The Honda Fit EV gets the equivalent of 118 mpg, a rating that leads all electric cars widely available to the public. Drivers who lease an electrified version of the award-winning Fit may be even more intrigued with another …
Insurance
Want to Stop Drivers from Speeding? Pay Them
There already are obvious financial incentives to obey the speed limit: Speeding can result in costly tickets, as well as even more costly auto insurance surcharges. But what if the incentive system was reversed and drivers were …
5 Things You Didn’t Know About Travel Insurance
Hundreds of thousands of fans from around the world are expected to visit London for the Olympic Games this summer, and it’s a guarantee that some of them will get sick right before their trip, have their luggage lost or have a …
When Consumers Pay More Due to Race or Gender
Is there a “woman tax”? By some account, women pay over $1,300 more annually than men for everything from deodorant to sneakers to health care. They’re not the only group that pays a premium, though. Men are charged thousands …
Why Annuities are the Answer (But Such a Tough Sell)
The decline of traditional pensions and steady erosion of Social Security benefits has begun to leave most retirees without a source of guaranteed lifetime income. Plugging that hole is emerging as the most important retirement issue of our day.
Retiring Abroad Is More Hype Than Reality
For years we’ve been hearing about the advantages of retiring abroad: low taxes, low cost of living, great climate and exciting cultural attractions. It’s all true in certain countries. Yet there hasn’t exactly been a mass exodus of retirees from the U.S.
Boomers Flock to ‘Longevity Insurance’ for Retirement Security
Guaranteed income in retirement has emerged as a central issue for baby boomers, and fast becoming the solution of choice is something called longevity insurance. It’s a nifty product—but, as you might suspect, hardly flawless.
Bonds Are on a Roll — Is it Time to Give Up on Stocks?
A well-known academic argues against stocks, even for the long run. But it feels a bit like arguing that Warren Buffett doesn’t know what he’s doing. Whose side would you take?
Drug Prices Up — or Not? Either Way, Treatments Will Chew Up Retirement Savings
A report on rising drug prices set off alarms among retirement planners. Pharmaceutical companies dispute the findings. But either way retirees must plan on an ever increasing outlay for health care.
Oh, the Cruel Irony: Smaller, Cheaper Cars Are More Expensive to Insure
Studies have shown that poor people tend to pay more for auto insurance. Guess who else pays a premium? People who own small, inexpensive cars—a group that also tends to be poor.
Study: Poor People Pay More for Auto Insurance
Low-income drivers are routinely charged higher auto insurance premiums than well-heeled car owners. But why should the poor pay a premium when it comes to premiums? Is the system inherently unfair? Or are there valid reasons why …
8 Celebrity-Endorsed Financial Products We Wouldn’t Buy
Athletes, actors and other famous folks lend their recognizable faces to promote all sorts of products, from breakfast cereal to basketball sneakers to prepaid debit cards (see Suze Orman). But a celebrity endorsement is, of …