Ditch rising stocks or stick with them?
Is it time to cash out of stocks?The market has nearly tripled in a little over five years, and the Standard & Poor’s 500 index closed above 2,000 for the first time in late August. With each record, the temptation grows to take your winnings and flee.Plenty of experts think stocks are about to drop. But many others offer compelling arguments for the rally to continue for... READ MORE
Sun and wind energy empower portfolios
You can now fit a wind or solar farm into your portfolio, even if your portfolio isn’t exactly vast.Energy companies are wrapping renewable energy projects and other power-related assets that generate steady cash into new companies they hope attract investors hunting for dividends.In an unfortunate victory for corporate speak, they are called yieldcos. They’re the electric power ... READ MORE
How you can profit from the merger surge
Every week, it seems, brings news of a corporate coupling (or at least an invitation). Buyouts are brisk in industries ranging from technology to healthcare, from finance to consumer goods.Halfway through 2014, U.S. companies had announced more than 9,000 deals (counting minor ones, including those for parts of businesses), with a collective value of more than $771 billion.... READ MORE
If you need it, Indio Open Air Market has it
While strolling under the stars, you get to shop for bargains galore.That’s the beauty of Indio’s Open Air Market held every Wednesday and Saturday from 4 to 10 p.m. at the Riverside County Fairgrounds in Indio. Actually, it’s a farmers market, swap meet and flea market all rolled into one, making it one of the biggest of its kind in Southern California.It’s a... READ MORE
How you can profit from the merger surge
Every week, it seems, brings news of a corporate coupling (or at least an invitation). Buyouts are brisk in industries ranging from technology to healthcare, from finance to consumer goods.Halfway through 2014, U.S. companies had announced more than 9,000 deals (counting minor ones, including those for parts of businesses), with a collective value of more than $771 billion.... READ MORE
Is it wise to transfer a credit card balance?
Offers from credit card companies to temporarily skirt interest charges can be enticing. Reducing interest payments by transferring a balance from one card to another is a quick way to lower monthly finance charges. But taking advantage of such a promotion, even one offering a zero interest rate on balance transfers, doesn’t always pay off. That’s especially true for cardholders who... READ MORE
Tapping retirement accounts penalty-free
Workers are retiring earlier these days, whether by choice or not, and many find they need to withdraw funds from retirement accounts prior to age 59½. That’s the age when account holders can take distributions from 401(k) plans and traditional and Roth IRAs without a 10 percent penalty.Tax law makes early withdrawals difficult without penalty, but if you need to tap the... READ MORE
An ounce of prevention boosts travel safety
Lucinda Alvarez stood last year in the Hermitage Museum in St. Petersburg, Russia, packed into the ever-present crowd and totally absorbed by Rembrandt’s “Flora.” She was absorbed until someone bumped against her — just enough to raise her suspicions. Alarmed, the La Quinta resident stepped aside and checked her purse. No wonder it seemed lighter. Missing were... READ MORE
Mixed news on retirement trust funds
Medicare’s finances are looking brighter, the government said in late July. The program’s giant hospital trust fund won’t be exhausted until 2030 — four years later than last year’s estimate.Meanwhile, Social Security’s massive retirement program will remain solvent until 2034, officials say, although disability benefits are in more immediate danger.The... READ MORE
Some disability benefits are fast-tracked
It used to be that some people with serious disabilities would die before the Social Security Administration finally got around to reviewing their applications for disability benefits. Today, applicants with one of 225 of the severest medical conditions can win approval within 15 days.The government’s “compassionate allowances” program provides fast-track review of... READ MORE
