Kiplinger's Personal Finance Magazine back issues from September 2006:
Letters.(Letter to the editor)
Sep 01, 2006 ... A reader gives us a heads up on converting a retirement account, and a Navy wife gives us a thumbs up for taking military families' financial needs into account. ROTH IRAS AND TAXES There is a tax wrinkle in your strategy to open a nondeductible IRA now, convert it ...
What Wealth Transfer?(Ahead)
Sep 01, 2006 ... Byline: ANNE KATES SMITH If you're waiting for an inheritance from Mom and Dad in the years ahead, chances are ... you'll still be waiting. Despite all the headlines heralding the Greatest Wealth Transfer Ever, nothing of the sort has happened and the experts who analyze family ...
www: Secret Phone Numbers.(Ahead)
Sep 01, 2006 ... Track down elusive business phone numbers at www.hardtofind800numbers.com. The site lists customer-service, billing and ...
More Cheap Seats.(Air Gumbo, Skybus, Virgin America, Virgin Atlantic new airfares)(Brief article)
Sep 01, 2006 ... New low-price airline start-ups are on the horizon. Air Gumbo plans to fly between seven Louisiana cities and nearby states. Skybus, from Columbus, Ohio, is also gearing up ....
Life-insurance Lockup.(Ahead)(Brief article)
Sep 01, 2006 ... Creative "investors" are offering cash and loans to help buy a large life-insurance policy--on condition that the investor eventually becomes the beneficiary. Regulators believe people who participate may be unable to obtain insurance they do need. So state insurance commissioners vow to ...
Saving Pensions.(Ahead)(Brief article)
Sep 01, 2006 ... Teresa Ghilarducci, an economics professor at the University of Notre Dame, is a trustee for a General Motors retiree benefit trust and a former member of an advisory board to the Pension Benefit Guaranty Corporation. Will traditional pension plans disappear completely? If good ...
Goodbye Cul-de-sacs.(real estate forecasts)(Brief article)
Sep 01, 2006; ... Byline: PATRICIA ESSWEIN Planners decry dead-end streets because residents aren't connected to the community. Towns are now restricting their use in new ...
Recession? No Way.(Ahead)(Brief article)
Sep 01, 2006; ... Byline: JEFFREY R. KOSNETT Rising interest rates, stop-and-go stock prices and Price Reduced signs on lawns could have you thinking darkly about the economy. Don't, says Standard & Poor's chief economist David Wyss. Instead, he says, look at it this way for the rest of the year: ...
Welcome Back, Mom.(Nancy Hamilton career aspects)(Brief article)
Sep 01, 2006 ... Nancy Hamilton, 51, has been a full-time mom for 22 years, raising four sports-crazed kids in Short Hills, N.J. Now Hamilton, who has an MBA and once worked on Wall Street, wants to revive her career. She's among the 43% of highly qualified, professional women who took time out--of whom ...
Super Size Your PC.(Google Inc. and Microsoft Corp. offers remote file hosting)(Brief article)
Sep 01, 2006; ... Byline: CHRISTINE M. VARNER Microsoft--and possibly Google--plan to offer remote file hosting--great for backing up data or for using as extra storage if you've overwhelmed your hard drive with music and other large files. The tech titans are coy about details, but Microsoft ...
What You Need to Know About Timeshares.(Ahead)
Sep 01, 2006; ... Byline: Sean O'Neill 1. Time shares are still a lousy investment. Forget what resort developers tell you. There's a glut of unwanted time shares. Sell today and you can expect to get back only 30% to 50% of what you paid. But on the bright side, buying a previously owned time ...
Sometimes, It Makes Sense to Rent.(Ahead)
Sep 01, 2006; ... Byline: Jeffrey R. Kosnett Paolo and Lediya Beltran have a rare southern California housing deal. They pay $700 a month and perform routine maintenance to rent a small, 50-year-old house in Lakewood, near Long Beach. But Paolo and Lediya, both 29, want to start a family within a ...
Boost Your Energy Level.(Ahead)
Sep 01, 2006; ... Byline: James K. Glassman In 2001, a gallon of unleaded regular gasoline cost less than a buck and a half, and the barrel of crude oil from which it was refined was a mere $22. Today, crude is about $75, and Goldman Sachs analysts believe $100 is a real possibility. The ...
