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Public-employee pensions face a rollback in Calif.The pensions of public employees have long been considered untouchable. Some politicians are saying those obligations are trumped by the need to provide for the public's health and safety.
Spain bows to inevitable, will seek bailoutSpain will be fourth euro nation to ask for help. Bailout will be for Spain's troubled banking sector, so no added austerity measures are expected.
The real effect of expiring tax cutsIn deciding the fate of expired and expiring tax cuts, lawmakers should consider the larger problems facing our tax system. That system is needlessly complex, economically harmful, and widely perceived as unfair. And it fails at its most basic task: raising enough money to pay our bills.
401(k) plan: Is it ever a good idea to make an early withdrawal?401(k) plan has $38,000 and reader has $11,000 in credit card debt. But early withdrawal from 401(k) plan comes with hefty penalties. See question No. 1 in the reader mailbag.
Stimulus won't save the economyBoth gold bugs and stock market bulls are counting on the Fed to come through with another economic stimulus.聽 And it probably will. But the money won't benefit those who really need it.
Points of ProgressAs Europe peers into economic chasm, Africa's economy is risingReports by the African Development Bank, World Bank, and McKinsey show how Africa continues to offer a bright spot in the global economy.
Credit card debt is down, but don't cheerCredit card debt has fallen. But for those deep in debt, the picture hasn't changed much. Many still use credit cards for day-to-expenses.
Oil prices edge down, near October lowsOil prices close at $84.10 a barrel, weighed down by global economic weakness and rising production. Oil prices are now 25 percent below their high in February. 聽
'Private sector is doing fine'? Obama retracts as GOP mocksPresident Obama's remark that the sagging economy is due to cuts in public-sector jobs riled Republicans in Congress, who pledge to extend the Bush tax cuts and repeal health-care reform.
'Car Talk' radio show: Magliozzi brothers calling it quits'Car Talk' will continue in reruns and as print column. But after 25 years of puzzles, puns, and other antics, 'Car Talk' will end in September.聽
Obama tells Congress, Europe to get in gearIn a news conference, President Obama capped a tough political week by blaming Congress (again) for failing to pass his jobs plan and urging Europe to address its financial crisis.
Personal finance: It's rarely black and white聽Every person out there has different income levels, different debt levels, different retirement accounts at work, different stress levels, different risk tolerances, and so on. All those issues matter.聽That鈥檚 why it鈥檚 personal finance.
Yes, dividends. Almost always.No one is saying dividends always work, but in a period like this why wouldn't you want to select for them in a passive portfolio? A good broker never forgets how powerful high dividend payers can be versus the rest of the market.
Spain's biggest hurdle to a bank recovery: public distrustKey to averting a banking collapse in Spain is persuading the public it's safe to keep money in the country 鈥� but government actions only exacerbated a loss in confidence.
Are we underestimating the US job market?Some argue that the most recent payroll survey, which shows a paltry gain in jobs, is underestimating the US job market.But the payroll survey is a more reliable marker of job growth than the household survey.
Should we delay the tax cut debate until 2013?Over the past week, Bill Clinton, Larry Summers, and Glenn Hubbard have all made the same suggestion: Congress should extend all of the 2001/2003 tax cuts into early next year. It seems like an awful idea.- Are you teaching your kids the habits of financial success? Take our quiz.
Many guides offer tips on how to raise children, but there's little research on how to teach financial success. So I did my own research: a year developing a questionnaire; four years interviewing 233 wealthy people and 128 poor people; and another 18 months writing a book, "Rich Habits: The Daily Success Habits of Wealthy Individuals." Financially successful parents pick and choose among these habits and they often emphasize the character these qualities build rather than the money they bring. While putting them into practice doesn't guarantee financial success, following a well-worn path increases your chances of getting to your destination. If you have a child 14 years or older, take our quiz to see if your success habits coincide with those taught by the well-to-do:
Father's Day gifts: seven great online dealsFather's Day gifts range from deals on auto parts to food seasonings for grilled food. Online deals offer up to 25 percent off聽Father's Day gifts, but they often come with a minimum purchase requirement. 聽
Prepaid iPhone from Virgin: $549, but only $30 a monthPrepaid iPhone appears to be Apple's next wave of expansion as Leap and now move into the no-contract prepaid iPhone market.聽
Wishful thinking: If we only had a stable energy policyIn this column energy expert Rapier provides three examples 鈥� originating with both Democrats and Republicans and impacting both renewable energy and fossil fuels 鈥� of how constantly shifting legislation makes it very difficult to plan and execute energy projects.