Personal Finance
real estate
Money for unemployed homeowners
Nonprofit insurers hoard cash
Some insurers are holding billions of dollars in cash, far more than regulators require for solvency, yet they still hit consumers with double-digit premium hikes. Kristen Gerencher talks with Sondra Roberto, Consumers Union attorney.
• Vital Signs: Insurers respond to cash claims
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Money for unemployed homeowners
Nonprofit insurers hoard cash
Some insurers are holding billions of dollars in cash, far more than regulators require for solvency, yet they still hit consumers with double-digit premium hikes. Kristen Gerencher talks with Sondra Roberto, Consumers Union attorney.
• Vital Signs: Insurers respond to cash claims
The new bank-reform law includes $1 billion to help jobless Americans
who can't afford their mortgages stay in their homes.
• Realty Q&A: Keep your home-equity credit line
• Mortgage rates hit new low
• See more Personal Finance at SmartMoney
estate planning
Money lessons brought to life
Chuck Jaffe explains what a personal tragedy taught him about planning for the inevitable.
saving & spending
New credit-card headaches
The Credit CARD Act of 2009 brought a lot of benefits for consumers. But it's also leading to some new problems.
• Realty Q&A: Keep your home-equity credit line
• Mortgage rates hit new low
• See more Personal Finance at SmartMoney
estate planning
Money lessons brought to life
Chuck Jaffe explains what a personal tragedy taught him about planning for the inevitable.
saving & spending
New credit-card headaches
The Credit CARD Act of 2009 brought a lot of benefits for consumers. But it's also leading to some new problems.
2010 Lexus GX460
This luxury SUV, while perfect for off-road driving, has all the creature comforts you'd want if you're staying close to civilization too.
• 2010 Land Rover LR-4: Comfort in an off-road titan
This luxury SUV, while perfect for off-road driving, has all the creature comforts you'd want if you're staying close to civilization too.
• 2010 Land Rover LR-4: Comfort in an off-road titan
Retirement »
Some employers are stealing from 401(k)s
At some smaller companies, workers' retirement-plan contributions are being diverted by executives, Robert Powell writes.
• Retirement investing today | MarketWatch Guide to Retirement
At some smaller companies, workers' retirement-plan contributions are being diverted by executives, Robert Powell writes.
• Retirement investing today | MarketWatch Guide to Retirement
Mortgage aid for the unemployed
The new bank-reform law includes $1 billion to help jobless homeowners keep their homes, writes Amy Hoak.
• Realty Q&A: How to keep your home-equity credit line open
The new bank-reform law includes $1 billion to help jobless homeowners keep their homes, writes Amy Hoak.
• Realty Q&A: How to keep your home-equity credit line open
Today in Personal Finance
Gold Bugs Get Swatted
Is gold's rally over? Precious-metals mutual funds lost almost 9% in July as concerns about global economic woes eased, Money & Investing Editor Jonathan Burton reports in This Week in Mutual Funds.
Gold bugs swatted as investors picnic on stocks
Is there still a case for gold? Yes, but only if you believe that governments will have to pump more stimulus into the global economy at the expense of national currencies. Read about this and more in this week's Mutual Funds and ETF stories.
7:23 p.m. Today7:23 p.m. July 29, 2010
Fixed-rate mortgage rates drop for sixth week
The interest rates charged on fixed-rate mortgages inch down to a sixth straight weekly record low, according to Freddie Mac’s latest survey of conforming mortgage rates.
10:52 a.m. Today10:52 a.m. July 29, 2010
From traffic ticket to deductible donation
Did you get a traffic ticket for taking that important cell phone while driving? Or for rolling through a stop sign because it was midnight and no one was on the road? You might be able to turn that ticket into a tax-deductible donation that not only helps a charity but also saves you money.
12:19 p.m. July 28, 2010See more video
Video »
Gold Bugs Get Swatted
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Gold Bugs Get Swatted 2:25
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More Bad News From Nvidia 4:18
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Hot Stocks: Techs Take It on the Chin 1:23
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Fiorina: "I'm proud of my record" at H-P 7:00
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MarketsHub: More Solid Energy Sector Earnings 3:24
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Hype and Hope for Small-Cap Chinese Stocks 4:28
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Investor Be Nimble 6:04
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Hot Stocks: Health-Care Shares Weaken 1:18
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Investors Expect More From Advisers 4:47
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Markets Hub: Boeing Fails To Lift Dow 3:26
This Week in Mutual Funds: Hedging Bets
Harvey Rowen of Starmont Asset Management tells Jonathan Burton about specialized mutual funds that act like hedge funds, able to invest anywhere.