What Investors Should Do Now.(economy and corporate earnings inflation)
Sep 01, 2006; ... Byline: Andrew Tanzer Investors are more bewildered than usual. One day they worry about whether the economy and corporate earnings will roll over. The next, they obsess over higher inflation and robust job numbers. Toss in uncertainty over rising interest rates and the ...
Brands You Can Trust.(quality management)
Sep 01, 2006; ... Byline: Steven T. Goldberg Why publish a list of the best fund families? Because quality counts in investing just as it does in every other facet of life. We published a similar list, with many of the same names, three years ago. Not one of them got in trouble when fund abuses ...
Surprising Discovery.(Fidelity Investments's Scott Offen )
Sep 01, 2006; ... Byline: Katy Marquardt From the day his high school economics class visited Fidelity Investments' offices nearly 30 years ago, Scott Offen knew he'd one day manage money for the Boston fund giant. Offen struck out twice in his quest for employment with Fidelity. But after ...
Clipper Relaunched.(Chris Davis and Ken Feinberg)(Brief article)
Sep 01, 2006; ... Byline: THOMAS M. ANDERSON The board of directors of Clipper fund rocked the boat late last year by hiring Davis Selected Advisers to run the fund. In a rare departure from business as usual, directors rejected the wishes of the firm that owned Clipper's former management ...
And the Winners Are...(interest rates forecasts)
Sep 01, 2006 ... Nearly four years after the catastrophic 2000-02 downturn came to a merciful end, investors can't help but wonder--with good reason--whether the bear is back for an encore. Fears of rising inflation and still-higher interest rates following 17 successive rate hikes by the Federal Reserve ...
Should We Buy a House with No Money Down?(Mollie and Jonathan Gee home investments)(Brief article)
Sep 01, 2006; ... Byline: KIMBERLY LANKFORD Married last fall, Mollie and Jonathan Gee hope to stay in Birmingham, Ala., after Jon finishes his residency in medicine and pediatrics next July. And they'd like to buy a house as soon as possible. But they're in a quandary: Should they wait to save ...
How Much Do I Need to Save for Retirement?(retirement benefits)(Brief article)
Sep 01, 2006 ... Assuming you withdraw 4%--or one twenty-fifth--of your retirement nest egg to supplement Social Security or other retirement income, multiply the first year's withdrawal by 25 to determine your ...
Pay Off Debt or Save?(401(k) plans)(Brief article)
Sep 01, 2006 ... It makes sense mathematically to put your cash where you'll get the best return. Contribute money to your 401(k) to get the employer match, which guarantees you a 50% or 100% return. Next, pay off ...
Where Should I Put Short-Term Savings?(banking industry)(Brief article)
Sep 01, 2006 ... Go with an online savings account that offers a high yield and easy access to your money. EmigrantDirect, ING Direct and HSBC Direct are paying between 4.35% and 5.05%. A one-year CD is fine if you won't need your money ...
Is the New Roth 401(k) for Me?(Brief article)
Sep 01, 2006; ... Byline: MARY BETH FRANKLIN A Roth 401(k) offers all the tax-free advantages of a Roth IRA but with the higher contribution limits of a 401(k)--$15,000 for most workers and $20,000 for those 50 and older this year. And there are no income limits. So if you are shut out of funding ...
Can I Afford Financial Advice?
Sep 01, 2006; ... Byline: ANNE KATES SMITH You don't have to be rich to get your questions answered. For a couple hundred dollars, you can find out whether you have the right investment mix or if you're saving enough for retirement. For $1,000 to $2,000, you can get more comprehensive advice. ...
What Can a Middle-class Family Do to Get Ahead?
Sep 01, 2006; ... Byline: MARY BETH FRANKLIN Jon and Beverly Auvil of Huntington, W.Va., have three daughters, two jobs and a combined income just shy of $100,000. They're trying to save for their daughters' college expenses and their own retirement while juggling a mortgage, two car loans and ...
Should I Pay Down My Mortgage?(Your Money)(Brief article)
Sep 01, 2006; ... Byline: KIMBERLY LANKFORD These days, there's rarely a reason to rush to pay off your mortgage early. Paying down a loan with a 5.75% rate is the equivalent of earning 5.75% on your money, and you should be able to get a better return elsewhere. Money that you invest ...
