Lessons From The Recession You've been there, more than once. They haven't. Older adults have a lot to teach younger people about navigating a stormy economy. Smart Money-Saving Tips You Need Now Skip the lattes, sure—we've all heard that one before. But saving money, especially in tough times, goes far beyond cutting out luxuries. Microlenders Widen Their Client Base With many banks continuing to put a hold on lending, more small-business owners and entrepreneurs are turning to microlenders, which dole out smaller loans typically ranging from as little as $500 to $35,000. With This Debt, I Thee Wed Sour economies don't just destroy jobs and wealth. They can tear apart marriages, often because of the debt that couples accumulate and, when times get tough, have trouble repaying. Want To Negotiate CD Rates? Good Luck Just how realistic is it to think that you can call or walk into a bank and argue for a better rate? It may be worth a try, but don't count on success. This Market Rally May Be for Real Better policy and a shrinking trade deficit, in addition to clues from history, argue for muted optimism. The Thinking Behind the Stimulus and Bailout Programs Why are the decision-makers doing what they're doing? Whether you agree or not, it is important to have a handle on what is actually happening and the thinking behind it. IRS Aims To Reel In Offshore-Account Holders The IRS has offered taxpayers with offshore accounts a big carrot to fess up: Sharply reduced penalties, plus a reminder that criminal penalties are highly unlikely for people who come clean to the tax agency within the next six months. How Did The Housing Bubble Affect The Subprime Crisis? Read an excerpt from Robert Shiller's new book, The Subprime Solution, in which he explores what the S&P/Case-Shiller Home Price Indices reveal about the housing price bubble and its role in the current financial turmoil. Curing Small-Business Health Insurance Woes A new nonpartisan government report finds that the small-business health care market has become more concentrated and is therefore likely to become more expensive. 6 Strategies For 529 Plan Withdrawals In today's ongoing economic maelstrom, it's more important than ever to examine strategies for spending and withdrawing 529 plan funds. The Pros Of Planting Startups In Smaller Cities Quality of life and local incentives can lend a competitive advantage to entrepreneurs when they need it most. New Tax Breaks For Turbulent Times As the recession drags on, the IRS is playing a new role: Mr. Nice Guy. The Leadership Makeover Growth at First Global Xpress had stalled. And that made CEO James Dowd wonder: Was it time to hand the reins to someone else? The 7 New Rules Of Financial Security In a world turned upside down, you must re-examine some basic assumptions. A good place to start: understanding the true nature of risk. What To Do With Severance Pay It's your consolation prize, and it may be small thanks for all that you poured into your job. But now the trick is to make it last—or even grow. Making Sense Of The Credit Debacle Did financial journalists miss the chance to warn of serious problems? Or was the world just not willing to listen? Retirement Mutual Funds: An Endangered Species? After the market meltdown, even "target-date" funds, and others designed for retirement savings, have suffered huge losses, leading to questions about their future. Lower Your Property Tax Bill If your house has lost value, you could challenge its assessment—and shave hundreds if not thousands off your annual levy. U.S. Proposal Aims To Aid Smaller Companies The small-business community has been lukewarm about government plans to unlock tight credit, fearing the proposal targets just a small group of companies. Lock In A Lifetime Of Income Tough times in the markets are renewing interest in an old, reliable investment for retirement: immediate annuities. Six Bailouts You Can Give Yourself Does it seem like everyone is getting bailed out but you? Create your own bailout by fine-tuning your finances. Roadmap To Inflation—And How To Be Prepared Though a rise in the cost of living may not be an immediate concern, it will happen eventually, and measures taken now could ease the blow. Why Stocks Are Still A Good Investment Wharton School professor Jeremy Siegel says that once the market has fallen 50%, it bodes well for future returns. Economic Recovery: We're in Alphabet Soup Will the resurgence be as rapid and robust as the downturn—and trace a V? Or will it resemble the dreaded L? How To Go to Harvard for Free Now, there's a way to beat the downturn—and the soaring cost of a college education. Academic Earth's online video lectures are the next best thing to being there. Best Small Businesses to Start America's economic future is uncertain. Unemployment is up sharply. Credit is tight. People are worried about their savings. It's the perfect time to start a business. Creative Entrepreneurship In A Downturn Good ideas are not hard to come by. The more complicated part is to harness today's diminishing supply of capital. But money can still find its way to a credible idea. America's Future Wind Web? Wind power could feed 20% of the U.S. energy diet. But first, the country needs a new energy network. Record-Keeping For Your 529 Plan What do you need to do to keep the IRS off your back once you begin paying college expenses? Here are a few rules to keep in mind. The Stimulus' Key Small Business Tax Provisions Experts delving in to the particulars of the massive new law explain how it will provide tax relief to small companies. 