Columns

Retailers are busy trying to get consumers to open their wallets this holiday season and get them to spend. But they aren't the only the ones trying to separate us from our money this shopping.  Identity thieves also know ‘tis the season for consumers to open up their wallets and whip out  checkbooks and credit cards, providing increased opportunities to steal our information. 

Just as it was for mom and dad, Social Security has become an extremely important source of steady, reliable retirement income for baby boomers. The problem is, while most pre retirees understand the big picture, they dont know much about the details surrounding this program. If you want to collect the maximum youre entitled to, the details are the key.

Taking control of the familys financial assets after losing your spouse may be overwhelming, but it is critical for female boomers to maintain a positive and financially-healthy lifestyle.

Global demand for Treasury-issued securities has pushed their prices extremely high while lower demand for municipal debt has prices so low. As a result of this one-two punch, the historic relationship between these two fixed income categories is drastically out of alignment.

If you are subject to an income analysis here are seven tips on how to handle the situation.     

Audit-speak is important: Auditors understand when you speak their language. Comprehending the meanings and using key phrases will help you unravel the code and better defend yourself in audit. Here are the most important.

With everything going down these days, the Dow, home prices, available jobs, one thing has been steadily on the rise: college tuition prices. Families are making taking cost-reducing steps to lower the bill, but some families are overlooking a federal tax break. 

Claims of ID fraud claims dropped last year along with the amount of money involved, but that's doesn't mean we can let our guards down. Quite the contrary. 

Dave Says:  Havent the mortgage lenders learned anything from the last few years? Nothing down, interest-only and sub-prime loans are a big part of the reason for the financial debacle in this country.   

If you find yourself among the 9% who are unemployed it is important to know what is considered taxable income and what tax benefits you may be eligible for.

Congratulations college grads! You just received your college diploma, now you have to convince someone to hire you.

The face of long-term unemployment is getting old, but there are steps boomers can take to improve their resume and interviewing skills that can increase their chances of getting hired. 

A diagnosis of Type 2 diabetes brings not only substantial lifestyle changes, but also added costs in treating and managing the disease. And for many, the diagnosis comes later in life, when they are in retirement and on a fixed income.

On Sale: A new deal provider has joined the ranks at Foursquare and Google has some extra help for those holiday catalog fans.

When making an offer in compromise, the IRS will verify every piece of income and every expense you have outlined, so it’s important to calculate what you own and owe correctly.

You'd probably be surprised to learn that the income tax rates we enjoy today are among the lowest in the history of this nation.  

Despite the soaring costs of college, both parents and students continue to rank a college degree a top priority. In fact, it's so important that parents are increasingly raiding their own retirement accounts to help cover costs. But that's not the best payment plan. 

Just because it's Black Friday doesn't mean everything is on sale. Here's how to avoid the spending trap.

The 2012 news cycle has been jammed pack with political, economic, global and weather-related events that have impacted our bottom line. But boomers also have a lot to be grateful for. 

Dave Says: If you stop for just a little while and clean up your mess, then go back to investing for retirement, youll reap so many more rewards down the road.