manager at the Canadian Tire on South Fraser Way, was doing a security check around ...

Bucks Blog More States Permit Digital Car-Insurance Cards

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 16:17:39 -0400

digital insurance card that could be displayed on my smart phone, similar to the electronic boarding passes now available with airline apps.I rarely seem able to remember to transfer the latest paper cards from the envelope mailed to me by my insurer to my glove compartment, and my wallet. So the card I have with me is often dog-eared and out of date, even though I have paid my premiums and my ...

Medicare Cost-saving changes coming for diabetics

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 15:27:38 -0400

WASHINGTON -- Medicare begins a major change next month that could save older diabetics money and time when they buy crucial supplies to test their blood sugar - but it also may cause some confusion as patients figure out the new system.On July 1, Medicare opens a national mail-order program that will dramatically drop the prices the government pays for those products but patients will have to ...

Chuck Jaffe Fox commentator paid $50000 to tout stock

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 15:06:38 -0400

Most investors can't tell the difference between "sponsored investment research" and independent analysis, and that's exactly what the "sponsors" -- typically small companies paying for a marketing campaign that will inflate their stock activity and value -- are counting ...

The Health Care Cost Slowdown Could Be Here To Stay Saving Companies And The Government Billions

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 14:09:15 -0400

(Credit: Shutterstock) U.S. health costs have been slowing down — and will continue to do so thanks to changes in the health care industry spurred by Obamacare, according to a ...

Fixing Credit Report Errors More Hassle That Its Worth

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 13:12:57 -0400

One in five consumers has an error on their credit report, according to the Federal Trade Commission. How can you keep from being one of them? Host Michel Martin speaks with Louis Barajas, personal finance expert, about the steps you can take to make sure your credit report is on the up and ...

5 Tips for Savvy Target-Date Fund Investing

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 12:12:50 -0400

Retirement investors worried about the safety of their 401(k) plans need to take a close look at the holdings of their target-date funds. While the funds emphasize bonds as safe investments for employees nearing retirement age, most analysts feel that higher interest rates are inevitable, and bonds today might actually be riskier investments than stocks. The future of interest rates is the ...

Hedge fund managers don hairshirts and impact investing at Monaco meet

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 12:11:45 -0400

By Laurence FletcherMONTE CARLO (Reuters) - Hedge funds, once seen as a quick route to riches for managers and investors alike, are trying to reinvent themselves as more socially conscious and make money all the same.After an extended run of poor returns, executives at a slimmed-down annual industry conference in Monaco on Tuesday were as likely to be found talking about charitable giving as top ...

Online Game Leads To Life-Saving Surgery For Pakastani Boy At Children’s Hospital

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 11:55:56 -0400

BRIDGEWATER (CBS) — An unexpected online friendship has led to lifesaving surgery for a young Pakastani boy. Christine Muratore of Bridgewater met baby Zebaan’s father Saleem ...

TaxWatch When the IRS overlooks a couple’s divorce

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 11:43:49 -0400

Say a soon-to-be-divorced couple sells their principal residence. If they are still legally married at the end of the year of sale (because the divorce is not yet final), they can shelter up to $500,000 of home sale profit in two different ...

On Saving Chinas Dying Languages

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 11:42:25 -0400

Phonemica project, an effort led by two foreign-born linguists to record native speakers in each of China's surviving languages, ensuring that their words will be understood after their passing. In this follow-up, I spoke to Kellen Parker, one of Phonemica's founders, about China's linguistic map -- and why preserving a language means preserving a history that may otherwise be ...

Newest hotel amenity In-room rice cooker

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 10:37:44 -0400

And with hotels catering to the Chinese palate, there are more culinary options for all guests. Many Ritz-Carlton, InterContinental and Marriott locations have expanded their menus to include congee -- a Chinese rice porridge dish -- and dim sum on menus, and a range of green and flavored teas at breakfast. Some Holiday Inn hotels in the San Francisco and Chicago areas will even offer in-room ...