5 Insurance Policies Worth Having These days, there's insurance for almost everything, and much of it you don't really need. But should disaster ever strike, this coverage will more than pay for itself. The Coolest College Start-ups Twenty-five years ago, a University of Texas student named Michael Dell began assembling computers in his dorm room. Here are 25 students who've come up with their own great, marketable ideas. 5 Steps To Rescue Your Retirement You may be down, but you're certainly not out. These five strategies will help repair the cracks in your portfolio and make sure your money lasts as long as you do. How to Talk about Layoffs Most CFOs say that making job cuts is the single most difficult part of their jobs, but there are ways to manage this painful process more effectively. Debt Be Not Proud Guess what? According to the Federal Reserve's latest survey, we're not doing so hot. But there are some surprising findings about what we owe and what we save. Less Food for Your Money Talk about deflation. Companies are shrinking the size of popular grocery items like mayonnaise, ice cream, peanut butter, and toilet paper—while keeping the price and packaging the same. Bankers' Public Relations Fiasco America's banking CEOs are criminally bad at explaining their business or their actions. Why can't they defend themselves better? 25 People Who Will Affect Your Finances in 2009 Many of the names are familiar; others are less so. But from CEOs to politicians, these are the folks who will move markets. The 11 Most Overlooked Tax Deductions Plus four new tax breaks many people will overlook this year. Making Your Business An Open Book When companies share their financial data with employees, the results can be dramatic. Low Mortgage Rates Will Cost You While loan rates are lower than they've been in years, lending standards are very tight. Those who qualify for these really good rates fall under a strict set of guidelines, and face high fees. Will Pension Funds Suffer The Next Financial Implosion? There's a growing concern among economists and government officials about whether these plans can stay afloat amid recession. Four Ways The Stimulus Package Helps Homeowners and Buyers The massive legislation contains tax breaks and new loan limits to aid homeowners and get homes selling. Where Job Losses Will Be Deep—and Where They Won't About 10,000 people a day are losing their jobs in the current U.S. crisis, the worst rate since perhaps the Great Depression. Yet for many industries, the real pain lies ahead. Saving Capitalist Banking From Itself The U.S. government now has both the tools and the will to save the private banking system, and more importantly, the real economy, from its debt-deflationary pathologies. Market Woes Keeping You Awake? Here's Help There was an epidemic of insomnia even before the Dow tanked. We try doctors, coaches, and a hypnotist in search of some serious shut-eye. Eight Tips for Better Cash Management Cash management, alas, can't make your company rich. But it can unlock capital, transform your bottom line, and safeguard your future in uncertain times. How to Slash Your Credit Exposure The downturn gives companies an excuse for demanding that customers share more financial information, to keep on top of clients’ ability to pay and stay viable. Obama’s Rush to Save America’s Banks Obama needs to act fast to stop the bleeding in the banking sector. But is the creation of a huge "aggregator" bank the right approach? Working Longer—The Best Way to Afford Retirement Even before the current financial disaster, there were reasons for delaying retirement. But if you weren't thinking about it before, odds are you are now when you look at the balance in your retirement plan. America’s Fear of Competition How cronyism and rent-seeking replaced "creative destruction." 7 Jobs for Job Security in a Recession Although it increasingly sounds like an anachronism, job security is growing in appeal Is The World Really Flat? That's the question posed by Amar Bhidé in his new book, The Venturesome Economy. Disputing Thomas Friedman, author of The World is Flat, Bhidé concludes that: (1) it isn't, and (2) arguments by Friedman and others—whom he labels as "techno-nationalists"—fail to recognize how innovation that matters really occurs. Scout Out Home Deals For prospective home buyers, it's hard to ignore the sales pitch: Home values nationwide have fallen on average some 20%, while mortgage rates recently plumbed record lows below 5%. Mutual Funds: A Long Climb To Recovery? Last year battered investor portfolios. Here’s why they can expect better results in 2009. 7 Ways To Be A Dolt About Credit Destroying your credit is easier than you think. Use these handy tips to scuttle your score fast. Mortgage Crisis: Will Loan Mods Bring Relief? Various new proposals for modifying mortgages aim to prevent further waves of foreclosures—but the scale of the task is daunting. 