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3 Reasons a Strong U.S. Dollar Can Hurt the Economy 12/18/2014 07:00pm • A recurring headline of late has been the strength of the U.S. dollar. The currency markets are somewhat difficult to understand, especially if you don't do much international travelling. The dollar has increased about 10 percent versus other currencies, including the euro. At the beginning of the 6 Rookie Mistakes Last-Minute Shoppers Often Make 12/17/2014 07:00pm • It's crunch time. If you haven't finished your holiday shopping, you're not alone. This week, the coupon site RetailMeNot.com reported that 56 percent of 1,022 shoppers surveyed between Nov. 21-26 said they typically still have gifts left to purchase by "Panic Saturday," the unofficial name for the 8 Smart Tax Moves for Investors 12/17/2014 07:00pm • Good investors are good tax planners.Tax planning isn't as fun as investing -- or fun at all -- but it helps you keep as much of that hard-won investment income as possible. Dan Solin, a wealth advisor with Buckingham and director of investor advocacy for the BAM ALLIANCE, shares eight tax-planning How Financial Advisors Are Courting Millennials 12/17/2014 07:00pm • Let's be clear: Garrett Prom isn't a wealth manager. The Austin, Texas, fee-based financial advisor is investing in clients who are in their 20s, 30s and early 40s, with the expectation that providing holistic financial planning now will result in loyalty as their portfolios grow. In a way, millen 15 Investing Ideas for 2015 12/16/2014 07:00pm • Ring in the new year with a portfolio refresh.No sooner do Christmas and the holidays disappear that you realize it's time to make another list and check it twice: investment resolutions for 2015. If winter put you in a deep freeze for ideas to perk up your portfolio, rest assured there's plenty of Portfolio Analysis: An Adventurous $496,000 Investment Plan 12/16/2014 07:00pm • All investment portfolios are comparable to a novel, where each individual chooses their own personal genre and classification. If your investment portfolio were a novel, what genre would it be: adventure, comedy, drama, mystery or horror? My latest portfolio report card is for M.D. in Temecula, Avoid Losing Your Student Loan Eligibility 12/16/2014 07:00pm • In addition to final exams, college students have something else to worry about this time of year: their financial aid for spring semester. While financial aid is generally calculated and scheduled in the fall for the full year, a student's actions -- or inaction -- can cause that aid to be cancel 10 Great Last-Minute Holiday Gifts Under $10 12/15/2014 07:00pm • Did you forget to pick up something for Uncle Eddie? Maybe you didn't get a present for the gift exchange at work. Does your son's teacher still need a small gift of some kind?At moments like these, it can be easy to just run into a store and grab the first thing you see, resulting in a gift that's Gift Ideas for Last-Minute Shoppers 12/15/2014 07:00pm • Like most Americans, you are probably in the midst of your busiest shopping season of the year. Whether you're happily plowing through your list or stumped on what to get that special someone in your life, we have some suggestions, based on current trends and our favorite frugal shopping strategies What Will Cost More in 2015 12/15/2014 07:00pm • Bad news for chocoholics: More worldwide demand and a West African drought impacting cacao crops could raise the price on your favorite sweet treat next year. "Manufacturers have been warning us of a cocoa shortage," says DealNews.com spokesman Mark LoCastro. "Chocolate prices have been rising, par 3 Things You Must Know Before Making That Impulse Buy 12/14/2014 07:00pm • When it comes to money, few things are more exciting -- or more potentially fraught with peril -- than an impulse purchase. Some people might not be able to resist a pair of designer shoes. For others, their weakness might be the newest gotta-have-it electronic gadget or the latest best-selling nove Private Student Loan Refinancing Carries Risks, Rewards 12/14/2014 07:00pm • John Moye was tackling $40,000 in high-rate federal student loans when a friend pointed out that he might find lower rates elsewhere. An online search brought up SoFi, a company that lets borrowers refinance student loans through a network of private and institutional investors. "I have a strong f Uninsured Under the ACA: Millions of Americans Can't Afford Coverage 12/14/2014 07:00pm • Rocky Rush, a 37-year-old single father from Nebraska, has gone without health insurance for years due to the cost, and the Affordable Care Act hasn't changed that. "I can go without medical coverage, but my children need it," Rush says. Affordable health insurance for all Americans was one of th 8 Tax Tips Investors Should Know 12/14/2014 07:00pm • It's that time of the year again. Everyone is weighing in with tax tips to prepare investors for the tax preparation that follows the new year. I didn't want to be left out of the fun, so I consulted with John Corn, a certified public accountant and a wealth advisor with Buckingham (with whom I am 10 Retirement Resolutions for 2015 12/14/2014 07:00pm • The new year offers an opportunity to review your retirement finances and make changes that will boost your chances of a secure retirement. Consider these retirement-related new year's resolutions for 2015. Bump up your savings rate. Try to save at least 1 percent more next year. If you get a rais