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Pension woes, low savings hurt retirees' plans
The so-called three-legged stool that we're all supposed to rest upon during our retirement years -- Social Security, pensions/retirement plans, and our own savings and investments -- is wobbly.
By Jim Mackinnon / Beacon Journal business writer
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| SPECIAL REPORT: NET WORTH |
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Market downturn forces online investors, brokerages to adapt
Recent years have seen stock trading, banking, credit card applications, insurance and loan shopping gain major footholds with Internet users. But online investing, which roared into the new century as a killer application for the Internet, lately has slumped like a dog on the Dow.
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Chips and dips: SOX crunch
Hope for a recovery in the nation's technology stocks has disappeared. That's what SOX - the Philadelphia Semiconductor Index - is telling the stock market.
By Bob Fernandez / Inquirer Staff Writer
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Low rates tempt, but don't lose your head
Jeff Brown | Yesterday, the Mortgage Bankers Association of America reported the 30-year rate had fallen to an average of 5.99 percent from 6.16 percent a week earlier. This is a four-decade low. The 15-year fixed-rate loan fell to 5.4 percent, a record.
By Jeff Brown / Inquirer Columnist
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Pessimism is high, so it's a good time to buy
Q. I recently heard a news story that said more and more investors are fleeing the stock market. Isn't this just the beginning of the end, as mutual funds will be forced to sell and stock prices will keep crumbling?
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Family needs to agree on goals for investing
Q: My husband and I live on a modest income. We've paid off our home and have no debt. We have about $600,000 in savings, including certificates of deposit and money market accounts, but my husband has much of our money invested in mutual funds. We got the money from years of frugal living. I still clip and use coupons.
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Market downturn makes buying tax liability unlikely
Q: I have a question about capital gains. I have been a longtime investor in several mutual funds. They realized pretty large capital gains during the '90s. I dutifully paid taxes on the realized gains and reinvested my profits in more shares. The net asset value (NAV) per share of many mutual funds is now a fraction of their highs. Can I expect my funds to recover without another big tax bite?
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Rate cut no balm for debt-laden consumers
For all too many Americans struggling to dig out from debt, Wednesday's surprisingly big cut in interest rates by the Federal Reserve may help very little, experts say.
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BY DENA AUBIN,
Reuters,
11/06/2002 12:02 PM PST)
Average holiday gift budgets $863
U.S. shoppers plan to spend an average of $863 on holiday gifts this year, the same amount they budgeted last year, with discounters a favorite destination in a sluggish economy, according to a survey released on Wednesday.
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Reuters,
11/06/2002 11:17 AM PST)
Get out and vote - for proxy disclosure
Mutual-fund investors are being urged to get involved in a regulatory battle to safeguard their investments from hidden conflicts of interest.
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By Kathy Kristof,
Inquirer Columnist,
11/05/2002 08:58 AM PST)
Experts advise caution in refinancing mortgages to reduce debt
A homeowner can lose out if a need to sell arises. Paying money to save money sounds contradictory, but that's the idea behind refinancing a home mortgage.
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By TOM DROEGE ,
Knight Ridder/Tribune Business News,
11/05/2002 08:39 AM PST)
New books make learning financial basics as easy as pie
Quick: What's the connection between apple pie and stocks? For the answer, you'll need to read a new book by Iowa author J.M. Seymour that will take both you and your children through investment basics in a cute, lighthearted way.
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BY STEVE ROSEN,
Knight Ridder Newspapers,
11/04/2002 11:13 AM PST)
Several strategies help reduce your tax bill
Don't assume that you can't benefit from year-end tax planning just because you're not a fat cat. In these final eight weeks of 2002, you could improve the odds that you will qualify to claim valuable tax credits and write off more deductions. Smart timing can give you a bigger bang from buying a home or refinancing your mortgage. And you can save more for retirement and cut your medical costs.
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By MARK SCHWANHAUSSER,
Mercury News,
11/04/2002 07:41 AM PST)
Now's the time to buy a used car and save a bundle
Sure, those 0.0 percent financing deals have made buying a new 2002 or 2003 car an attractive proposition. But don't overlook some great deals on used cars, too.
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By PAUL WENSKE,
Columnist,
11/04/2002 07:40 AM PST)
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