5 Ways to Boost a Financial Aid Package Parents and students face a double whammy. Not only have economic conditions strapped a growing number of families' budgets, but many colleges can't afford to extend more financial aid than they could in the past. The end result: More competition for less aid. The Double-edged Sword of Head Count Cuts Companies contemplating layoffs must consider a variety of issues, not all of which fit into a spreadsheet. Bailouts Threaten Nations’ Debt Ratings Bond markets react to rising government debt. How Will Pension Benefits Be Affected If Your Company Goes Bankrupt? It's probably safe to say that the more than 40 million Americans who still have pensions are at least a little bit worried right now. The stock market turmoil of the past year has left corporate pension plans at the largest companies underfunded by $409 billion. At the end of 2007, those plans had a $60 billion surplus. Supersize Social Security Between ages 62 and 70, there are three little-known options—the reset, the file and suspend, and the restricted application—that could significantly expand your planning options and increase your Social Security benefits. A Guide to Self-Employment Advice for recently laid-off workers considering going into business for themselves. Dementia Can Wreak Havoc on Family Finances When a financial decision-maker loses his capacity to choose wisely, the results can be catastrophic. But heading off dire consequences can be very difficult. 2009 CFO Outlook: A Survey of What Manufacturing Chiefs Expect The good news was that half the surveyed CFOs expect their company's revenues to increase in the coming year—and nearly four in ten predict increased profit margins. What Goes Down Will Come Up A new benchmark, the fossil-fuel beta, zeroes in on one pivotal question: To what degree do corporate policies and hedging strategies help decouple a firm's market returns from fossil-fuel price changes? Out With The Old Wall Street's top strategists see stocks starting to recover in 2009, even as the economy deteriorates further. A dozen forecasters weigh in with what to buy and what to avoid. Scam Alert: How Safe Is Online Banking? After reviewing hundreds of banking websites, University of Michigan researchers say that three in four have design flaws that could make customers vulnerable to cybercrimes. Secretary of Saving the World Tim Geithner's daunting to-do list at the Treasury Department. How the Feds will Govern GM and Chrysler The federal government has rescued banks, insured a huge insurance company, and stepped up as a lender of last resort. Now, with its bailout of the auto industry, it's the functional equivalent of a bankruptcy judge, too. Time To Refinance? Fixed-rate mortgages haven't been this low in nearly 40 years. But that doesn't necessarily mean a new loan would pay off for you. 10 Reasons to Design a Better Corporate Culture Organizations with strong, adaptive cultures enjoy labor cost advantages, great employee and customer loyalty, and smoother leadership succession. How Hard Times Can Drive Innovation Sure, the economy's bad. But it's a good time to innovate, according to Clayton M. Christensen, a Harvard Business School professor who focuses on innovation. Now In Vogue: Saving Last year's 0.6% savings rate meant that, on average, 99.4% of Americans' disposable income was being spent. But with a host of financial shocks hitting Wall Street and Main Street, attitudes toward savings are changing. When Will Your Housing Market Recover? The disconnect between broad-stroke forecasts and small-scale local markets presents quite a puzzle for homebuyers and home sellers, who need to make major financial decisions on the basis of facts, not fiction. The Rise Of The Four-Day Work Week? U.S. employers such as Pella and the City of Atlanta are cutting hours instead of jobs to slash costs while remaining ready for a turnaround. The Best Colleges For Making Money Is Harvard worth the extra costs? Will attending an Ivy League institution pay off for your child in a lifetime of higher income? These ratings put those notions to the test. Future Tense The financial crisis obliterated corporate forecasts. Now, CFOs struggle to assess what lies ahead. In the Next Bull, 15 Could Be the New 20 The next bull won't be nearly as robust as the last two, and valuations will prove it. The 401(k) Is Now 30 Years Old ... Should We Celebrate? Though the retirement planning staple has taken a lot of hits lately, there are those who defend it to the hilt, saying "invest until it hurts." On The Dole, But Not Doleful Unemployment benefits do encourage joblessness. But that may not be a bad thing. Best Small Businesses To Start Learn from the examples of entrepreneurs who have succeeded with start-ups in these hot areas. Treasury to Seniors: Drop Dead The Treasury Department decided not to grant relief on mandatory distributions for this year. IRA owners must act quickly to take required 2008 payouts. Hitched to the Economy The recession and economic turmoil is creating a new class of casualties: Married couples who can't afford to get divorced. In these tough times many people are finding it's cheaper to stay together, even when they can't stand each other. How to Fix 401(k)s The financial meltdown has fueled a call to change or or replace these retirement accounts. Here's what your savings plan might look like in the future. Solutions To The Nation's Housing Bubble Still Up In The Air Homes are still overpriced by $8 trillion. Is "tough love" the answer? Does It Pay To Play By The Rules? Everywhere you look these days, someone is being rewarded for bad behavior. But borrowing wildly and waiting to be bailed out, too, is probably not a winning strategy. Is the Jobs Panic Justified? BusinessWeek asked economists from Wall Street to academia. Their job forecasts all depend on when they think the credit markets will start working again. Estate Planning Without Anxiety With the markets in turmoil, planning for the here and now seems daunting enough; planning for the after-I-die is even less appealing. But not paying attention now could force your family to make hard decisions later, without your guidance. Small Companies Will Lag, But By How Much? Switching to international accounting reporting standards is