John and Nancy James, both 70 years old, put an offer on a place last winter in Palm Desert, Calif. The idea was to play golf and relax in the sun when it was too cold at their main home in Bend, Ore. Soon after, a trip to Texas threw their classic retirement plan for...
NEW YORK (MarketWatch) — As you already know, Republicans had a great night Tuesday, taking control of the Senate and easily retaining their House majority. U.S. stocks appear headed for big gains Wednesday, but then history shows midterm elections have typically...
One time-honored rule of thumb suggests that should save 10% of your income for retirement. But that percentage might be too high or too low for many people saving for retirement, according to a new study. Indeed, your saving rate should be based on your household...
If you’re running your own business, then finding time to keep up on money-saving tax strategies can be a challenge — one that’s complicated by the fact that tax laws are constantly changing. Here are three simple tax strategies to keep in mind as Dec. 31 approaches....
We all search for the best place to invest our savings. For almost every person who hasn’t yet started Social Security, delaying Social Security benefits is one of the best ways to save. Even some who have already started can benefit from some of Social Security’s...
Soon after Sabina Gault got her public relations firm up and running in 2008, she asked for a show of hands from employees interested in having a company 401(k) plan. The consensus? “Nobody wanted it,” said Ms. Gault, whose firm, Konnect Public Relations, based in Los...
For many retirees, Social Security benefits are seen as hot money on the table, to be devoured as soon as possible. But as with preparing and savoring a fine meal, a careful approach and delayed gratification may yield the highest rewards from the program....
The years from the late 19th and early 20th centuries were not the most egalitarian in American history. Robber barons roamed the economy, living off lavish rents generated by powerful cartels and industrial monopolies. The richest 1 percent of Americans reaped nearly...
For Daniel Ryan, turning 40 and 50 came and went. But sometime around his 61st birthday last July, he said he had an “old man crisis.” He did some simple math, and quickly concluded that living another 20 years would be considered a “full life.” Even if he remained...
Are you ready to overhaul your spending patterns, start funneling more money into your bank account and buy better (and safer) products in 2014? If so, you’ve come to the right place. We’ve rounded up our favorite money stories to give you the bite-size nuggets you...