I Own Too Much Company Stock.(Your Money)(Brief article)
Sep 01, 2006; ... Byline: MARY BETH FRANKLIN To avoid unnecessary risk, you should limit your company-stock holdings to about 10% of your total investments. That can be tough if your employer makes its matching contributions to your retirement plan in company stock. You certainly want ...
I Got a New Job. What Should I Do With My 401(k)?(Your Money)(Brief article)
Sep 01, 2006 ... Byline: MARY BETH FRANKLIN What you should not do is cash out your balance, as nearly half of all workers do when they switch jobs, according to a survey by Hewitt Associates. If you are 30 years old and have a 401(k) balance of $20,000 earning a conservative 6% annually, your ...
Which Debt Should I Pay Off First?(Your Money)(Brief article)
Sep 01, 2006 ... Tackle your plastic, because credit cards are likely to carry the highest interest rate. Consolidate student loans at the lowest possible rate, then compare them with your car loan and focus on the ...
How Can I Remember My Passwords?(Your Money)(Brief article)
Sep 01, 2006 ... Store your log-in information free at Agatra.com or PasswordSafe.com. For sensitive log-ins that you would prefer to store on your own computer, there's password-manager software. Handy Password and ...
Will My Savings Run Out In Retirement?(Your Money)(Brief article)
Sep 01, 2006 ... If you withdraw 4% of your personal savings during your first year in retirement and adjust subsequent withdrawals to compensate for inflation, you're virtually assured of never outliving your money ...
What's the Best Retirement Plan If I'm Self-Employed?(Brief article)
Sep 01, 2006; ... Byline: ERIN BURT If you have no employees other than a spouse, you can take advantage of a powerful retirement plan known variously as an individual 401(k), a solo 401(k) or an independent 401(k). The beauty of a solo 401(k) is that you don't have to earn as much as you do with ...
Are ETFS Really for Me?(Exchange-traded funds)(Brief article)
Sep 01, 2006; ... Byline: THOMAS M. ANDERSON They slice! They dice! They're cheaper than index funds! ETFs, which are mutual funds that trade like stocks, are the hottest tickets in the mutual fund business. But they're not for everyone. Before you invest, ask yourself several ...
Should I Take a 0% Credit Card offer?(Brief article)
Sep 01, 2006; ... Byline: THOMAS M. ANDERSON The short answer is easy. Go for a credit card with a 0% teaser rate if you can pay off the balance before the rate expires--typically in six to 12 months. If you'll need longer to pay off your debt, look for a card with a low fixed rate. ...
I'm Living Paycheck to Paycheck. Can I Invest?(Brief article)
Sep 01, 2006; ... Byline: THOMAS M. ANDERSON Giving up one latte a day will give you plenty of money to get started. You can put it in a high-yield savings account until you have enough to invest in a mutual fund with a minimum deposit of $1,000 or more. Or, if you don't want to wait, ...
Help! I'm Squeezed Between Kids, Parents and My Own Retirement.(401K plans)
Sep 01, 2006; ... Byline: ANNE KATES SMITH Your number-one priority is . . . you. Don't even think about funding college for your kids at the expense of your own retirement. An analysis by T. Rowe Price shows that diverting half of your potential retirement savings to college savings for 18 years ...
Should We Stick With Our ARM?(Your Money)(Brief article)
Sep 01, 2006 ... Byline: KIMBERLY LANKFORD Homeowners whose one-year adjustable-rate mortgages are about to rise may still be better off keeping the loan rather than switching to a fixed rate. It all depends on how long you expect to live in the house. For example, if you'll be moving ...
What If My Identity Is Stolen?(Federal Trade Commission services)(Brief article)
Sep 01, 2006 ... If your personal information has been compromised because of a security breach, check your credit cards for suspicious charges. If your name and Social Security number are stolen, contact the three credit bureaus and put a fraud alert on ...
Do I Need a College Savings Account For Each Child?(Your Money)(Brief article)
Sep 01, 2006 ... You don't need a separate 529 account for each child, but it makes more sense than having a single account for multiple children. You can match your ...
How Can I Get a Better Credit Score?(Brief article)
Sep 01, 2006 ... The best way to boost your score is to pay your bills on time. Keep old accounts open to give yourself a longer credit history. Limit your balances to 25% of your available credit. Fix any errors ...