inevitable for private companies—eventually. Does Extreme Stress Signal an Economic Snapback? More than a decade's worth of equity gains has evaporated. But history suggests that stocks won't fall much further. The Gender Gyp Social Security looks very different from a woman’s point of view—and that’s not a good thing. Why All Those Great Depression Analogies Are Wrong The credit debacle of 2008 and the Great Depression may have similar origins: Both got going when financial crisis led to a reduction in consumer demand. But the two phenomena differ substantially. The 5 Best Places to Stash Your Cash Safety reigns, but a decent yield would also help. These alternatives may offer some of both. Should You Buy a Detroit Car? Troubles in Motown are mounting, and that could mean a rough road for purchasers of a vehicle from the Big Three. Smaller Firms Consider Buying Growth Chief executives of smaller companies say they will buy their way to growth as the recession continues, but capital constraints, a frozen credit market, and a slowing economy have halted several agreed-upon deals already. A Bachelor's In Borrowing As Americans curb spending and battle to keep up with credit cards and mortgages, another type of debt is starting to overtake people: student loans. Although the U.S. has experienced economic downturns before, never has one converged with such high levels of student debt. How Prudent Donors Can Follow Their Dollars With an eye on dwindling investment-account balances, Americans are making end-of-year charitable donations expecting greater accountability. Closing a 529 College Savings Plan Triggers Tax Consequences The grim market has many 529 investors looking for alternatives. But just taking back your money is probably not a good one. Sex, Lies, and Subprime Mortgages The sexual favors, whistleblower intimidation, and routine fraud behind the fiasco that has triggered the global financial crisis. How To Make Money In A Sideways Market It might not be dead, but buy-and-hold sure seems gravely wounded. Today’s bear market, which looks like it could move sideways at best if we’re lucky, requires more flexibility and activity on the part of investors. The Dollar May Be Up, But Are You? A stronger greenback is a mixed blessing to U.S. companies with big international operations. Trying To Plumb A Bottom What sentiment data are saying about finding a bear-market low. The Golden Years, Tarnished In theory, retired people are not supposed to invest much in the stock market; in reality, many millions of them do. Now, that’s forcing them to accept heavy losses and alter their plans. Are The Big Three Worth Saving? They’ve made crippling deals with unions, produced cars that don’t sell and failed to innovate. But here’s why a bailout is still better than bankruptcy. The Eurozone Enters Its First Recession As recently as last summer, the European Central Bank was raising interest rates to ward off inflation. And though it’s cutting rates aggressively now, the damage may have been done. 10 Things That Are Going Right The markets may be in turmoil. The economic outlook is grim. But not all the news is bad. Some Firms Suspend 401(k) Match As the economy worsens, worsens, a growing number of small businesses are suspending their 401(k) match, and, in some instances, closing the retirement plans altogether. A Little-Known Tax Break for Bruised 529s Families saving for education may be eligible to recoup some of the money lost in the market this year. Are Jobless Next To Need A Bailout? The nation's economic focus is turning from saving the banking system to how to provide a rapidly rising tide of jobless with benefits and a road map to employment. Mortgage-Modification Plan Offers Help To Overstretched Homeowners Behind on your mortgage? The federal government might fast-track a way to reduce your monthly house payment. Keeping up? The government says thanks. The Changes Business Wants from Obama Corporate executives discuss measures—from finance and taxation to energy and tech—that would help U.S. companies survive and thrive Professors Teach New Ways To Evaluate Funds A two-year-old website bills itself as a one-stop destination for news, articles, and fund ratings. But its best feature may be a suite of tools based on prominent academic research that may help choose top-performing funds. Securitization’s Final Throes? Changes to accounting rules could put loads of assets back on banks’ balance sheets. Capitulation: When the Market Throws in the Towel Surprisingly, bear markets don't always end with a bang—sometimes it's just a whimper. Putting An IRA To Work In Investments Beyond Stocks With retirement portfolios, it’s tempting to look for ways to replenish the coffers. One possibility is to switch to real estate, new business ventures, and other investments not traditionally associated with IRAs. But extreme caution is called for. Save! (But Not Too Much) Americans are getting thrifty just when they need to be spending more. Was Europe Right All Along? Government regulation and intervention was considered the problem, not the solution. Then came the American firestorm. Bailout Act Includes Tax Breaks for the Little Guy You might not be a big fan of the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008 (better known as the bailout bill). But it does include a bunch of federal income tax changes, most of which are taxpayer-friendly. As U.S. Shoppers Retreat, Can The World Thrive? Consumers were the biggest engine of global growth. But indebtedness prevents that now, and government help may have to take up the slack. Is Your 529 