Recently I was discussing with some friends the need to track things. I track my exercise, the food I eat (trying to lose some weight), movies watched and books read. This is in addition to financial tracking. Needless to say, they think that I am a bit over the top. But if you are a …
Tag Archives: personal finance
Looking for Scholarships?
The college planning process can seem overwhelming and outside of SAT preparation, college applications and campus visits, the financial piece is another layer that can cause stress for busy families. Below are some tips to keep in mind:
Set up a family calendar – many scholarship and other financial aid opportunities are based on a timely …
Welcome to the Tax Season
First the good news, this year the IRS has announced an extension to the tax filing deadline of April 15th for individuals who itemize deductions on Form 1040 Schedule A and other qualified tax payers. To see if the extension of April 18th to file applies to your situation, check the IRS website at www.IRS.gov, …
Take 10 – Tasks to Organize Your Finances
With daily demands pulling each of us in a different direction, streamlining our finances oftentimes get the least amount of attention. Allocating small increments of time on a consistent basis to this task helps make organizing less overwhelming. There is a popular approach to breaking down larger tasks into more manageable pieces: The Swiss Cheese …
The Psychology of Budgeting
One of your resolutions this year may be to create a budget to help you organize and manage your finances. How many of us have committed to finally (!) organizing all of our financial records and sticking to a budget?
Required Minimum Distributions are Back Again in 2010
A survey was conducted by Fidelity Investments in 2010 which found that almost one in five people 70 or older who own an IRA weren’t aware that Required Minimum Distributions are required once again in 2010 after being suspended in 2009 for account owners and beneficiaries.
Three Tips to Help Lower Prescription Costs
A new study by Harvard, Brigham and Women’s Hospital and CVS Caremark researchers has found a direct correlation between the amount of a patient’s out-of-pocket co-pay and the likely abandonment of the prescription, with patients having a co-pay of $50 almost four times more likely to abandon a prescription at a pharmacy than those paying …
401k Loans: A Quick Overview
According to the Investment Company Institute as of the end of June 2010, approximately 17.5% of defined benefit plan participants are carrying an outstanding loan balance.1 As unemployment continues to be an issue in most communities, what should you as a 401k participant think about before taking a loan?
Generally speaking there are two ways in …
Year-End Maintenance: Beneficiary Reviews
There are many competing items to manage in your overall financial picture but one that is critical to not overlook is an annual beneficiary review. A quick example of why this is so important: when Heath Ledger (The Dark Knight) passed away he had not updated his beneficiaries. This resulted in his estate being left …
It’s Year-End: Review Your FSA and Prepare for Upcoming Changes in 2011
If you have a health care flexible spending account, also known as a FSA, this time of year is ideal for reevaluating your contributions. In addition, the new health care reform law will bring major changes to these plans that may affect your choices.
An FSA is a benefit that is usually offered by your employer …
