Yahoo! Finance - Personal Finance

Backup batteries for digital phones are vital—but be prepared to pay

Thu, 02 May 2013 09:38:05 -0400

The digital phone services used by millions of consumers today are likely to quit when the lights go out, as homeowners found to their dismay in the aftermath of Superstorm Sandy last fall. These services, ...

Do All Job Seekers Need a Personal Website?

Thu, 02 May 2013 09:02:12 -0400

You've polished your résumé. Updated your LinkedIn profile. Networked like crazy. And still you haven't been able to get your foot in the door for the job you want. What's the secret to getting the attention ...

Medicaid improved mental health for uninsured

Thu, 02 May 2013 08:32:52 -0400

If you're uninsured, getting on Medicaid clearly improves your mental health, but it doesn't seem to make much difference in physical conditions such as high blood pressure. The counterintuitive findings ...

How Will State and Local Taxes Affect Your Retirement?

Thu, 02 May 2013 07:00:00 -0400

Here are several tips for reducing your tax outlay without having to relocate.

Secret 'pocket listings' return in hot housing markets

Thu, 02 May 2013 06:46:00 -0400

Secret 'pocket listings' return in hot housing markets

How can I prevent another denied loan?

Thu, 02 May 2013 03:01:33 -0400

Dear Debt Adviser, I applied for a home equity line of credit with my mortgage lender. I was denied, in part, because I've been late occasionally on my mortgage payments. I now have a credit score of 670 ...

Illness no longer a barrier to life insurance

Thu, 02 May 2013 03:01:27 -0400

It used to be that people with a history of serious health issues -- ranging from cancer to diabetes to heart problems -- could forget about purchasing life insurance at decent rates. But the insurance ...

National mortgage rates for May 2, 2013

Thu, 02 May 2013 03:01:23 -0400

Interest Rate Roundup Mortgages CDs Auto Loans Home Equity Credit Cards Find the best mortgage rates in your area. Mortgages 3.52% (30-year fixed) 0.33 (average points) Mortgage rates dipped for the seventh ...

Credit card interest rates for May 2, 2013

Thu, 02 May 2013 03:01:07 -0400

Interest Rate Roundup Mortgages CDs Auto Loans Home Equity Credit Cards Find the best credit card offers available. Credit Cards 13.02% (all fixed) 15.24% (all variable) The average annual percentage rate, ...

CD rates for May 2, 2013

Thu, 02 May 2013 03:01:01 -0400

Interest Rate Roundup Mortgages CDs Auto Loans Home Equity Credit Cards Compare CD rates nationally and in your area. CDs 0.25% (1-year CD yields) 0.79% (5-year CD yields) The yield on the benchmark five-year ...

Auto loan rates for May 2, 2013

Thu, 02 May 2013 03:00:56 -0400

Interest Rate Roundup Mortgages CDs Auto Loans Home Equity Credit Cards Find the best auto rates in your area. Auto Loans 4.11% (60-month, new car) 4.69% (36-month, used car) Auto loan rates were mostly ...

Mortgage rates fall to just above record low

Thu, 02 May 2013 03:00:51 -0400

Having dropped for seven consecutive weeks, mortgage rates are now flirting with the record lows seen at the end of last year. And the Federal Reserve seems determined to keep them at the bottom for now. ...

401(k), mortgage tips for the nearly retired

Thu, 02 May 2013 03:00:43 -0400

Dear Dr. Don, I'm 57 and hope to retire in about nine years. I need help getting my finances in order, and I was looking for advice on what to do with any spare cash. Would it be better to pay off my mortgage ...

Taxed to the max in nondeductible IRA

Thu, 02 May 2013 03:00:34 -0400

Dear Tax Talk, I have a traditional IRA that's 100 percent funded with post-tax (nondeductible) contributions. That account also has sizable capital gains. If I convert it to a Roth IRA , would I owe ordinary ...

Roth IRA sometimes beats 401(k) as retirement savings vehicle

Thu, 02 May 2013 03:00:29 -0400

Dear Dr. Don, I am 24 and put 10 percent of my income into my 401(k). If my company does not match my 401(k) contribution, am I better off contributing that money to a Roth IRA ? -- Regina Retirement Dear ...

Family sedans losing ground to crossovers on convenience, price

Wed, 01 May 2013 20:20:21 -0400

Family sedans like the Toyota Camry and Honda Accord are losing ground this year as American families and empty-nest baby boomers find they would rather handle life's daily chores in a crossover. Midsize ...

Exclusive: Goldman's special situations group names new global head

Wed, 01 May 2013 19:12:13 -0400

Goldman Sachs Group Inc has named Julian Salisbury to become head of its Global Special Situations Group, as current head Jason Brown retires, according to memos sent on Wednesday that were obtained by ...

Nissan cuts prices on 7 US models

Wed, 01 May 2013 14:38:18 -0400

Nissan is cutting prices on seven of its 18 models in the U.S., hoping its cars and trucks will show up in more Internet searches by shoppers. The price cuts vary with the amount of equipment on each model. ...

IRS Data Web Snares Mostly Low- and Middle-Income Taxpayers

Wed, 01 May 2013 13:12:39 -0400

The Internal Revenue Service relies on technology more than ever to sniff out tax cheats using robo-audits and data mining--but so far it has caught lot of minnows, and big fish are still eluding detection. ...