Fractured? Fix It The moves needed to salvage your educations savings plan depend on how soon you need the money. These ideas can help. Surviving the Storm For the bold, opportunities abound amid recession gloom: Strategies for managers, employees, investors, consumers, and borrowers The Sky Is Not Falling These are hardly the best of times for the economy. But they may not be as bad as you think. It’s possible this downturn could prove to be one of the briefest and mildest on record. Hired: CFO; Spending Limit: $700 Billion Treasury Secretary Paulson appoints a veteran federal interim CFO to oversee the finances of the office that will buy banks' illiquid securities. An Estate Plan Built for Special Needs Gabe Molitor has epilepsy and Asperger's syndrome, a form of autism. His mother recently set up what's known as a special-needs trust, which will provide funding to pay for some of her 30-year-old son's expenses when she and her husband are no longer able to care for him How Do I Protect My Money In A Bear Market? If you’re like most investors, you’ve spent weeks and months watching your portfolio sink lower and lower. And you’ve been asking yourself: Why didn’t I sell? Coverage Options After a Job Loss If you lose your job, one of the most important—and sometimes most difficult—financial decisions to make is what to do about health insurance. Markets Foresee Global Contraction France, Ireland, and Denmark are in recession. Others teeter on the edge Seven "Psycho" Money Traps and How to Beat Them The way the brain works makes it prone to financial mistakes. Here's how to avoid these cerebral snares. Bank Bailouts Come to Europe The rush to save four banks signals a more aggressive policy stance. But Europe's many regulators will make it tough to form a coherent strategy Five Survival Tips for Entrepreneurs It's not easy being an entrepreneur during a downturn, especially when it includes a severe credit crunch. These tips can help you stay afloat. Why Blue Chips Will Bounce Back You'd have to go back almost to the Depression to find a 10-year stretch that has seen so little growth in bedrock stocks. But there are several reasons why this trend won't last forever. Putting Education On The Holiday Gift List Want to boost your child's 529 plan balance? Invite your family and friends to direct their holiday and birthday gift money into the plan. A number of 529 plans and online registries are not only promoting the idea, they are also making the process easy. 15 Things You Need To Know About The Panic Of 2008 A crash course in why it happened, how it's strangling the nation's finances and how it might work itself out. How The Paulson-Bernanke Plan Could Help Home Prices Could the federal bailout stop the vicious cycle of plunging home prices and foreclosures? Borrowing From Your IRA Need an interest-free loan for 60 days or less? One option is to borrow from your IRA.Done right, it’s a tax-free deal, and you won’t incur any interest charges. Done wrong, you'll trigger income taxes and maybe a 10% penalty too while decimating your retirement stash. A Sense Of Resentment Among The "For Sale" Signs The details of the financial crisis are still hard for most people to follow -- what with talk of exotic "derivatives" known as "credit-default swaps" and so on -- but the central fact of the matter hasn't been lost on most people: The taxpayers are on the hook for the bad judgment of others. Baby Boomer Delay Retirement Declines in assets force a generation to face a new reality. Hidden Value Could it be McMansion backlash? Trophy homes are increasingly being scaled down and aesthetically integrated into the surrounding landscapes. Will The Short-Selling Ban Help—Or Hurt—Banks? Actions in London and New York stopped a practice seen as pushing stocks down. But some say short-sellers are merely scapegoats. The Big Bailout: Measuring the Aftershocks While the government's plan lets Wall Street relax for the time being, huge questions about potential side effects of the strategy remain. What Candidates' Health-Care Proposals Will Mean To Small Businesses Thanks to skyrocketing health insurance premiums, health-care reform is at center stage for small-business owners this election season. Here's what Barack Obama and John McCain would do to change the system. Winners and Losers in Annual Credit Card Surveys Two surveys, from Consumer Reports and J.D. Power and Associates, point to cards to love and cards to avoid. Much depends on whether you're a "transactor" or a "revolver." Spoiling Your Children Is Too Easy--and Too Dangerous As parents, we may feel an overwhelming desire to give our children the stuff we didn’t have. Yet giving them lots of the material items you longed for is deadly to their motivation. To Save on Airfares, You'd Better Stop Around Nonstop flights are preferable, of course, but in these days of sky-high fares, they're also much more expensive than those with one or two connecting flights. Where Now for Social Security? An actuary group has issued a controversial call for raising full retirement age to 69. Meanwhile, McCain and Obama have ideas of their own. Here's what may happen during the years ahead. The Wisdom of Crowds? A single economic forecast is usually wrong. But groups of economic forecasts are often just as mistaken. Why? Little-Known Tax Breaks for Continuing Care Communities For those who can afford them, continuing care communities offer many perks, not least of which is the chance to live out your days in one place, with as much or little medical support as you need. And a major tax break could make the high