Reverse Mortgage
What is a reverse mortgage? It's a loan on your house that lets you tap your home's equity. Like a cash advance, a bank fronts you the money—either as a lump sum, a line of credit or monthly draws—and...
View ArticleStocks & Bonds
The investment grades include bonds ordinarily bought by individuals and institutional investors seeking stable income and safety. BBB/Baa is the lowest rating that qualifies for commercial bank...
View Article2011 Hyundai Sonata
Midsize family sedans are like running shoes -- you can log serious miles without sacrificing comfort and reliability, but no one would call them sexy. All the more surprising that the sixth-generation...
View ArticleLong-Term Care Insurance
I usually recommend that people consider buying a long-term-care policy that provides three years of coverage. You may want a longer benefit period if you have a family history of long-lasting...
View ArticleVolvo XC70
Volvo makes a nice station wagon. But station wagons are, well, dull. They're utilitarian. They're unfashionable. Crossover SUVs are where it's at. But even after Volvo introduced its XC90 SUV, it...
View ArticleHome Inspection
This list of red flags, recommended by Kathleen Kuhn, president of HouseMaster, a nationally franchised home-inspection company, and Bill Richardson, president of the American Society of Home...
View ArticleMazda CX-9
On the open road, the CX-9 drives much better than most SUVs and minivans -- nice ride, well-controlled body motions for its size, although steering is a little touchy. The proportions seem to shrink...
View ArticleResume Services
It may be time to give your résumé a major makeover -- even if you aren't looking for a job. It's important to be prepared if you're suddenly laid off, a headhunter contacts you or you see an ad for...
View ArticleLoans & Financing Services
You got through college with straight A's, but now you face your first big test as a young adult: squaring a starting salary with the payments on your student loans. That's a pressing issue for June...
View ArticleMunicipal Bonds
Municipal bond is a catchall name that describes the debt issues of cities and towns, states and territories, counties, local public-housing authorities, water districts, school districts, and similar...
View ArticleLandscaping
Walk across the street from your house, turn around, take a good look at your yard and ask yourself if you're impressed by what you see -- or just plain depressed. Get some tips on how to improve the...
View ArticleIrrigation Systems
If your lawn has a patch that's perpetually wet, or if you're watering the side of your house, your driveway or the street, you know you're wasting water. But if you're depending on an automatic...
View ArticleTax Firms
You can buy an annuity with funds in your IRA, and if you use pretax money from an IRA or a 401(k) to purchase the annuity, then all payouts will be fully taxed. If you use after-tax dollars to buy the...
View ArticleIndividual Retirement Account (IRA)
Once you reach the magic age of 59½, you may withdraw money from your IRA for any reason penalty-free. Your withdrawals from a traditional IRA will be taxed (unlike withdrawals from a tax-free Roth),...
View ArticleRoth IRA for Children
To help your grandkids build a nest egg with a Roth IRA, they need earned income, whether it's money from raking leaves or a stint as a lifeguard. For more information on helping your grandchildren put...
View ArticleFinancial Security Consultants
When you're first starting out, you probably have a smattering of financial pieces: A bit of savings here, a little investment there. When it comes to making those pieces work together, it's easy to...
View ArticleDebt Counseling Services
To charge or not to charge? That's a question I hear a lot. Is it okay to go into debt for a wedding ring? Grad school? A car? Travel? Furniture?
View ArticleIdentity Theft Prevention
Shopping online is a great way to find deals. But, if you're not careful, you could be putting your personal information at risk of being stolen by identity thieves.
View ArticleCollege Savings Plan
If you want the best tax benefits, start contributing to a 529 college-savings plan now, where the money can be used tax-free for college. You may even get a state income-tax deduction for your...
View ArticleInsurance Adjusters
When you buy a term policy, be sure you understand the details of your conversion rights, if any. You want to know what kind of permanent insurance you may convert to, how much it will cost and the...
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