Topic: Personal Finance

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After graduation: Five real-world steps to success

With graduation day around the corner, Modern Parenthood caught up with Cindy Brown, author of the book “The Girls Guide to Swagger,” to ask her what her top tips would be for new graduates going off into the “real world.”
Briefing
Facebook IPO: five things to know before buying the stock

About 1 out of every 8 people on the planet have a Facebook account. Now, with the arrival of a public stock offering, all those people have a chance to be part owners of this social hub. Should you buy? Here are five things to consider.
Top 10 states for working moms

Mother's Day companies? That's what you could call workplaces that help moms meet their family commitments. Those companies can be located anywhere. But some states do better than others in mandating a level of standards beyond the federal minimum in the form of paid family leave, job protection, and “right to nurse” laws. In honor of Mother’s Day, here are the Top 10 states that best support new working mothers, according to the National Partnership for Women and Families. Can you guess which state gets the highest marks?
Seven retirement questions you need to answer

Retirement planning isn't easy. Nearly half of Americans don't feel financially prepared to live to age 75, according to a survey from Northwestern Mutual. But the process is a lot less burdensome if you break the task down into simpler parts. Here are seven questions to ask as you plan for your long-term financial security in retirement.
Battle for women's votes: 6 flash points

The uproar over the Obama campaign’s 'Life of Julia' Web infographic – which made #Julia big on Twitter – highlights just how fiercely both parties are fighting for the women’s vote. The economy is by far the most important issue in November for both sexes. But there are other areas with special significance to women. Here are the main flash points.

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The Reformed Broker
Could gold really be on the ropes?

When looking at gold you can be an expert in the fairy tale aspect or accept the fact that it is the ultimate Greater Fool trade, for better or for worse. With levels reading 1500 an ounce, at least one analyst thinks the hallowed metal may be flirting with breaking under.
As fears about Europe's future worsen, the Dow closes down

Fearing a financial rupture in Europe, investors around the world fled from risk Wednesday. They punished stocks and the euro, and the yield on a benchmark US bond hit its lowest point since World War II. The Dow closed down 161 points to land at 12419.
US Treasury bond yields hit record low as eurozone worries mount

A decline in global stock prices Wednesday shows that many investors are taking sanctuary in US Treasury bonds, anticipating major convulsions in the eurozone – and perhaps its breakup.
Paper Economy
Mortgage rates tumble to record lows. Again.

The average rate for a 30-year fixed rate mortgage declined 2 basis points to 3.81 percent  since last week, the lowest value on on record for this MBA series, while the purchase application volume declined 0.6 percent, and the refinance application declined 1.5 percent over the same period.
Robert Reich
How to avoid austerity but still fix the deficit

As Europe has shown us, austerity is bad for weak economies facing large budget deficits. But it can be avoided by getting growth and jobs back first, and only then tackling budget deficits.
Despite oil prices, falling euro, Dow closes up slightly

Oil prices fell, the euro sank to a 22-month low, and the yield on the U.S. government's 10-year Treasury note fell near a historic low. But the Dow Jones industrial average edged up 125 points to close at 12580 as investors continue to hope for a Chinese growth spurt.
The Simple Dollar
Graduation gifts: Consider the investment route

Graduation gifts like savings bonds and mutual funds can be good alternatives to cash. Graduation gifts are question one in this week's mailbag.
Retirement: 3 ways to enrich it without adding money

Retirement planning is about more than saving money. It's about what you're going to do. Here are three ways to stay active in retirement.
Stock market opens higher on hope for China

Stock market opened higher Tuesday amid optimism that China will take action to reverse the recent slowdown in its economic growth. Rising home prices also gave the stock market a boost.
The Reformed Broker
SEC won't take action against Lehman Brothers

The SEC will likely not seek action against the Lehman for the events that led up to the firm's massive bankruptcy in 2008.
Saving Money
10 money mistakes everybody makes

How many of these common money mistakes have you made?
The Reformed Broker
Welcome to Twitter, Goldman Sachs!

Goldman Sachs sent its very first tweet Thursday. Six Twitter tips for the company.
The Daily Reckoning
Facebook IPO: The end of an era

The failure of Facebook's public debut may signal the end of the pie-in-the-sky tech start up, as well as the possibility that the post-crisis recovery rally is screeching to a halt.
What Congress has planned after Memorial Day

Congress will be racing to complete a number of priorities between Memorial Day and the August recess, all under the shadow of massive fiscal issues looming at year's end.
Change Agent
First Graduate helps students aim for higher education

The nonprofit First Graduate program helps students become the first in their family to attend college.
Decoder Wire
Psst, students. Still hope for low-rate student loans, despite Senate balking

Without a fix, interest on some subsidized federal student loans would double to 6.8 percent starting July 1. But Thursday's Senate votes are still just theater. Expect parties to haggle over the cash until June 29.
HP jump boosts Dow; stocks mixed

Hewlett-Packard helped pull the Dow Jones industrial average to a slight gain Thursday, giving the index only its fourth gain this month. The Dow closed up 33 points at 12529.
After graduation: Five real-world steps to success

With graduation day around the corner, Modern Parenthood caught up with Cindy Brown, author of the book “The Girls Guide to Swagger,” to ask her what her top tips would be for new graduates going off into the “real world.”
The Reformed Broker
Uniform perfomance standards for financial advisers?

Because of the many different types of account management, evaluating a financial adviser's effectiveness can be difficult. New technologies can help.
Mitt Romney unveils education reform plan heavy on 'parental choice' (+video)

Mitt Romney's plan for education reform challenges President Obama and teacher's unions, including federal money for some low-income and disabled students to attend private schools.
Stocks rally to erase steep losses

Stocks closed mixed Wednesday after a late rally erased steep losses. The Dow lost seven points to close at 12496
Paper Economy
Mortgage rates slide to record lows

Mortgage rates continue to drop well below 4 percent. The average rate for a 30 year fixed rate mortgage declined 2 basis points to 3.83 percent since last week, the lowest value on on record for this MBA series. The purchase application volume declined 3.0 percent and the refinance application increased 5.6 percent over the same period.
The Simple Dollar
Buying a discounted floor model: dos and don'ts

You can buy display models of products like digital cameras and DVDs for a deep discount, but beware the risks.
Stocks mixed after Greek worries resurface

After gaining for most of the day, the Dow only finished up 2 points at 12503 Tuesday, as news out of Greece yanked indexes lower shortly before the closing bell.
The Simple Dollar
Student loans: Pay them off, or invest elsewhere?

Student loans at currently low interest rates should be paid off as quickly as possible, because there aren't many better investments out there. Student loans are question one in this week's mailbag.