price tag easier to bear. Last Summer's Housing Bill Was Also a Reverse Mortgage Fixer-Upper The $300 billion housing bill signed into law on July 30 by President Bush helps stretched homeowners renegotiate their mortgages and provides tax credits to first-time buyers. But it also addresses three major criticisms of reverse mortgage loans, which are increasingly popular among homeowners 62 and older who use the money for living expenses, health care, prescription drugs or to pay off an existing mortgage. Even the "Comfortable" See the Need to Alter Spending Habits The mood of economic unease has encouraged even the wealthiest 10 percent of Americans to reconsider their spending, which in 2006 represented 1 out of every 4 dollars spent. A June survey found that 80 percent of these higher-income households are now looking closely at spending, up from 68 percent in April. Harvard's Endowment Offers Lessons in Asset Allocation Harvard Management Co., which runs the university's endowment, generated a return of between 7% and 9% for fiscal 2008. Given that the S&P 500-stock index fell about 15% during the same 12-month period, and that Harvard's returns were well above the rate of inflation, that performance seems to deserve an "A"—-and to offer a model for other investors. Tax Hike-Beating Payouts for Business Owners If you own a regular C corporation (as opposed to an S corporation), the current federal income tax regime is quite favorable. Taking a payout now, before taxes rise, could save you a bundle. Now Wall Street Wants Your Pension, Too The people who brought you the mortgage mess now want to get their hands on your pension. That's probably not good news. Strategies for Reining In Energy Costs When gasoline was surging toward $5 a gallon—and oil flirting with $150 a barrel—small businesses were scrambling to cope with crippling energy costs. Many still are. A Sneaky New Twist on the Wash-Sale Rules Thanks to some recent IRS guidance, you may now have to worry about even IRA transactions triggering the dreaded wash sale rules. Thinking Like An Engineer Scientists are applying the tools and approaches of engineering to solve some practical problems and fathom the basic nature of things. Global Business Outlook Survey What do the top bean counters think of the economic outlook? Although not as pessimistic as they once were, many are preparing their companies for a long downturn. The Believer Flat broke at the age of 21, this entrepreneur made a list of 10 things he wanted to accomplish in life. One by one, he pulled them off—and built a health and fitness empire. Greening autos: Experts comment on the candidates' policies Which presidential candidate really is greener about cars? These experts weigh in on the contenders’ proposals. Disaster-proof your practice From handling minor setbacks to worst-case scenarios, disaster planning is vital to the survival of a medical practice—or any small business. Southern Discomfort The South feels raw again; its political emotions more exposed by recent political events and the coming election than they’ve been in decades. Best Places to Live - Money's list of America's best small cities What’s the best place to live in America? Would you believe Plymouth, Minnesota? How about Naperville, Illinois. Consider those two and the other 98 on this annual list. As nonmedical staffers grow in number and insurance bureaucracy sprawls...is the business of getting better, getting caught up in the overhead? Administrative costs consume almost a third of the health care dollar. Hospitals, doctors, and patients say that must change. 4 steps to boost car trade-in value If you’re in the market for a new car but need to get rid of your old one first, you’re probably not looking forward to haggling with a dealer about your car's trade-in value. For investors, there is no free lunch Brokered certificates of deposit may seem almost perfect, often paying higher interest than bank CDs. And they’re federally insured. But there’s no free lunch. Community colleges: a great return on investment Compared with private colleges charging nearly $50,000 a year for room, board, and tuition, community colleges are a huge bargain—and, increasingly, a viable alternative. When Computers Meld With Our Minds Star female financial analysts maintain their shine even after switching companies. Unlike their male peers, they thrive in new work environments. Why the difference? Avoiding Turbulence — with Supercomputers Clear-air turbulence is frightening and can be dangerous. But new research aims to make the forecasting of clear-air turbulence in U.S. skies far more accurate. From Financial Services To Corporate Humorist Sue Burton, a financial services executive, took advantage of her quirky sense of humor to create humorous team-building workshops she uses to train and entertain clients. Use Social Media to Bond With Consumers Second Life founder Philip Rosedale talks about SL being open for business, the allure of virtual meetings over real ones, and why he stepped down as CEO. Venture-Backed Firms Congress is hashing out a law that would permit venture-capital-controlled companies to win federal aid, but small businesses insist such companies don’t need the cash. Car Buying in a Credit Crunch Late summer is supposed to be the best time to buy a new car, but this year, savvy shoppers may actually find the best deals well before Labor Day. Secrets of Their Success They’re young, talented, and female—here’s how the top women in finance made it to the C suite. Flying Was Supposed to Be Better After last summer’s nightmare of delays and