Ask a 40-year-old investor looking at the middling balance in her 401(k) how she feels about it and I’ll bet you she says something like this: “I should have started saving/investing earlier.” Could it be that this generation – this student loan-laden generation – of people in their first jobs has actually gotten the message?
A new piece of research from Northwestern Mutual called “Financial Realities” caught my eye this week. In the midst of headlines noting consumer spending is coming back, this study of more than 1,000 Americans age 25 or older More…
What’s the best way to save for your child’s future? How do you decide which of my student loans to pay off first? How can you get rid of an unwanted timeshare? If you have a money dilemma, watch the video below for the answers — or submit a question of your own!
Do incentives work? More and more companies are offering rewards to their employees for everything from flying coach on business trips to taking their blood pressure medication. This morning on the TODAY Show, I talked about a few of these incentive programs and offered my take on whether or not they’re worthwhile. Watch the clip below!
My father in law gave us 10,000 dollars as a gift. What should we put it in? Maybe a CD? I also want to start a college fund, but I don’t want to pay a penalty if my daughter doesn’t go to college, or wants to go to a trade school. – Mary, New Jersey
Mary,
That all depends what the money is for. Usually, when you have a large sum of money, you’ll want to choose to either save it or invest it – unless you have a large amount of debt to pay off at high interest rates – then, you might want to put it towards paying down some More…
New research shows that couples who fight about money more than once or twice a month are significantly more likely to head for divorce. This morning on TODAY, psychologist Gail Saltz and I talked about tips for how you can money-proof your marriage — like coming clean about your finances from the get-go, and making a plan to save and to pay down debt. To learn more, watch the clip below!
Most parents don’t realize it, but one in ten children today have their identities used or abused in some way. In fact, child identity theft is one of the fastest growing segments of the crime.
You’re probably thinking that your child doesn’t have much of an identity to steal, at least not financially speaking. And you may be wondering how thieves get their hands on children’s information in the first place – after all, young children don’t often shop online, at least not with their own credit cards, and they don’t use email the way adults do. But aside from the fact that children are increasingly joining social networking sites like Facebook, which can be a hot bed for scams, you have to remember that your child has a Social Security number and card, which can easily be stolen. Add that to the fact that about a third of identity theft is perpetrated by friends or family members, and your kids are at risk. More…
Home sales in May plummeted after the end of the new home-buyer tax credit. Last week, I spoke with Matt Lauer on the TODAY Show about why that tax credit helped home sales stabilize, and I also shared a few tips about how you can manage your money to be prepared financially in the case that another government “safety net” is eliminated.
HOW: Ronni Blasz entered the business world and climbed the corporate ladder far quicker than she had imagined. After graduating from business school and beginning work in New York, she found herself in a director position at Merrill Lynch at the age of 29. She excelled – but had reservations – and when she was suddenly fired without warning, those reservations were confirmed. “I was bitter, angry, and upset,” says Blasz about her job loss, but when she was offered a consulting position with her former company three years later, with the promise of a full-time position after 60 days, she knew she needed to take it. However, 60 days came and went, and six years later, Blasz found herself still consulting – but also wanting a way out. More…
“I talked to Credit Solutions today. Are they a well trusted company to go with for debt solution?” – Mica
Mica,
No, no, no. Do you know how I know this? I went on the website of the company — Credit Solutions — looked into the about the company menu and found that they are based in Dallas, Texas. Then I googled, “Credit Solutions, Dallas, BBB.” I was looking for the Better Business Bureau report on this company. It came up right on top. And it is NOT pretty. The BBB gives this company an F (and yes, that’s on a scale of A to F just like school). The BBB said this: More…
This morning on Money 911, we answered a variety of your money questions. For help with anything from overdraft fees and 529 plans to banking security and more, watch the clip below. Have a different question? Submit it to me here!
Ask a 40-year-old investor looking at the middling balance in her 401(k) how she feels about it and I’ll bet you she says something like this: “I should have started saving/investing earlier.” Could it be that this generation – this student loan-laden generation – of people in their first jobs has actually gotten the message?
My father in law gave us 10,000 dollars as a gift. What should we put it in? Maybe a CD? I also want to start a college fund, but I don’t want to pay a penalty if my daughter doesn’t go to college, or wants to go to a trade school. – Mary, New Jersey 
WHO: Ronni Blasz
“I talked to Credit Solutions today. Are they a well trusted company to go with for debt solution?” – Mica
