Read Our Articles

College students have steep learning curves. In high school, they were tasked with doing well academically, participating in extracurricular activities, complying with the rules of their parents’ homes and, possibly, having a job. At college, they must decide what to study, how many credits to take, and other important decisions, while adapting to a new environment and learning to manage time, communicate with professors and administrators, network with peers, and manage finances. Borrowing for [...]

If wars were fought with words, Ireland would be ruling the world. --Irish proverb1 The wit and humor of the Irish is legendary, as is their ability to weave words into poems, prose, folk tales, and song. On this St. Patrick’s Day, we offer you an Irish blessing:2 May love and laughter light your days, and warm your heart and home. May good and faithful friends be yours, wherever you may roam. May peace [...]

It’s almost tax time. During April, many people take advantage of the opportunity to reduce taxes by funding a Traditional IRA. While that makes sense for some Americans, others may benefit by contributing to a Roth IRA that offers no immediate tax break, but has other tax advantages, such as tax-free growth potential and tax-free income during retirement. Some people may realize the greatest benefit by having both types of IRAs. Unfortunately, IRS contribution [...]

Are you looking for just the right Valentine’s Day message for someone you love? Here are a few suggestions that have a decidedly financial twist from 14 Ways an Economist Says I Love You by Liz Fosslien. The messages are accompanied by illustrations on her website:1 • The S&P was in the red, But I wasn’t blue, Because I shorted the market, And went long on you. • The marginal returns of spending time with you [...]

The world’s first central bank offered unprecedented convenience. It gave 17th century Swedes the option to pay with paper notes rather than 40-pound copper plates, which were the currency units of the Swedish empire at the time. Historically, it may have been one of the few actions taken by a central bank that has been relatively uncontroversial.1 It seems as though central banking in the United States always has been hotly debated. Early in [...]

Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. was a complex man who took an unconventional approach to a difficult problem. He used non-violent protests to focus attention on civil rights in the United States. While he fought the status quo, he encouraged other Americans, who believed in civil rights for all people, to have the courage of their convictions. The StrongTowns.org blog pointed out:1 “Dr. King was unusual because he was not a single-issue zealot. He [...]

Understanding 2016’s Higher Medicare Part B Premiums One-in-seven Medicare enrollees will pay higher Medicare Part B monthly premiums during 2016. Their premiums will be $121.80 each month, an increase of 16 percent. While that’s not good news, it’s better than it could have been.1 Part B is one component of Medicare’s Supplemental Medical Insurance (SMI). It helps pay the cost of physicians, outpatient hospital care, home healthcare, and other services needed by those who [...]

From early Babylonians to present-day Americans, people have been celebrating the beginning of every new year for almost four thousand years!1 Here are a few ways people celebrate the holiday in the United States:2 61 percent of American adults say a prayer on New Year's Eve 44 percent plan to kiss someone at midnight 22 percent fall asleep before the New Year arrives 45 percent make resolutions to lose weight, spend less, save more, etc. [...]

December is full of high spirits and good cheer. If you browse online, you’ll find some surprising holidays amidst more well-known celebrations. Just in case you need more reasons to celebrate the season, here is a list of major holidays with a few lesser-known ones thrown in – just for fun. No matter which holidays you celebrate, we hope they will be joyous and memorable. Happy Holidays! Sources: 1 http://eatocracy.cnn.com/2011/12/02/breakfast-buffet-national-fritters-day/ 2 http://nationaldaycalendar.com/december/ 3 http://www.timeanddate.com/calendar/custom.html?year=2015&country=1&cols=3&hol=127097&df=1 [...]

Thanksgiving traditions aren’t quite as straightforward as the elementary school plays about Pilgrims and Native Americans sharing a feast would have us believe. History.com suggests that’s because Thanksgiving is, “…an invented tradition. It doesn’t originate in any one event. It is based on the New England puritan Thanksgiving, which is a religious Thanksgiving, and the traditional harvest celebrations of England and New England and maybe other ideas…”1 See what you know about Thanksgiving by [...]

Veterans are skilled leaders and problem solvers who have a lot to offer in and out of the service. Got Your 6, a campaign to empower veterans in America, offered some interesting insights about the men and women who have chosen to serve in our country’s military.[1] When veterans return to civilian life:[2] • 60 percent give to charity each year (as compared to 50 percent of civilians) • 79 percent register to vote (as compared to [...]

You may have heard of tax loss harvesting. Some people harvest losses every year, while others do so only when they have taken significant capital gains or have received more income than expected during a given year (perhaps they sold a business, received an inheritance, or collected a sizeable bonus). Tax loss harvesting occurs when an investor sells an investment at a loss, meaning the investor’s cost basis – the original purchase price adjusted [...]