cancellations, airlines and the government promised things would be better this year. But, so far, this summer is just as miserable. Barrel Fever How much oil is there in the world? It’s a good question, as worries about future supply fuel ever higher prices. But there’s no easy answer. Don't put too much down on house How much house can you afford? These days, it’s not a simple question. And making a big down payment has to be balanced against preserving financial flexibility. Greenland Ice Sheets Aren't Melting As Fast As Feared Global warming’s nightmare scenario has the vast ice sheets of Greenland melting, flooding much of the world. They are melting, but not as fast as scientists had feared. Drug Infused Nanoparticles In what could lead to human breakthroughs, tumor-targeting nanoparticles filled with chemotherapy drugs have kept kidney and pancreatic cancers from spreading in mice 8 Money Moves You Must Make At 50 Poor planning, insufficient insurance protection, and boomerang kids are just some of the challenges facing those over 50. Here are eight things they must do. Fish Fade Away, Crabs Take Over Global warming has caused dramatic shifts in some aquatic communities in which fish die off and lobsters, crabs, and squid move in. And the trend could be spreading. Three Warnings for Hard Times If the market’s threatening your nest egg, here’s what not to do: take a reverse mortgage, get a 401(k) debit card, or cashing in your life insurance policies. One Laptop Meets Big Business The big idea of giving PCs to poor children has been challenged by educators and business. Here, follow the misadventures of One Laptop per Child. Firms Adjust to Health-Care Law A San Francisco law is prompting some businesses to raise prices and curtail hiring. But it’s doing what it was intended to do: push employers to defray workers’ medical costs. 6 Ways to Live Longer and Healthier Almost everyone would like to live longer, but only a few tactics actually have been shown to stretch and improve lives. Here are the factors that make a difference. How Bad Will It Get? The subprime-mortgage meltdown is strikingly similar to major financial crises in other countries. Will the aftermath be as costly? The Customer is the Company This company churns out dozens of new items a month with no advertising, professional designers, sales force, or retail distribution. And it’s never produced a flop. Money pressures pile up on the U.S. consumer The economic slowdown is making long-term woes—such as rising debt and slim pay raises—more acute for American consumers. Make money investing in land With the stock market shaky, there’s still money to be made investing in undeveloped land. But you’d better do your homework. Where to invest $1 million So you have $1 million to invest. Should you play it safe, sticking with municipal bonds and other low-risk options? Only if you don’t mind losing ground. Peer-to-peer online lending grows in tight economy Online lending sites have been around since 2005, but the economy and the credit crunch have given them a boost. Spending on Happiness Can money buy happiness? Yes, so long as you spend it on someone else. New research says giving other people even as little as $5 can lead to increased well-being for the giver. Researchers Launch Online Protein Folding Game "Foldit", a new online game, challenges players to design proteins. Then scientists will test the creations to see whether they make viable candidate compounds for new drugs. Courting Disaster Confusion over 401(k) plan fees is triggering lawsuits and congressional inquiries. What can plan sponsors do to head off trouble? Banks Toughen Terms on Loans In a blow to an already wobbly U.S. economy, banks are imposing tougher lending terms for consumers and businesses across the board, according to a new Fed survey. How Bad Could It Get? How bad can it get? Will the current downturn be more like the recession of 1990-91—or could it snowball into something resembling the Great Depression? 12 steps for victims of identity fraud If you think you're a victim of identity theft, taking these steps immediately will help you clear your name and your credit. It can be a gamble to invest in alternative energy The higher crude oil prices climb, the more interest there is in alternative energy, and it has become a hot investing sector. But green power companies fuel super risks. Spontaneous Compassion Affluent donors prefer to donate when the mood strikes, even if it means—as it very often does—that they miss out on the benefits of a planned approach. Where the Dollar Rules These three countries let American travelers revisit the days of the dollar’s glory, counterbalancing the sticker shock of going almost anywhere else. Working for Yourself Working for yourself may sound like a perfect solution, particularly in this economy. But you'll need to employ some old-fashioned office discipline to succeed. Money worries may hinder tax rebate spending What will happen to all those tax rebates. Will consumers spend, spend, spend the economy back into the pink? Or will they just use the money to pay pressing bills? Cheese to the rescue This entreprenur helps small farmers stay in business by diversifying into lucrative new markets' like gourmet cheese. Social Security sounder than you might think The latest report on Social Security shows a really significant improvement in the finances of the system in contrast to some press accounts that judged it grim. The Great Forgotten Clean-Energy Source: Geothermal Forget for a moment about wind, solar, and biofuels. We tap less than 1% of our