Bucks Blog Tuesday Reading More Google Maps for Bicyclists Overseas

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 09:35:10 -0400

Children often ask tough questions about money. In a series of posts this month the Bucks blog will discuss them one by one. We invite you to answer a few yourself or suggest new ones that your children have ...

Will your next holiday be made in China

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 08:27:26 -0400

reshaping American malls , they are also having "a huge impact on the U.S. tourist industry," says Z. John Zhang, a professor of marketing at the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania. Casinos in Las Vegas were among the first to cater to the influx of Chinese visitors, adding karaoke machines to private VIP gambling salons and red dcor, a color regarded as lucky in China, ...

Thinking about money leads to bad behavior

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 08:27:25 -0400

People are more likely to lie or make immoral decisions after being exposed to money-related words, according to researchers from Harvard and the University of Utah's David Eccles School of Business who published a report last month in the journal "Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes." The findings show that "even if we are well intentioned, even if we think ...

Want to save at the supermarket Compost

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 07:43:42 -0400

New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg's plan to require residents to compost their food waste may cause headaches for some families, but experts say it could also help cut their rising grocery ...

Video First-time homebuying regrets

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 07:37:00 -0400

Video: How to choose funds for your 401(k) Follow these tips to choose from the many different funds to invest in for your ...

8 major myths about health care reform

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 07:36:59 -0400

As arrival time nears for major components of President Barack Obama's historic health care overhaul, polls continue to show a sharp divide in public sentiment about the law. Most people think they know whether they like or dislike it. But when it comes to knowing what's actually contained within this mammoth retooling of our health insurance system, most of us may not be smarter than a ...

Get deduction for school loan or take lower rate

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 07:36:57 -0400

Dear Tax Talk, I currently hold a student loan at 6.75 percent to the tune of $75,000. I'm making $1,500 a month payments on this debt so it will be gone in 59 payments with $13,000 interest paid. I have the opportunity to have a family member loan me the $75,000 and I'll pay them back at 4 percent, reducing my payments to 55 months and cutting my interest paid to ...

How do you size up an insurance company

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 07:36:56 -0400

In their ads, insurance companies often boast they have the lowest premiums around. The emphasis on price makes it very easy for consumers to fall under the spell of cheap insurance rates."Our gut instinct is to shop for price," says Douglas Heller, an advocate with the Santa Monica, Calif.-based public interest group Consumer Watchdog. "And while we should beware of paying too ...

Wedding insurance Help for bridal fails

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 07:36:54 -0400

Wedding day disasters come in all sizes, from lost rings and ruined bridal gowns to slip-and-fall and alcohol-related personal injuries to unpredictable weather events to plain old cold feet that can shut down a once-in-a-lifetime celebration faster than you can say "I do."Fortunately, wedding insurance can help you absorb the financial hit should your big day suddenly veer off ...

Same-sex marriage real estate and the law

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 07:36:53 -0400

Same-sex couples often jump through legal hoops when dealing with their joint finances -- and owning real estate is no exception. If the Supreme Court strikes down the law that defines marriage as the legal union between a man and a woman, some, but not all, of these obstacles may be removed.When it comes to owning a house together, gay married couples can expect to see a few changes if the ...

Use cash-out mortgage to pay off credit cards

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 07:36:52 -0400

Dear Dr. Don, I want to refinance my mortgage, but the balance is small enough that interest rate quotes I'm getting are higher than if I had a higher balance. I feel I have a lot of credit card debt, but I still have an excellent credit score.Would there be any benefit to taking a cash-out refinance at a higher mortgage amount to pay off credit card debt? Would the mortgage interest rate ...

Will my 401 be safe if I file for bankruptcy

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 07:36:50 -0400

Dear Bankruptcy Adviser, I am retired and am struggling with credit card debt. If I file for bankruptcy, will my 401(k) be seized to pay creditors, or will my 401(k) remain ...