Goldman Sachs strikes deal to buy Ebix

Wed, 01 May 2013 11:54:09 -0400

Goldman Sachs & Co. plans to buy Ebix Inc. and take it private in an $820 million deal that includes debt, the insurance technology provider said Wednesday. Ebix, based in Atlanta, provides software and ...

Improving Your Odds in the 'Retirement Gamble'

Wed, 01 May 2013 11:52:00 -0400

PBS' "Frontline" recently aired " The Retirement Gamble ," an excellent documentary on some of the problems with the retirement savings system in the U.S. While the show brought out ...

Column: Retirees and debt: How to avoid the worst traps

Wed, 01 May 2013 11:39:13 -0400

If you're strapped for cash or have a poor credit rating, the offer would sound tempting: upfront cash in return for your future pension payments. But it's a debt trap, according to a recent expose by ...

How to Deal With an Awkward Co-Worker

Wed, 01 May 2013 11:00:47 -0400

Workplace awkwardness can come from co-workers with varying personal characteristics--from the super shy to those with a sailor's mouth. But the behavior itself isn't the lone factor that creates awkwardness. ...

Fla. Senate passes Negron's Medicaid bill

Wed, 01 May 2013 10:54:49 -0400

The Senate passed a bill without debate Tuesday that would accept more than $50 billion federal dollars and offer health coverage to more than 1 million Floridians under the federal health law. The move ...

Goldman Sachs affiliate to buy insurance software maker Ebix for $743 million

Wed, 01 May 2013 10:07:46 -0400

Ebix Inc, which makes software for insurance companies, said it agreed to be acquired by an affiliate of Goldman Sachs & Co for about $743 million. The offer price of $20 per share represents a 7.5 percent ...

What to Consider Before You Invest in IRA CDs

Wed, 01 May 2013 10:01:38 -0400

Retirement savers are usually focused on using stocks and bonds to build a diversified portfolio. However, when investors near retirement or want to take a more conservative approach to building their ...

2nd body found after S. Calif. midair collision

Wed, 01 May 2013 09:56:47 -0400

A second body was found Tuesday at a rugged site in the Santa Monica Mountains where a small plane crashed and burned after a midair collision with another small plane that managed to make a belly landing ...

7 Tips College Students Need to Make a Promising Business Plan

Wed, 01 May 2013 09:31:09 -0400

As the economy shifts and employers hire temporary workers instead of filling full-time positions, college grads can't count on landing traditional opportunities . A study from Millennial Branding and ...

Factory activity weakest in six months in April: Markit

Wed, 01 May 2013 09:01:52 -0400

Manufacturing growth pulled back to its slowest pace in six months in April as new orders and employment cooled, the latest signal the economy has hit a soft spot, a survey showed on Wednesday. Financial ...

How To Get The Most Out Of Hiring An Accountant

Wed, 01 May 2013 09:00:00 -0400

When you hire an accountant, getting good tax advice going forward is as valuable as – or perhaps even more valuable than - getting the previous year’s taxes filed correctly. Learn what you need to do ...

When Risky Business Makes Good Career Sense

Wed, 01 May 2013 08:37:20 -0400

Life, by its very nature, is made up of personal and professionals risks, and it is our aversion to risk that often holds us back from reaching our next great achievement. When was the last time you really ...

10 Reasons No One Wants You in Their Meetings

Wed, 01 May 2013 08:24:14 -0400

If you're like most people, you're not too fond of all the meetings you get stuck attending at work. But have you ever considered whether your co-workers are sick of having you in their meetings, because ...

CFPB changes stay-at-home spouse rule

Wed, 01 May 2013 08:00:00 -0400

The federal government's consumer agency has finalized a rule change to make it easier for nonworking, stay-at-home spouses to get their own credit cards

Top places the world's students want to live and work

Wed, 01 May 2013 07:01:00 -0400

Top places the world's students want to live and work

Federal financial aid form recognizes same-sex parents

Wed, 01 May 2013 06:44:00 -0400

Federal financial aid form recognizes same-sex parents

With damaged credit, can I get a mortgage?

Wed, 01 May 2013 03:00:08 -0400

Dear Dr. Don, I have come to the conclusion that I must downsize my home and reduce my mortgage payment. Am I able to get a loan for a new, smaller house with about half the mortgage payment when I recently ...

Shoppers face hurdles in finding ethical clothing

Tue, 30 Apr 2013 22:39:47 -0400

You can recycle your waste, grow your own food and drive a fuel-efficient car. But being socially responsible isn't so easy when it comes to the clothes on your back. Take Jason and Alexandra Lawrence ...

E*Trade names Morgan Stanley's Nandra as president

Tue, 30 Apr 2013 18:57:57 -0400

E*Trade Financial Corp named a pair of executives with consumer experience to fill top operational and marketing roles on Tuesday, continuing a house cleaning that began when the discount broker hired ...

Small business hiring pace picks up, revenue falls

Tue, 30 Apr 2013 18:35:58 -0400

Small businesses picked up their hiring pace slightly in April, according to a survey released Tuesday. Small companies added 20,000 jobs, up from a revised 15,000 in March and a revised 14,000 in February, ...

Yahoo expands paid maternity, paternity benefits

Tue, 30 Apr 2013 17:00:40 -0400

Yahoo Inc has increased the amount of paid leave new parents can take, bringing the Internet company closer to the policies of some of its Silicon Valley peers from which it hopes to lure engineers. The ...