BOND FUNDS
Safety in numbers
In a clear reflection of global market jitters, bonds beat stock returns during the second quarter
by the widest margin in nine years.
• Global stock markets pay heavy toll
INTERNATIONAL FUNDS
Japan's rising sum
Long in the doldrums, Japan may be bouncing back, as this much-maligned market has outperformed most regions so far this year.
• More on mutual funds and ETFs
Safety in numbers
In a clear reflection of global market jitters, bonds beat stock returns during the second quarter
by the widest margin in nine years.
• Global stock markets pay heavy toll
INTERNATIONAL FUNDS
Japan's rising sum
Long in the doldrums, Japan may be bouncing back, as this much-maligned market has outperformed most regions so far this year.
• More on mutual funds and ETFs
Personal Finance »
7 mistakes people make in hiring an adviser
How many people did you interview to choose your financial adviser? If just one, then you've made mistake No. 1, says Chuck Jaffe.
• Decoding the alphabet soup of experts' credentials
How many people did you interview to choose your financial adviser? If just one, then you've made mistake No. 1, says Chuck Jaffe.
• Decoding the alphabet soup of experts' credentials
• New overdraft rules help you
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Risk cash-register rejection
• Medicare rebate checks are heading your way
• Medicare rebate checks are heading your way
Family Finance »
Dads find juggling work, family a struggle, too
More fathers are taking steps to balance their work and family lives, but it's not always easy.
More fathers are taking steps to balance their work and family lives, but it's not always easy.
Small Business »
Lucky Strike Lanes
Striking out into new ventures
From high-end restaurants to laser tag, volleyball and bumper cars, bowling alleys are ramping up their efforts to attract new customers in tough economic times.
From high-end restaurants to laser tag, volleyball and bumper cars, bowling alleys are ramping up their efforts to attract new customers in tough economic times.
Careers »
Where the jobs are today
The job market is still challenging but there are pockets of optimism in some industries and some parts of the country.
• Here's where the technology jobs are today
• How to re-energize your job search
• Eight ways to stay healthy during a prolonged job search
• See our Special Report: How to find jobs in a weak economy
The job market is still challenging but there are pockets of optimism in some industries and some parts of the country.
• Here's where the technology jobs are today
• How to re-energize your job search
• Eight ways to stay healthy during a prolonged job search
• See our Special Report: How to find jobs in a weak economy
Diary of a Recession Baby»
A village to raise a kid? Try $222,000
This biggest cost to raising a child is housing, but child care and education also take a 20-year-plus bite out of the budget.
• One thing not to gift to your children? Your career
• How to respond when family members need money help
This biggest cost to raising a child is housing, but child care and education also take a 20-year-plus bite out of the budget.
• One thing not to gift to your children? Your career
• How to respond when family members need money help
Spending & Saving »
Fed caps credit-card fees
Good news for consumers as bank overseer sets limits on fees, penalties and inactivity charges that card issuers can demand.
• New bank overdraft rules could save you money
Good news for consumers as bank overseer sets limits on fees, penalties and inactivity charges that card issuers can demand.
• New bank overdraft rules could save you money
Taxes »
Tips to ensure you didn't miss any tax breaks
OK, you’re done. Is it over? No. You still have three more tax tasks.
• How to avoid giving Uncle Sam a free loan
• What to do if you can't pay your taxes | Getting an extension
• Breaks that save you the most money | Tax-day freebies
• 10 smart ways to spend your refund | Don't miss these credits
• Your house can bring big tax breaks | 2010 Tax Guide
OK, you’re done. Is it over? No. You still have three more tax tasks.
• How to avoid giving Uncle Sam a free loan
• What to do if you can't pay your taxes | Getting an extension
• Breaks that save you the most money | Tax-day freebies
• 10 smart ways to spend your refund | Don't miss these credits
• Your house can bring big tax breaks | 2010 Tax Guide
