Eight Ways The Great Recession Has Changed Americans Fifty-five percent of Americans in the labor force have experienced a job loss, a pay cut, or a reduction in hours since the onset of the Great Recession in 2007, a new survey finds. Cash Crops: Buying Farmland for Income Investors nervous about the stock market and in search of better returns than a money-market fund might consider plowing cash into farmland. What Does It Cost To Raise A Child? A child born in 2009 will cost nearly a quarter of a million dollars to raise to maturity. But the more you have, the less each one will set you back. 10 Things We Can't Live Without The recession upended American priorities, with frugality now considered a virtue for the first time in decades. Yet Americans have clung dearly to a few surprising necessities, reflecting changes in American society that go far beyond penny-pinching. The Unseen Figures Of Your Funds Portfolio managers get the spotlight, but fund directors are ultimately responsible for seeing that investors are well served. Some critics say they aren't doing their job. Is America's Workforce Turning Pink? Men lost seven out of 10 jobs during the recession. Women now make up nearly half the U.S. labor force. America's Recovery Advantage The Japanese were putting our car industry to shame. The euro, reflecting Europe's united economic clout, was trouncing the dollar. But things look different now. Don't Be A Financial Burden On Your Kids Caught between the needs of your aging parents and those of your children? Unless you take the right steps now, your kids could end up in the same position. America's New Housing Crisis Capitals They held up relatively well while home values everywhere else were plunging. But trouble deferred isn't trouble denied for these areas. The Deficit: How To Protect Yourself What do today's huge budget shortfalls mean for you and your finances. From avoiding long-term bonds to snapping up a long-term mortgage, there are steps you can take. Creative New Fees Escape CARD Act Rules and Surprise Consumers A freshly minted law was supposed to stop credit card issuers from using abusive tactics to boost their profits, but now they're finding different ways to nickel and dime you. Home Buyers Need Good Credit Score Even With 20% Down Payment Five years ago, if your application for a mortgage included a 20% down payment, your bank would have approved your loan by sundown and sponsored a parade in your honor. Now, it's different. Are Your U.S. Treasury Bonds Safe? On its face, the probability of the U.S. defaulting on its spiraling debts seems highly unlikely. But that's not what the markets think. Reading The Economic Tea Leaves—And The Employment Outlook—To Find Signs Of Recovery Here's what professors, economists, and company bosses in a range of industries need to see during 2010 to convince them the economy is really turning around. Did The Bailout Work? A congressional watchdog says TARP stabilized the financial markets but it is failing to spur lending, stem foreclosures, and prevent small bank failures. 10 Resolutions for Retirement Readiness The new year takes you one year closer to retirement. But few Americans will be better prepared in 2010 than they were in 2009. These ideas could help. 10 Tips for Selling Your Home in the Sluggish Winter Months The market is still slow, and compromises are called for if you expect to make a quick sale at an acceptable price. M&A Is Back—But This Time, It's Different Acquisitions are not only thawing but heating up. What's behind this shopping spree, and is the trend likely to continue? Could This Be A Better Way To Reform Health Care? This entrepreneur advocates handing out vouchers that defray the cost of insurance and letting holders form pools that advocate for better rates and coverage. China's Magic Numbers Can the developing markets' superstar economy really grow at 8% a year despite the collapse of global trade? Not necessarily. Scoring The Obama Financial Reform Plan Would the proposed reforms have have headed off this financial crisis? Could they forestall future disruptions? There aren't easy answers, but this writer gives the plan an 8. Debt and Deflation The most important question an investor can ask is whether we are in for deflation or inflation. And though many now discount the threat of a deflationary spiral, these writers beg to differ. The Time to Tame Inflation Is Well Before It Strikes Right now, you might feel you don't need any insurance against a rise in the cost of living. But what if things change for the worse? Madoff Is "Evil," But Hardly Unique Though he claims to have acted alone, it took more than a fountain pen to pull off his massive fraud. Who Would Lose Under Obama's Financial Reforms The president's ambitious overhaul of the financial regulatory system could benefit most Americans. But such abrupt change would also cause some casualties. Who Will Pay For Mounting Federal And Trade Deficits? Our children and grandchildren, yes. But the running trade deficit gets a little trickier. Why Economists Failed To Predict The Financial Crisis A sense that they missed the call has led to soul searching among many economists. While some did warn that home prices were forming a bubble, others confess to a widespread failure to foresee the damage the bubble would cause when it burst. Building Businesses in Turbulent Times An economic crisis is a charter for business leaders to rewrite and rethink how they do business. The key: Don't think retrenchment; think growth. Is Your Pension Still Safe? Probably. But new rules could make it harder for you to get all of your money. Madoff's Accountant: When Is An Auditor Not An Auditor? David Friehling, he sole auditor at Friehling & Horowitz, a three-person accounting firm in New City, N.Y., was supposed to be keeping an eye on his famous client's books. After Dodging Many Bullets, Hedge Funds Are Back in Regulators' Sights This industry has a long history of avoiding tougher regulation. But as the Obama administration and Congress look for ways to avoid another financial meltdown, that history may soon come to an end. 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. 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. The 11 Most Overlooked Tax Deductions Plus four new tax breaks many people will overlook this year. 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. Bailouts Threaten Nations’ Debt Ratings Bond markets react to rising government debt. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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 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. Capitulation: When the Market Throws in the Towel Surprisingly, bear markets don't always end with a bang—sometimes it's just a whimper. Save! (But Not Too Much) Americans are getting thrifty just when they need to be spending more. U.S. Is Still a Beacon for Foreign Capital No need to worry about international investors—they’ll keep turning to the U.S., even with a recession. Links Disclosure: Links to other sites are provided for your convenience. Clarity Asset Management, 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.