Financial Gifts Any Child Can Learn to LoveA stock or mutual fund with strong long-term prospects can help set a 12-year-old on the path to financial independence. Should You Follow Your Adviser?When a financial adviser leaves, investors need to determine if it's in their best interest to follow or to remain at a firm with a new adviser. The Fiscal Cliff May Not Be All That BadBriefly going over the cliff for a few weeks would not be nearly as bad for the economy as doomsayers suggest. Expect Early Dividend PayoutsCompany boards are approving bigger and faster dividend payouts to avoid possibly higher 2013 tax rates. Fighting Over Money May Not Be So BadEverybody says that spouses who disagree about finances are in for trouble. Perhaps not. Looking for a New SEC ChairmanUnder Mary Schapiro, the agency was too timid. Al Lewis says the SEC needs a leader to take on the job with guns blazing. Here's his short list of candidates. December Deals: From Oysters to LipstickHere are a few little bonus items that will certainly brighten the holiday season, not because you need to buy them but because they truly are December's deals. Ten Things Cable-TV Companies Won't SayBundled packages aren't much of a deal, good service is hard to find and subscription prices are rising faster than inflation. More reasons to cut the cord? The Holidays Can Be a Good Time to Find a JobCareer experts say that December is a great time to reach out to hiring managers—especially during that slow gulf of time after Christmas and before the new year. CDs Still Have a Place in Your PortfolioDespite rock-bottom yields, certificates of deposit remain are a safe way to put cash to work that won't be needed for a few months or years. |