available geothermal energy, a long-neglected form of green power. An elite investment that cuts taxes Exchange-traded notes look like mutual funds and ETFs, but these derivatives have tax advantages that could set them apart. How Much Is Too Much? How much is too much to leave to your kids? Four leading attorneys discuss how affluent parents can use estate planning to instill values in their children. With disposable credit card numbers, neither a merchant nor any malicious eavesdropper would know whose it was. Only the credit card company could read it. With disposable credit card numbers, neither a merchant nor any malicious eavesdropper would know whose it was. Only the credit card company could read it. Getting All the Carbon Out of Cars Plug-in hybrid cars just got a big boost from the State of California. But the latest move by state regulators also highlights the difficulty of taking all of the carbon out of cars What to Pay Your Top Team Are you paying yourself too much or too little? And what about your company's top executives? This salary survey can help you see what others in your industry receive. As much as you love your kids, saving for college rather than retirement could be a big mistake. Here are several good reasons to be selfish. As much as you love your kids, saving for college rather than retirement could be a big mistake. Here are several good reasons to be selfish. Tips for Managing Your Roth IRA Roth IRAs offer advantages for many investors. But this is not a retirement account to fund and forget. Here are tips for managing it for maximum rewards. You don't have to owe a lot once you're a college grad Most students graduate from college with a lifetime of memories. Unfortunately, many also graduate with a lifetime of debt. It doesn't have to be that way. Whatever Happened to . . . Subliminal Advertising? Remember subliminal advertising? It was going to sway consumers, who would never know the difference? Now, credible research suggests it could work really well. Top 10 Emerging Environmental Technologies Wasteful energy policies, overuse of resources, water supply shortages, global climate change, deforestation those are the problems. Here are 10 solutions. Pensions: still growing like clockwork After mid-career, an old-fashioned pension turns out to be an amazingly valuable perk. But you need to know what yours is worth. Less Is More A recent survey shows managing taxes is far more important to the wealthy than investment gains, and the more they have, the more they want to shrink their taxes. He Invests, She Invests: If you and your spouse often tussle over how to invest the family nest egg, there's a good reason: It seems men and women have fundamentally different investment styles. Three Tax Scams to Keep an Eye Out For Identity thieves have found a way to make tax season even more taxing. The IRS recently warned consumers about new scams in which thieves pretend to be IRS agents. A Hedge-Fund Mystery Why did a number of equity hedge funds suffer big losses in August 2007 and what do those losses say about systemic risk? Secret Surfing Want to keep prying eyes away from your web browser, email, and instant messages? It can be done, but you need to know how. Getting In Gets Harder The children of the baby boomers are flooding colleges with applications, making the process more competitive than ever. As housing crisis deepens, cities fight lenders over abandoned homes Buffalo, New York, is at the forefront of a pioneering effort to deal with a vexing problem: Vacant and abandoned homes resulting from the mortgage market meltdown. Investing for early retirement Aggressive investing could help you retire early, but taking on too much risk could backfire. Here's how to strike a reasonable balance. 7 easy steps to saving $1,000 in 2008 Saving $1,000 this year may not seem like a big deal. But these seven steps could make it simple and almost painless and put you on track to save much more. Get More Perks From Your Plastic From fighting global warming to throwing out the first ball at a big league baseball game, credit-card companies offer a bewildering range of new choices for using your points. 10 Things Your Primary-Care Physician Won't Tell You Your doctor is one of the most important people in your life. But here are 10 things he or she won't ever tell you. Last-minute moves to trim your taxes You'll have more cause to celebrate the new year if you've taken advantage of tax breaks with a year-end time limit, built up deductions, and shifted some income into 2008. Piracy crackdown targets small businesses The Business Software Alliance is going after small businesses is suspects are using unlicensed software. And even groundless accusations could be costly. Freebies from home builders With new homes a drug on the market, builders are trying to lure reluctant buyers with plane tickets, new cars, and even a pet peacock. Estate planning for everyone Everybody talks about estate planning, but not everyone knows what they're talking about. Here's a primer on the parts of a basic plan. Smart decisions help maximize charitable donations, deductions Thinking of a year-end charitable donation. Good for you, but with the tax code growing ever more complex, make sure you're getting full credit for your philanthropy. Links Disclosure: Links to other sites are provided for your convenience. Delta Financial Advisors, Inc does not endorse, verify or attest to the accuracy of the content of the web sites that are linked and accepts no responsibility for their use or content. ©2010 Advisor Products Inc. All Rights Reserved.