How to Check Your Financial Advisor’s Background – WSJ
Troubled brokers often cluster in communities with lots of elderly investors, a Wall Street Journal investigation of these ‘hot spots’ found.But bad apples can be found anywhere, making it important for investors across the country to check out any financial adviser they are thinking of hiring. The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, the self-regulator for the […]
Five Questions to Ask Before Stealing From Your 401(k) – WSJ
Everybody knows it’s a sin to raid your 401(k). Or so people say. The truth is, sometimes it can be an option if you’re short on cash and faced with, say, big medical or tuition bills, threat of foreclosure or other pressing need. Most company plans do permit loans and hardship withdrawals from 401(k)s, though […]
Wealth: A Mistaken Prohibition? – daveramsey.com
Wealth is powerful and, therefore, dangerous. It is not for the spiritually immature. In fact, wealth is so powerful that a significant portion of the Bible’s teaching on wealth focuses on the dangers. As we look at some of the warnings and snares, we should learn to take caution—but this does not mean we are […]
5 Things You Never Should Say to a Client | Entrepreneur.com
The world of business can be tricky to navigate. Sure, you have a great product, but now you must procure and retain clients. And that can be like navigating a minefield. Each customer brings a different personality and expectations to manage. Because so many companies are vying for business, the slightest misstep can sink an enterprise. Here some basics to […]
At Age 50, ‘Senior’ Benefits Begin for IRAs and 401(k)s for Retirement – WSJ.com
Most people over 50 know about the “senior” discounts they can get on travel, restaurants and the like. But what many DON’T know is that there are also investment perks for the over-50 set. Maybe they aren’t as sexy as lower prices for movies—but they can be a lot more lucrative. Here’s a look at […]
7 Statistics That Can Raise Your Facebook Engagement (Infographic) | Entrepreneur.com
With organic reach and engagement numbers plunging on Facebook, marketers are doing everything they can to stay ahead of the game before the social platform goes to an exclusively pay-to-play model. A recent Ogilvy & Mather study found that brand posts in February reached just 6 percent of fans, compared to 12 percent in October. […]
How Not to Deduct Your Business Auto Mileage – What This Broker Did Wrong…
Jim Chapin, a California real estate broker, used his Toyota Sequoia SUV for his real estate business during 2009. He figured that he drove a total of 11,135 miles for business that year and deducted $5,309 for car and truck expenses. The IRS audited him and disallowed the entire deduction, and also added on a […]
Mistakes to Avoid When Shopping for Long-Term-Care Insurance – WSJ.com
But for people who fall between those two extremes, the decision whether to buy long-term-care insurance is a tricky one, especially since the policies are complicated and the business is in a state of flux, with carriers raising prices and exiting the business. “The industry is changing so rapidly,” says Howard Gleckman, a resident fellow […]