Lifestyle

Facing a recession and a down stock market, many people are stopping or cutting back their contributions to retirement plans like 401(k)s, IRAs and SEP IRAs.

Slowly but surely, President Obama's plan for radically shifting our economy from a private sector-led enterprise to a public-led state is beginning to take shape. Because the President is eloquent and confident, the exact message he is delivering often seems obscured by his skill in delivering it.

As insurance payments for medical care dwindle, the concept of �concierge� or �boutique� medical practice is gaining ground.

The economy is in freefall. Since the credit crisis, people with poor credit scores, and even those with better credit, are seeing their options dwindle and rejection rates soar.

As if the stock market doesn’t have enough reasons to be skittish, here comes Friday the 13th, a day that many superstitious investors avoid. In a Wall Street environment that hangs on to esoteric omens like the Super Bowl effect and the lipstick indicator, Friday the 13th often brings on a serious case of investment chills.

A review of the healthcare information technology provisions in the stimulus bill shows that many small-practice physicians will still face significant up-front costs for HIT implementation.

If you're a typical airline traveler, one of the first things you're likely to do when you arrive at your destination airport is rent a set of wheels.

Up until a few years ago, when the owner of a 401(k) account died, only his/her spouse was allowed to transfer the assets into an IRA.

Now that investment markets have fallen dramatically and remain down, you probably feel like yanking your remaining money out of the market, stashing it under your mattress, and hiding under the covers.

The stimulus signed by President Obama calls for more than $140 billion in healthcare spending, including more funds for research, money to maintain Medicaid benefits that might be cut as state budgets shrink, and incentives to encourage doctors, hospitals, and health insurers to adopt electronic medical records and e-prescribing.

Investors who have watched their retirement funds melt like a snowman in the hot sun may be wary of putting money into their retirement accounts, but many financial experts are touting this strategy as a wise move.

A special federal court set up to hear vaccine cases recently ruled that there was no evidence that vaccines are connected to the development of autism in children.

It’s been said that buying securities equals insecurity. On the other hand, avoiding securities will lead to security. At no time could these statements encompass more wisdom.

If you have a will, you’re ahead in the estate planning game. But it’s a common misconception that all your assets will be distributed according to the terms of your will when you die.

An ambitious Medicare cost-cutting program aimed at keeping elderly patients out of the hospital hasn�t done a very good job, according to a study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association.

Volvo will release a completely new model to the U.S. in March. It’ss the 2010 XC60. This new Volvo is the most thoughtful motor vehicle ever built. A humanistic car like no other. This new 5-door, all wheel drive Volvo will change your behavior, but only if you want it to.

Fresh from a successful $350 million settlement with UnitedHealth over out-of-network reimbursements to doctors and patients, the AMA has joined with several state medical societies in filing a similar suit against health insurers Aetna and Cigna.

Self-service kiosks have become routine in most airline terminals. Simply insert your driver�s license or another form of ID, and everything from seat selection to the printing of a boarding pass can be handled quickly and efficiently on the touch screen.

When news of Bernard Madoff�s alleged $50 billion Ponzi scheme hit Wall Street, the immediate reaction was to calculate its effect on the stock market and the personal finances of those who had invested money with the Florida-based financier.

Getting an estimate before deciding on a major purchase, like putting a new roof on your house or getting your car repaired, is part of the American way of life.

When confronting what often appears to be an irrational market, an investor who is trying to remain calm and clearheaded can become frustrated or confused by new methods of stock selection, market timing and predicting market movement. Now is the time to return to basics.

A decade ago, when dot.com stocks were setting Wall Street afire, stock analysts were fanning the flames with �buy� ratings on any stock that had some connection with the Internet.

As the general market trudges through uncertain times, investors are rotating to assets beyond traditional stocks and bonds for their retirement accounts. Growing investor sophistication has led many "self-directed" IRA (SDIRA) holders to real estate, private stocks, hedge funds, and other investments within their retirement accounts.

If you’ve ever tried to figure out how much money you’ll need to retire comfortably, you’ve probably heard that 70% to 80% of your current income will do the job.

Herd behavior in investing is usually not very profitable. Investors who employ a herd mentality investment strategy must constantly buy and sell assets in pursuit of the newest and hottest investment trends.

When an insurance agent touts a life insurance policy with a big seven-figure death benefit, you may have reason to be wary.

One client, we’ll call her Jane, lost 40% of her portfolio in the recent downturn. She is a mess. Her sleeplessness and anxiety make her feel wretched. And that’s only the beginning. Her mood extends to others who, when they experience her negativity, don’t feel so good either.

One retirement investment vehicle that has gained popularity in recent years is target-date funds. When setting up these long-term funds, investors designate their retirement dates, which become the target dates for liquidation so they can use the proceeds to pay for expenses during retirement.