Understanding the basics of estate planning

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 07:36:50 -0400

Many people believe they don't need estate planning because they think they don't have an estate. Or they think the value of their estate is not great enough to cause estate taxation, so what's the ...

John Prestbos Indexed Investor How to have your stocks and income too

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 06:40:51 -0400

NEW YORK (MarketWatch) -- Multi-asset income ETFs are getting more attention as dividend-paying stocks face competition for investors' dollars from rising yields in the bond ...

Where to put your money for a long hot summer

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 06:40:50 -0400

SAN FRANCISCO (MarketWatch) -- With U.S. stocks struggling to break new ground and a rise in Treasury yields upsetting the bond market, money managers are recommending a mix of proven blue-chips and exchange-traded products to weather the dicey summer ...

How lenders can forestall foreclosures

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 06:40:48 -0400

Jumbo mortgages, defined as above $417,000 in most of the nation and $625,500 in some high-price markets, aren't backed by the government. Instead, most lenders hold the loans on their books--giving them an incentive to work with borrowers in distress to avert ...

Perils of moving to a no-tax state

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 06:28:28 -0400

For example, if you are still planning to spend significant time in your former state, you better limit it to less than 183 days. Why? Spending any more time there could mean you'll be treated as a resident of that state and therefore have to pay tax. And it's not just days spent in-state that tax authorities may scrutinize. They will look at a host of factors to see if you legally owe ...

Spendthrift elite signals equity slide behavioural experts warn

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 06:22:38 -0400

By Atul Prakash LONDON (Reuters) - Record prices at art auctions in recent weeks and oversubscribed holidays by private jet are among signals that a stock market slump is approaching, if followers of behavioural finance are to be believed. ...

Retire Here Not There Retire Here Not There Pennsylvania

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 06:20:04 -0400

Few states have as much to offer retired history buffs as Pennsylvania, one of the original 13 colonies. In Philadelphia, there's the Liberty Bell; Elfreth's Alley, the oldest residential street in the country; and Independence Hall, where the Declaration of Independence was signed. Harrisburg, the state capital, boasts the National Civil War Museum, with more than 24,000 artifacts, ...

UK inflation rebounds more than expected in May

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 05:19:08 -0400

LONDON (Reuters) - British consumer price inflation rebounded by more than expected in May due to a record rise in air fares and higher fuel prices, raising questions about whether April's seven-month low was simply a blip. The Office for ...

Health care costs to slow in 2014

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 04:20:31 -0400

While costs are rising faster than inflation, the projected increase pales in comparison to the double-digit spikes seen in the early 2000s. It's also slightly less than the 7.5% increase PwC estimated for ...

GreyWingFinancial.com Applauds Mariano Rivera on a Gracious Retirement

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 04:17:55 -0400

After the release of a USA Today article on Marino Rivera, GreyWingFinancial.com, personal finance and lifestyle magazine for seniors, remarks on the humble and kind way that Yankees pitcher Rivera has been winding down towards retirement, encouraging their readers to take a page out of his book by honoring supporters and people who have helped mold one's career or ...

Holden in cost-saving talks with South Australian staff

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 02:18:26 -0400

Melbourne 3000 Carmaker Holden is in discussions with staff and unions about cutting costs at its South Australian plant.In a statement, the company says it plans to make "labour-related cost reductions and productivity improvements" at the Elizabeth site.But the statement does not say what form the cost-cutting will take.Holden says staff will be required to vote on any changes to ...

Ambow setback teaches Baring a lesson in China investing

Tue, 18 Jun 2013 00:45:32 -0400

By Matthew Miller and Stephen Aldred June 18 | Tue Jun 18, 2013 12:45am EDT June 18 (Reuters) - Baring Asia Private Equity, with $5 billion in assets under management, has a reputation as one of the savviest investors in China. But the Hong Kong-based firm is now sitting on an $43 million paper loss from a $57 million investment in New York Stock Exchange-listed Ambow Education Holdings ...