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Today I am taking a break from the countdown of my Ten Ground Rules for 401(k)/403(b) Success. This afternoon we will hold our second "State of the Firm" meeting. Our purpose in starting this quarterly information session for our employees was to provide information on how we're doing as a firm....

I don't have a crystal ball. And if I did I'm not sure I would know how to use it. It seems like having a crystal ball would come in handy to figure out what investments to choose in your 401(k) or 403(b). You look at a list of funds or go online and see a bunch of choices, maybe read about a few, l...

I might have re-written that old axiom a little bit, but I'll bet you a new toothbrush none of the readers of this blog have ever successfully avoided the dentist. This week our Experts in You spot features dentist Dr. Ron Heinle and his wife and business partner, Colleen. Everyone has financial...

Over the next few weeks, many of us will be filling out the dreaded FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) online to try to score some financial aid for our children in college. Here are some guidelines to help you maximize your future financial aid package: Save money in the parent's n...

Sometimes in personal finance - as in the rest of life - you get false clues, things that seem important but lead you astray. Here's how you can spot a false clue and ignore it. Let's assume you are already participating in your employer's retirement plan or are about to start. You have to decide ho...

Today I'll start the countdown of my Ten Ground Rules for 401(k)/403(b) Success. These are common sense guidelines I have refined from nearly three decades of talking with clients and observing their results within employer-sponsored retirement plans. The first rule seems so simple and obvious as...

Out of the millions of Tylenol tablets that are taken daily it only took 70 to get Johnson and Johnson (JNJ) into a world of trouble with the FDA today. JNJ, which was trading down $1.00 as of 1:48PM, was criticized for not responding to 70 customer complaints in an efficient manner. So does this...

All week I have been steamed about boffo bonuses at bailed-out banks. Now it's time for me to climb down off my soapbox and get back to offering useful advice for our clients. Next week I will start a countdown of my Ten Ground Rules for 401(k)/403(b) Success. Many employers offer retirement plan...

George Orwell's book "Animal Farm" is a satire of totalitarian governments. Totalitarianism invariably boils down to hypocrisy: someone is in charge and they will do as they please and fairness be damned. Though the animals in the story resolve that all are equal, gradually their seven commandment...

I know I'm not the only parent groaning over the hefty check I have to write for my daughter's college education. With such high price tags, college degrees are not easy expenses to stomach. However, with the right planning, you can at least be prepared for one of life's most costly undertakings....