Category: Personal Finance and Money

Leveraged and Inverse Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs) have become a very popular tool for investors trying to super charge their gains from the volatility in market movements. Leveraged ETFs promise to provide a multiple of the returns on the underlying index they track. An inverse ETF on the other hand tries…

It's that time of the year again. Open enrollment. It's also fall, but as this is a personal finance blog, weather is not the focus. My current employer, a Fortune 500 firm, recently released their employee contribution rates (i.e health insurance premiums) for it's employees and once again rates are…

A few weeks ago I began my search for a financial planner (or financial advisor as some prefer) to review my monetary situation and see if I am on the right track for a sound retirement.  I consider myself pretty savvy when it comes to personal finance, but I think it is always good to meet…

This article is a follow-up to a previous one that I wrote about quantitative easing (QE), which generated a lot of debate and was even picked up by some main stream investing sites. Thanks to Andy for allowing to do a follow up guest post. In my earlier forecast I had thought the Fed…

The table below shows where your household stands, relative to others in the US population, based on how much income is earned per year. For example, if your household makes $50,000 a year you would be in the 25% percentile group of household income. At $150,000, you would be in the percentile that makes…

Choosing the health plan that is best for you and your loved ones is a decision that deserves some undivided attention. While most Americans are used to having traditional health insurance coverage (with up front office visit and prescription benefits), many are turning to catastrophic-only health plans to open up…

With ongoing volatility across global markets and an uncertain future in terms of taxes, regulations and government safety nets such as social security; diversification is key in managing the risk associated with your retirement savings. That's why these four risk diversification strategies across products and services make a lot of…

While America has the most number of millionaires in absolute terms, it does not have the most per capita. Reflecting the shift in global wealth distribution, most of the countries where the per-capita number of millionaires exceeds that of the US are in Asia and the Middle East. 62.5 million…

Just like any other business minded person, financial (investment) advisors and planners are in it for the money – they have to make a living, and they’re doing it on your dime.  Don’t ever doubt that they are terrific salespeople as well as financial advisors. So, taking their word as…

A lot of people say "richer" Americans are an eccentric lot. But the fact is that, your co-worker or neighbor down the road is probably more likely to better fit the "well-to-do" or upper class profile than someone like Donald Trump. Based on information from the Census and IRS data,…

Your once-proud set of wheels is now a sad, rusted-out tin can. And what's that new rattle as you head to work? Repairs are mounting and it's time to face the piper: like it or not, you need to buy a new car. Unfortunately, a new car is prohibitively costly:…

As a part time MBA student, with a single income and young family, I am particularly sensitive to rising education costs. So I was dismayed to see that my university's (already expensive) tuition costs were again rising. This is the third year in a row and my degree will end…

In discussions with my readers and from what I see online I am constantly amazed at how low a priority folks give their finances. Yes, it is unpleasant to deal with hard money issues. Taxes are a drag. Changing bank accounts for a marginally higher yield is a pain. There…