May 21, 2012
How Does Marital Status Affect Your Federal Taxes
Forbes
Laws have always regulated who may marry, the obligations related to marriage and children and whether and how a marriage can be ended. Governments have always put their own social agenda above the pluralism of personal choice. Never in history have governments considered marital relations strictly private.

In the U.S. tax code, hundreds of assumptions and provisions are based on the definition of marriage. And many more are found in federal entitlement programs, immigration laws and social benefits. More info...

May 21, 2012
Stocks set to rebound
CNN Money
U.S. stocks were poised to rebound Monday, after closing out one of the worst weeks of the year, as investors pinned their hopes on European leaders' abilities to manage the continent's debt crisis.
Over the weekend, the Group of Eight nations met and reaffirmed their commitment to keeping Greece in the eurozone. And two opinion polls released in Greece reportedly put the pro-bailout party ahead of the anti-austerity Syriza party.

The combination of the G8 and the poll results was enough to boost sentiment across world markets, with European and Asian stocks eking out gains and the euro holding steady around $1.28. More info...

May 21, 2012
Learning About Annuities And Annuity Quotes
Many people have heard about annuities but really do not understand what they are all about. If you are one of those people perhaps this article will be of some assistance. Annuity quotes are from an insurance company telling you what your income from the annuity would be depending on the type selected.
If you want to have some extra money, when retirement time rolls around, and you want to have the money you invest earn interest without paying taxes perhaps this may be the type of investment you would be interested in. There are lifetime and short term annuities available. More info...

May 20, 2012
Save on health care, even as your body falls apart
Money Magazine
You managed to glide through your twenties and thirties without any major health issues. Yet, as the calendar pages turn, you're finding that a host of minor -- and perhaps a few major -- medical problems keep cropping up. The doctor shakes her head when she sees your blood pressure and cholesterol numbers.
It's inevitable: As you age, aches and pains appear, and your body costs more to maintain. A regime of blood pressure medication, for example, can easily run more than $1,000 a year. More info...

May 17, 2012
Succeeding as a 'boomerpreneur'
See how 10 entrepreneurs jump-started their careers after the age of 50 by going into business for themselves.
Jim Milligan, 59
Traverse City, Mich.

Worked for: Imation & 3M Company, as a general manager

Started in 2007: Fustini's, an oil and vinegar tasting room and bottling shop that now has 32 employees.

Milligan was intrigued by the success of such businesses in Europe. So he conducted elaborate market research to see if there would be demand for a similar store in the U.S.

Startup costs: $100,000
Revenue in 2011: $2.5 million
Salary in 2011: $150,000

His advice for you: "Look at industry trends in your community. Listen and pay attention to what's going on in the market."
More info...

May 17, 2012
Educating and empowering American consumers
by Gail Hillebrand
There are certain occasions in everyone’s life when one decision can have long-lasting effects. How will you pay for college? Which mortgage should you choose? Where will you turn when you need credit? When will you start saving for retirement? How you answer these questions and others like them can profoundly impact your financial future.

Unfortunately, too many graduates are entering the workforce saddled with student loan debt, limited employment opportunities, and important financial decisions for which they are often unprepared. There is simply too wide a gap between complex financial products and the level of education that many consumers have about them.

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) is dedicated to closing that gap by making financial products more transparent and helping to educate consumers so they can make better-informed choices when pursuing their own financial goals. More info...

May 17, 2012
Will Adult Children Have to Pay Mom's Nursing Home Costs?
by Howard Gleckman
A Pennsylvania state appeals court has ruled that the adult son of a nursing home resident is responsible for her unpaid $93,000 bill. And the decision has some elder care lawyers wondering if this is just the beginning of a trend. More info...

May 17, 2012
10 tips for cheaper home insurance
Stacy Johnson Apr 17, 2012 11:19AM
Homeowners insurance is one of the most expensive things we pay for that we hope to never use.

In 2009 (the last year the information was available) the average homeowners insurance premium was $880, according to the Insurance Information Institute. But premiums go much higher in some areas. For example, in my home state of Louisiana the average premium was $1,430.

While you're forced to pay homeowners insurance, you don't have to pay top dollar.

Watch the short video below for tips from Money Talks News founder Stacy Johnson, then read on for more. More info...

May 16, 2012
Couples Often Disagree About When to Retire
by Bernard A. Krooks
A recent Wall Street Journal article discussed how couples may disagree when it is time to retire. If you and your spouse have stayed happily married into your golden years, meeting the usual hurdles of married life, there is one issue you may not have prepared for: married couples today are increasingly at odds about when is best for either or both of them to retire. More info...

May 16, 2012
Family Debate -- Buy a Car or a Year of Healthcare?
Forbes

You may not realize it, but the cost of your families’ healthcare for a single year is about the same as the cost of basic mid-size sedan. So says the 2012 Milliman Medical Index (MMI) that shows that for the first time, healthcare costs for American families exceed $20,000.

The MMI measures the total cost of healthcare for a typical family of four covered by a preferred provider plan (PPO). The 2012 MMI cost is $20,728, an increase of $1,335 or 6.9% over 2011. The rate of increase is not as high as in the past, but the total dollar increase was still a record. More info...