CAUTIOUS SPENDING, BUT IMPRESSIVE GROWTH Personal income and personal spending both rose 0.2% in October, according to the Commerce Department. Not too impressive? Maybe, but the federal government’s second estimate of Q3 GDP was. Pair the newly revised 3.9% reading with the final 4.6% mark for Q2, and you get the best 6 months for…

No married couple should suffer from financial infidelity. If you hide debt, income or assets from your spouse, it can lead to a fight and possibly even an impasse in your relationship. Communication & transparency are essential when it comes to money. That truth should be recognized by every couple tying the knot, or even…

How Athletes Go Bankrupt I just read about professional hockey player Jack Johnson’s financial troubles. We’ve heard this story many times before with other athletes and celebrities, but I still get sick to my stomach every time I see this because it is entirely preventable. There is no reason an athlete who works for nine…

RETAIL SALES REBOUND FROM SEPTEMBER SLUMP The 0.3% October gain announced by the Commerce Department exactly offset the September decline. Below the headline number, core retail sales (minus auto buying) also rose 0.3% last month. Sales increased in 11 of 13 categories; online retailers saw a 1.9% boost to lead the pack. Annually, overall retail…

Women are taking action to approach retirement with greater confidence. Some recent, intriguing survey data indicates that women are planning their financial futures with some degree of pragmatism, but also with considerable motivation. One of the key motivations, it seems, is receiving financial advice. Results from a new TIAA-CREF survey (and other studies) bear this…

Now or later? When it comes to the question of Social Security income, the choice looms large. Should you apply now to get earlier payments? Or wait for a few years to get larger checks?  Consider what you know (and don’t know). You know how much retirement money you have; you may have a clear…

Are 90% of articles written about retirement pessimistic? Sometimes it seems that way. Repeatedly, we are reminded that most baby boomers haven’t saved enough for the future. There’s no denying this, but the media is giving short shrift to other, more positive developments that may be improving the economic and retirement outlook for many Americans.…

Why do people open up Health Savings Accounts in conjunction with high-deductible insurance plans? Well, here are some of the compelling reasons why younger, healthier employees decide to have HSAs. #1: Tax-deductible contributions. These accounts are funded with pre-tax income. Your annual contribution limit to an HSA depends on your age and the type of…

UNEMPLOYMENT DOWN TO 5.8% America’s jobless rate dipped 0.1% in October as companies hired 214,000 new workers. Analysts polled by the Wall Street Journal had expected no improvement. In another nice development, the U-6 rate measuring underemployment plus unemployment fell 0.3% last month to 11.5%, 2.2% lower than a year before. Additionally, the Labor Department…

The IRS announced retirement plan contribution limits for 2015. A little inflation means a little adjustment. As the Consumer Price Index is up 1.7% over the last 12 months, the federal government is giving Social Security benefits a 1.7% boost for 2015 and lifting annual contribution limits on key pension plans as well. 401(k), 403(b),…