How Can We Help Our Grandkids Pay for College?(Your Money)(529 college-savings plan)(Brief article)
Sep 01, 2006; ... Byline: KIMBERLY LANKFORD Go with a 529 college-savings plan. "It's one of the most tax-favored, senior-friendly vehicles I know," says Bob Baldwin, a CPA and financial adviser in Charleston, S.C. "You can give assets away and still keep them. You can shelter them and not pay ...
I Have a 401(k). Do I Need a ROTH IRA?(Your Money)(individual retirement accounts)(Brief article)
Sep 01, 2006; ... Byline: MARY BETH FRANKLIN Contribute enough to your 401(k) to capture your employer's matching contribution, then switch to a Roth IRA. The annual contribution limits for a Roth are relatively low--$4,000 in 2006, or $5,000 for workers 50 and older--and not everyone is ...
You Call This Work?(elder person return to work for money)
Sep 01, 2006; ... Byline: Jane Bennett Clark Ahhh, the daydream. One minute you're doodling in a staff meeting, and the next you're ducking out to tend bar in a London pub, pilot a hot-air balloon in Switzerland or guide a rafting expedition down the Colorado River. Unlike most ...
Who Pays for College?(Column)
Sep 01, 2006; ... Byline: Janet Bodnar I was recently asked to discuss on radio whether parents should ask their children to help pay for college. One financial-aid director has labeled this a "new phenomenon," and in some quarters it's considered to be controversial. To me, it just makes good ...
Growing Old With Grace.
Sep 01, 2006; ... Byline: Jane Bennett Clark The latest innovation in senior living--for your parents or yourself in the decades to come--is to stay in your own home. And it's getting easier, and more affordable, to grow old gracefully, thanks to exciting alternatives to traditional institutions ...
Get a Fee Free IRA.(individual retirement accounts, medicare insurance policy, homeowners' insurance)
Sep 01, 2006; ... Byline: Kimberly Lankford My wife, Susan, has an individual retirement account with Prudential Financial. The IRA has a balance of $7,100, invested in a money-market account. We are being charged a $100 service fee by the company. I have been on long-term disability, and my wife ...
Credit Cards.(prices and rates)(Brief article)
Sep 01, 2006; ... Byline: JOAN GOLDWASSER Rising interest rates mean higher rates for cardholders. More than two-thirds of us carry variable-rate cards that are usually tied to the prime rate, now 8.25%. To stop the upward spiral, consider switching to a fixed-rate card. Pulaski Bank ...
Checking With Interest.(trends)(Brief article)
Sep 01, 2006; ... Byline: JESSICA ANDERSON Checking accounts are like mattresses--you can stash your cash there, but they won't help your dough grow. Sure, banks offer interest-bearing checking accounts. But they generally require high minimum balances and pay pitifully low rates. Now ...
Lots of Laptop for a Little Money.(Rewards)
Sep 01, 2006; ... Byline: Jeff Bertolucci What can today's $1,000 laptops do? For starters, they're entertainment hubs that give you easy access to the fun stuff. Rather than fumble through menus and icons to do something as simple as play a DVD, adjust the volume or skip a CD track, you just ...
Buy a 2006 Car On Sale?
Sep 01, 2006; ... Byline: Mark K. Solheim Carmakers' incentives on 2006 cars may tempt you to skip the 2007 models just coming into showrooms. At first blush, it seems like a smart financial move. You get the same warranty and the same new-car smell. But it could be a mistake: Unless you get a ...
5 Things to Ask About Silk Ties.
Sep 01, 2006; ... Byline: JANE BENNETT CLARK 1. How do I tell if a tie is well made? First, hold it up by the narrow end; if it twists to one side, it was cut incorrectly and will forever hang askew. Then, scrunch the material. A great tie feels smooth and substantial and bounces back ...
Fare Game Plan.(airfares forecasts from websites)
Sep 01, 2006; ... Byline: SEAN O'NEILL Although Expedia, Travelocity and Orbitz shed considerable light on airline fares, they sometimes miss bargains. They also don't tell you whether you should buy your ticket now or later. Three lesser-known travel dot-coms address these issues and deserve a ...
A Year Later, Katrina Haunts a Family's Finances.
Sep 01, 2006 ... This has been a momentous week. My husband and I finally received our New Orleans city tax bill, five months late. Now we can put another piece of unfinished financial business behind us. We were fortunate to have experienced little damage to our French Quarter home when Katrina hit last ...