'A penny saved is a penny earned;' financial lessons from the past

If you are like most people, your IRA isn’t getting enough attention. It may sit neglected until you get your quarterly statement and then it’s forgotten again for another three months. Yet there is plenty you could be doing with your retirement holdings to ensure a bright retirement. Take the opportunity now to renew your relationship with your 401(k) and make it your best friend.
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You’ve thought about leaving your job and working for yourself, but the security of your company’s health coverage is holding you back. You're not alone.More than half of U.S. workers would consider exiting their current jobs and flying solo as free agents if they were guaranteed the same health benefits as found in traditional employment, according to a recent study.
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The best way to start evaluating your finances is to compare your monthly income and expenses. This is the scary part, but it's the necessary first step to keeping more of your money in your pocket where it belongs.
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Achieving a college degree can mean more and better professional opportunities throughout your career. Unfortunately, for many people, a college degree will also mean starting their professional lives in deep debt, burdened by hefty student loans they took out to fund their college education.
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What if you threw away dollar bills every time you found them in your pocket? Does it matter how you pay for your family's everyday purchases - with cash, credit/debit card or personal check? In fact, the way you choose to pay in stores and restaurants may be costing you (and the local stores you shop in) thousands of dollars a year.
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When it comes to retirement, a lot has changed since our parents’ days. Some of the new thinking relates to the amount that should be withdrawn from portfolios in retirement. While the conventional wisdom has been to stick with one set amount throughout the years, there are some good reasons to rethink this, say financial experts.
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If you find yourself in a financial hole you can't get out of, it's important to know you have options. Being in debt can cause people to continue to make payments that they can't afford or can barely afford without much hope of ever eliminating the debt. If you find yourself in this position, there are a few routes you can pursue to free yourself from overwhelming debt.
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Most people do not think twice about insuring their car or their home, but many overlook protecting an asset that is arguably many times more valuable: their paycheck.
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It seems that nearly every day, some sort of advertisement, article or promotion regarding the 2010 changes for Roth IRA conversions comes our way. This is a potentially great option for some individuals. However, most of what we see looks more like a sales pitch than real financial advice.
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Younger generations of Americans have long looked up to their elders as paragons of good financial common sense. The "Greatest Generation" managed to get through the country's toughest economic conditions with a dogged attitude about saving and minimal spending. So it's surprising to find out that many seniors are facing high levels of credit card debt.
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Got a case of the financial jitters? You're not alone. A recent survey of 1,000 American adults by Thrivent Financial for Lutherans and "Kiplinger's Personal Finance" magazine found that most Americans are still struggling with or worried about their finances.
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Despite signs of economic recovery, many small business owners continue to struggle to borrow money to sustain or grow their companies. This can have a big impact on local communities, which rely on small businesses to create much-needed jobs and provide critical services.
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While there is no quick fix for bad credit scores, there are straightforward steps we can all take to help clean up and improve our financial well-being.
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(ARA) Are we there yet? Four familiar words that will be heard by parents in vehicles traveling on roads this summer across the country. But are you taking the necessary precautions to make sure that your family is arriving there safely?
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Buying your first home can be scary, but as with anything else in life, the right preparation should bring you good results - a home you want and one you can afford.
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