Search

You always remember your first: Music player 10/23/2015 09:57am • WASHINGTON — Most people fondly remember the music they listened to when growing up. While the melodies and lyrics remind of the relatively-carefree existence of a young music fan, recalling the device the music played upon also sparks warm memories. On social media, WTOP listeners say they How to Donate to Charity on Any Budget 10/22/2015 08:00pm • Many people make giving back a priority. Whether donating to those less fortunate or contributing to a meaningful cause, technological advances are now making it even easier to pay it forward -- and potentially receive a tax deduction in the process. Donations of cash or securities to qualified 501 Year-end financial planning guide: Moves you need to make before Dec. 31 10/22/2015 10:45am • WASHINGTON — When December rolls around, do you ever wish you had more time to look over your finances and do something that would lower your taxes or put more money in your pocket before those opportunities go away at year-end? If you answered yes, then this three-part, year-end planning seri 4 Tips for Saving for Retirement at Your First Job 10/21/2015 08:00pm • As you start your first job, retirement can seem very far away. You may have 30 or more years in the working world ahead of you, but if you are financially able, now is the time to start saving. Establishing good financial habits now will benefit you throughout your career and into your retirement. 9 Ways to Find Temporary Work in Retirement 10/21/2015 08:00pm • More people are discovering that retirement doesn't mean stopping work. Those who find that retirement is not as interesting as they had hoped seek work as a way to meet people and stretch their minds. Others discover their incomes aren't enough to cover the expenses of retirement and the extras, p What No Social Security COLA Could Mean for You 10/21/2015 08:00pm • For only the third time in 40 years, Social Security recipients won't be getting a bump in their monthly benefits. Actually, David Leland, a managing director with Merrill Lynch in Boston, says the last eight years have been rough for Social Security beneficiaries. Since 2008, the total of all cost 4 Financial Surprises in Retirement 10/20/2015 08:00pm • Most of us carefully plan how we will pay our bills in retirement. Still, surprises routinely catch retirees off guard. Here is how your budget will change after you quit your job. Your investment time horizon should be decades past your retirement date. You might determine your asset allocation b 10 Money Action Steps to Take Before 2016 10/20/2015 08:00pm • New Year, New YouAs the end of the year approaches, it's a good time to take stock of the financial moves you've already made -- and have yet to make -- before the year changes. Many financial deadlines pop up on Dec. 31, which means now is the time to prepare to squeeze in last-minute savings or ra 3 Tips to Guide Investors Through 401(k) Enrollment 10/20/2015 08:00pm • More than 80 percent of U.S. employees participate in retirement savings plans offered through their workplaces, government statistics show. And many of them are now going through the annual fall ritual of open enrollment -- in which workers can change plans and alter the amount of money they're pu Weigh the Pros, Cons of Having Your Children Help Save for College 10/20/2015 08:00pm • Even though Kelly and Paul Brewer put aside money in college savings accounts for their 17-year-old twin daughters' educations, they still expect the girls to help save for college. That will probably mean taking out some student loans, Kelly Brewer says, but it will also mean saving money from pa Ferrari's IPO Could Rev Up Faster Than Its Luxury Cars 10/19/2015 08:00pm • If the market feels a little sportier today, it's because a company known for high-powered cars and sleek design will soon rev its engines on the New York Stock Exchange. Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (ticker: FCAU) has begun the process to spin off its luxury sports car company, Ferrari. Ten percent To Weather Market Volatility, Stay Invested for the Long Haul 10/19/2015 08:00pm • There are many things about our financial future that we can control, including our budgets, our spending habits and how we save. According to a recent survey, 80 percent of Americans say they feel in control of their financial futures. But no matter how in control we feel, even the smartest, savvi 5 frightening facts about your 401(k) 10/19/2015 11:00am • The 401(k) is a big chunk of America's retirement nest egg. Among Fidelity account holders, the average 401(k) balance was $91,100 at the end of the second quarter this year. It's favored for retirement saving for a few reasons: It allows for tax-deferred growth, it's funded by paycheck deferrals 4 ways retirement savers are misunderstood 10/19/2015 08:00am • Early retirement is a road worth pursuing, but it can also upset people who don't understand what you are trying to do. Your loved ones may question why you are being unnecessarily frugal when they know you have money in the bank. And friends might encourage you to switch to an investment that made 5 Reasons Compound Interest Isn't What It's Cracked Up to Be 10/18/2015 08:00pm • To hear some financial planners tell it, compound interest is a magic carpet ride: Save early and often, and over 40 working years, your pennies will turn into millions. That's how it was explained to Chris Browning, assistant professor with the department of personal financial planning at Texas T