In 2011, you can contribute $5,000 to an IRA, or, if you are over 50, you can contribute $6,000.  Considering contributing to an IRA means that you are thinking of the future, and it opens …

A common retirement problem with folks in there late 30’s or early 40’s, is when they realize that what they thought of as a retirement account is now viewed as a college savings for their …

With the use of the internet, consumers can now set up their own brokerage accounts to buy and sell stocks without the assistance of a broker.  However, with the current market volatility being what it …

A bad credit score can severely limit financial options in life, making it more difficult to obtain credit from lenders for anything from a mortgage to a new fridge. But what is considered bad credit …

Oh no, the unexpected! Bambi has just jumped out in front of you and your next best friend, your car. Unfortunately, the deer are colliding with cars more often than each other. I am all …

Knowing how to find your bank routing number is a topic that may come up many times. When doing any electronic payments this is needed information.  But it is not listed in the digits for …

Like always, the exact FICO formula is proprietary information and thus, not available to the public. However, the Fair Isaac Corporation (the creators of the FICO credit scoring formula) has released information as to how …

A famous work of finance literature is a book entitled “Popular Delusions and the Madness of Crowds”. The most famous story from that book involves tulip bulbs, which were at one time traded as a …

Are you a parent that is looking to give your child some money for the future? Maybe you are a relative that wants to save money for a child that was just born, or is …

HOW TO SAVE MONEY FOR A DOWN PAYMENT With the current real estate market as it is currently, with all the foreclosures and banked owned properties available, everyone is looking to take advantage of this …

Employee Stock Options (ESOs) are usually offered to people in the top management as part of their executive compensation package.  It may also be offered to other valuable employees.  An employee stock option is a …

A credit card is a very powerful financial tool. If it is used correctly, a credit card can help you obtain much financial success by way of a good credit score and a good credit …

In May of 2009, the United States Congress passed a bill regarding the Truth Lender Act, which is an act that governs control only over consumer credit. Stated with all of the information on the …

“Worry about my stocks is keeping me awake nights. What should I do?” (Small investor) “Sell down to the sleeping point.” (J.P. Morgan.) Morgan’s comment above expresses a central truth of investing. Most investments are …

If you own a vehicle in the state of Wisconsin, auto insurance is a must! To satisfy the state’s Financial Responsibility Act, anyone wishing to register a vehicle in the state must first carry minimum …

An investment is a big financial step that an individual can decided to take consider, this investment portfolio should be looked at critically and planned well for a successful investment. When making the decision to …

There are a number of different places where loans are available but some are better than other. The 401k offers you a way of borrowing against your retirement funds in the form of a loan while …

Everyone is well aware of the downturn in the economy for the last few years  and some homeowners are more aware than others. In 2010, foreclosures have become more prevalent than at any time in …

401K People-Beware. Most working Americans have a 401K. This idea has been promoted for years as a great second income for retirement. The stock market has flourished and is flush with millions of dollars of …

Many factors affect investment decisions, and exponential discounting is one of the most important. It is a method that allows one to value a company, project or other asset. You will use the expected cash …

As the years have gone by counterfeiting currency has become harder and harder. This is because technology has improved, and most of the world’s bank notes have security features which are very hard to reproduce …

Money is power. A lot of money is a lot of power. A company that is cash rich and asset rich, especially in the current recession, is powerful. It is able to continue its operations …

An unfortunate result of the current recession is that many people fall behind on their payments and need assistance restoring some sense of order to the chaos in their bank accounts. The debt relief industry …

Learning to drive is a rite of passage that most youngsters will go through and the thrill of passing the test and having a license will typically mean that most young people will want their …

How does your credit score effect whether or not you get a loan? There are many ways that a credit score will effect your ability to get a loan, and it isn’t your score per …

A credit score is what financial institutions rely upon in order to process your requests for things such as credit cards, car loans, mortgages, or personal loans. Your score consists of several factors that impact …

Many people dream of having their own vacation home as a place to cherish in a favourite place, and with careful research before hand a vacation home is an excellent investment to make. It can …

With identity theft on the rise, it is important to know what to do in the unfortunate event that your credit card comes up missing.It is also important to take some safeguards to prevent it …

Teaching your kids the value of money, saving, and spending wisely are very important. It will give them a foundation that most kids and even adults don’t have. There is no better time to start …

The (irrational) exuberance of the dot-com era was fun – and painful. I began trading options in 1997.  At the time, the stock market was ebullient with the dot.coms, and it seemed that money was …