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6 Ways to Get Your Financial Health in Order for 2015 12/24/2014 07:00pm • The end of the year can be hectic. Between juggling parties, last-minute holiday shopping, travel and spending time with family and friends, the last thing we want to do is think about our financial health. While it's tempting to put off reviewing your finances until the new year, you might lose the 5 budgeting blunders that hurt your finances 12/23/2014 07:00pm • Everyone knows that a budget is the linchpin holding together your financial empire, or if you prefer, financial shack. If you don't have a budget, whether or not you know it yet, you have money problems. But to avoid money woes, it isn't enough to create a budget. You have to design one that wor Is Your Bank Ready to Age With You? 12/23/2014 07:00pm • Banks can be daunting places for older adults, especially those with cognitive, physical or hearing impairments. The glass barrier that typically separates a customer from a bank teller can make it difficult for older adults to hear clearly, and if they have to stand in a long line and then remain 5 Tax Maneuvers to Make in 2015 12/23/2014 07:00pm • There are certainly plenty of last-minute tax tips that can save you money this tax year. But you will benefit even more if you start planning for tax-year 2015 beginning in January. While you are scrambling to reduce your 2014 tax bill, consider these steps that will allow you to further decrease 5 Signs Your Financial Advisor Is Not a Good Match 12/23/2014 07:00pm • You play golf with your financial advisor. You get invitations to attend local concerts as his guest. Your sister's husband thinks he's a great guy. And he may be. But that doesn't make him the best financial advisor for you. Assuming you don't suspect fraud, and your advisor's performance is at lea 5 questions to ask before buying a winter home 12/23/2014 06:00am • If you have unpleasant memories of polar vortexes, you've probably daydreamed of having a winter home. And if you're retired or your kids are out of school, you may already be planning your escape. But before you stuff your suitcases full of sunscreen, here are some questions to help you determin Learn From This New Low in Financial News 12/22/2014 07:00pm • I woke up on Dec. 14 to this stunning headline in the New York Post: "High school student scores $72M playing the stock market." It was a sensational story. The story was sourced to an original report in New York Magazine that reported Mohammed Islam, a 17-year-old student at Stuyvesant High School 7 Ways to Beef Up Your Savings 12/22/2014 07:00pm • Before the ball drops on New Year's Eve, you can pump up your savings to squeeze as much out of 2014 as possible. Putting money into retirement accounts before year-end deadlines, opening new after-tax savings accounts and automating savings are all ways to ramp up your personal savings rate in the How to Claim the Saver's Credit 12/21/2014 07:00pm • The saver's credit can be worth as much as $1,000 for individuals and $2,000 for couples who save in 401(k)s and individual retirement accounts. And this tax credit can be claimed in addition to the tax deduction for traditional retirement account contributions. Here's how to take advantage of this The Tax Advantages of 529 Plans 12/21/2014 07:00pm • Since 529 college savings plans were introduced in 1996, a growing number of parents and grandparents have taken advantage of the opportunity to salt away money for college and enjoy tax-free distributions. As of mid-2014, the amount invested in 529 plans totaled $244 billion, according to the Coll 3 Financial Questions Millennials Should Ask Themselves 12/21/2014 07:00pm • As we move closer to the end of 2014, and enjoy the holiday season of decorations, gifts and much more, many people turn their attention to the new year and all of the things they want to accomplish. Some people resolve to lose weight, while others vow to get their financial houses in order. Millen The 5 best and worst financial New Year's resolutions 12/18/2014 07:00pm • Want to know one major reason why New Year's resolutions bomb? They're bad resolutions to begin with. Don't think there's any such thing as a bad resolution? That's simply not true. Vague goals without benchmarks or milestones built in are too easy to fudge -- or simply ignore. Instead, you need 7 Retirement Savings Accounts You Should Consider 12/18/2014 07:00pm • We've all heard the warnings and are well aware that we should save more for retirement. And as a new year approaches, it's a good time to resolve to take concrete steps to do just that. Uncle Sam wants you to save for retirement so much that the federal government has created a number of tax-adva 5 Ways to Improve Your Retirement Prospects in 2015 12/18/2014 07:00pm • Saving more money for retirement is a common New Year's resolution, but it's only the first step in what you need to do to get better prepared for retirement in 2015. Here are five more ways you can improve your retirement finances next year. Optimize your savings. It's a worthy goal to save a litt 5 Ways to Ease the Financial Strain of Caregiving 12/17/2014 07:00pm • The growing number of Americans caring for their aging loved ones often face financial strain along with their daily caregiving responsibilities. A survey this year of 1,345 family caregivers by Caring.com found that 46 percent of caregivers spend more than $5,000 a year on related expenses. Those c