Personal Finance: Happy Mother's Day, you deserve a raise
"The good mother, the wise mother ... is more important to the community than even the ablest man; her career is more worthy of honor and is more useful to the…
- By Chris Hopkins
Showing results for "chris hopkins"
Personal Finance: What determines GDP, what does increase mean?
Q: I read that GDP was revised higher. What does that mean?
- By Chris Hopkins
Personal Finance: U.S. corporate tax structure is a job creator overseas
Several pharmaceutical and medical device firms have been in the news recently, and not for their latest blockbuster drugs or lifesaving devices. Many of these…
- By Chris Hopkins
Personal Finance: Details matter when rolling over IRA funds
Since the early days of IRA accounts in 1981, investors have been granted one tax-free rollover per year per IRA account, to allow for changing custodians or e…
- By Chris Hopkins
Get ready for the new American energy boom
Every U.S. president since Richard Nixon has espoused a policy to make America energy independent. Clearly, none has delivered, and realistically no government…
- By Chris Hopkins
Personal Finance: We are all givers at heart
Many economists have argued (at least theoretically) that the whole concept of gift-giving is economically inefficient, meaning that the total financial welfar…
- By Chris Hopkins
Personal Finance: Taxes and fees make driving most expensive in Georgia
Owning a car is an expensive proposition, no matter where you live. But if someone asked you which state holds the dubious distinction of being the costliest s…
- By Chris Hopkins
Personal Finance: Motor City running out of gas in drive to avoid bankruptcy
Detroit has called in a new mechanic to attempt a major rebuild. Kevin Orr, the emergency manager appointed by Michigan's governor, has looked under the hood a…
- By Chris Hopkins
ERISA law helps ensure safety of worker pensions
Q: Is my pension secure if my employer goes bankrupt?
- By Chris Hopkins
Personal Finance: Fill 'er up quick; gas prices headed higher
Drivers are smarting from the recent spike in gasoline prices, just in time for their summer road trip. According to AAA, the average price for a gallon of reg…
- By Chris Hopkins
Personal Finance: IRS announces new retirement savings limits
Each year, the Internal Revenue Service determines the maximum contribution allowed for 401(k) retirement plans based upon changes in the price level. Last wee…
- By Chris Hopkins
Personal Finance: Allocating your investment bucket
Q: Can I earn a better return on my short-term cash?
- By Chris Hopkins
Personal Finance: Inherited IRAs can be seized in bankruptcy
Since Congress amended the U.S. bankruptcy code in 2005, retirement assets like IRA accounts, pensions and 401(k) plans have generally been protected from cred…
- By Chris Hopkins
Personal Finance: REIT sector still worth a look
Achieving a diversified portfolio is accomplished by adding exposure to a variety of assets whose prices tend to move disparately under changing external force…
- By By Chris Hopkins
Personal Finance: Those in need of long-term care face financial dilemma
Contemplating a future disability is daunting, but the simple fact is that such an eventuality is extremely likely. According to AARP, 68 percent of Americans …
- By Chris Hopkins
Personal Finance: Individual Retirement Accounts - avoid common mistakes
Last week we reviewed the essential features and benefits of both traditional and Roth IRAs. This week, let's look at some errors often made by IRA holders and…
- By Chris Hopkins
Personal Finance: Bonds near end of winning streak?
Don't look now, but the corner of your investment portfolio you thought was the safest might soon provide more drama than you bargained for.
- By Chris Hopkins
Personal Finance: Why do interest rates remain so low?
One of the great conundrums of 2014 so far has been the unexpected decline in interest rates. Almost universally, professional forecasters had predicted higher…
- By Chris Hopkins
Personal Finance: Tax time means fraud, scam time
Ben Franklin famously said that nothing is certain but death and taxes. The IRS might add a corollary to that aphorism regarding scams to defraud taxpayers. Th…
- By Christopher Hopkins
Personal Finance: Supply shortage holding back home sales
Without question the U.S. housing market has experienced a strong recovery since the depths of the recession. Still, despite historically low mortgage rates, s…
- By Christopher Hopkins