A new book by Donald Trump and Robert Kiyosaki offers only vague strategy. In a world filled with financial peril, two men think they can save you. One comes from the mean streets of midtown Manhattan, a survivor of the reality TV jungle. The other is a fighter from Hawaii, hardened in pits of real …
Stocks Under Rocks
College students supply many of the offbeat picks for a unique fund. The first thing you notice in Peter Ricchiuti’s office is the stuffed alligator head, its mouth wide open. Ricchiuti, a finance professor at Tulane University, in New Orleans, bagged the gator while hunting in the bayou. A former stock analyst, he now trains …
Jeeves Goes to War
Why is the Pentagon sending soldiers to butler school? Somewhere in Iraq, a young soldier is handing his three-starred boss a bottled water on a platter, or pressing the general’s uniform, or serving his dinner guests dessert—from the left side, of course. The military has always provided personal assistants to top brass: There are 300 …
A Gift Registry for College Savings
Mark your grandchild’s birthday by giving a chunk of tuition. From Kiplinger’s Personal Finance: Finally, a birthday gift that’s fiscally responsible. Instead of giving children more toys, DVDs or video games, family members and friends can easily contribute toward a child’s college kitty. Click here for the entire article.
Wall Street Goes Negative
A quota for analyst sell recommendations may mean better stock research from brokers. From Kiplinger’s Personal Finance: Big brokerage firms are still trying to wipe away the stain of the tainted stock research they foisted on investors during the Internet bubble of the late 1990s and early 2000s. Back then, as it turned out, some …
Beat Back Investment Fees
From Kiplinger’s Personal Finance: Making a buck on your investments is tough enough without watching your profits nibbled away by fees that are pesky at best and punitive at worst. The best way to avoid them is to deal with firms that offer the best value for the services you want. Click here for the …
Giving with Strings Attached
A guide to making sure your gift accomplishes what you want it to. From Kiplinger’s Personal Finance: A donation to your favorite charity is more than a gift or a tax break — it’s an investment. Pick an inefficient charity and your contribution will be eaten by administrative costs and fund-raising expenses. You can attach …
Learning to Be an Un-Consumer
John Perry, 44, a marketing manager, co-founded The Compact, a group that avoids unnecessary consumption. Two years later, it has more than 8,000 followers. From Kiplinger’s Personal Finance: Question: How did The Compact begin? Perry: Over dinner, nine friends and I decided to go an entire year without buying anything new besides food, medicine and …
Not-So-Simple College Savings
529 employer benefits can cost more if you don’t ask the right questions. From Kiplinger’s Personal Finance magazine: It sounds like a great perk. You invest in a college-savings plan selected by your employer, and contributions are automatically deducted from your paycheck. Result: a no-sweat college kitty. Unfortunately, it’ not that simple. Click here for …
Over-The-Top Bank Fees
To avoid outrageous overdraft charges, keep close tabs and weave a safety net. From Kiplinger’s Personal Finance: Paying an overdraft fee on your checking account is like having your mouth washed out with soap: The bank says it’s for your own good-but is it really? Just ask Ben Kohler, a 19-year-old Pizza Hut manager who’s …