Time to Get In: Wealthy Like the Housing Market
April 18th 2008Nearly 80% of the wealthiest Americans think prices in the current real estate market have created a real buying opportunity and 40% are actively looking to buy into it this year. That's according to a survey of high-income Americans by American Express and Harrison Group, a market research
Credit Cards: How Fixed is "Fixed?"
April 16th 2008The credit crisis has caused some banks to cut back on credit card solicitations, but you're still likely to see offers of low, low credit card interest rates show up in your mailbox. Most of these offers claim that the interest rate is "fixed," but according to the fine print in the credit
Government Auctions: Getting Something Back
April 9th 2008Now that you've written (or will write) that tax check to the IRS, you may wonder what the government can do for you in return. If you're a bargain hunter, you might want to check out the Federal government's auctions. Various Federal agencies periodically auction off surplus
VIN Etching Prevents Car Theft
April 2nd 2008Etching your car's vehicle identification number (VIN) onto the car windows is such an effective theft deterrent that many insurance companies will offer you a discount on your auto insurance if you have it done. That's because thieves like cars with untraceable parts.
Internet Addiction-A Mental Disorder?
March 27th 2008Withdrawal, anger and depression, and social isolation are all classic symptoms of certain addictions. A March 2008 article in the American Journal of Psychiatry, however, added a fourth—a constant need for new and better computer equipment—and ascribed them to a newly
Doctors-Lawyers Work at Malpractice Reform
March 24th 2008Physicians and lawyers in Pennsylvania have joined forces in a pilot project aimed at preventing medical malpractice claims from getting to a courtroom. Members of the Montgomery County Bar Association and the county medical society have joined with
Wall Street Subprime Lawsuits AWOL
March 23rd 2008The recent collapse at Bear Stearns brought on a couple of lawsuits filed by stockholders and by members of the firm's stock ownership plan. Observers note that the suits may be the harbingers of what could be a flood of litigation against Wall Street investment
Poll: Healthcare Consumers Want Best of Both Worlds
March 17th 2008Healthcare costs are too high, say 90% of the people surveyed in a recent poll by the Mayo Clinic. But eight out of 10 also say it’s very or extremely important that patients be free to choose whatever physicians or hospital they want to go to. And more than seven out of 10 don’t think that pre-existing conditions should be a barrier to coverage.
Gift Cards: Use Them or Lose Them
March 13th 2008If you received a gift card over the recent holidays, you'd better get to using it fast. With US retailers hurting and many seeking bankruptcy protection, the value of your gift card could shrink to zero. Sharper Image, which recently filed for Chapter 11, has announced that it is suspending acceptance of gift cards at least temporarily.
Part-Time Doctors Postpone Retirement?
March 12th 2008Shrinking reimbursements and a lack of professional satisfaction are luring America's older physicians into retirement. According to a recent survey by the Association of American Medical Colleges, 30% of doctors over age 50 plan to retire in the next 10 years. By the time they reach age 65,