Bill Gross, a legendary bond fund manager, is about to close the books on a terrible year for his $241 billion PIMCO Total Return Fund. His missteps underscore the risks of a concentrated investment and in staying too long with a …
5 Credit Card New Year’s Resolutions
It’s time for New Year’s resolutions: Along with promises to yourself about cutting out the reality TV and hitting the gym more often, there are also some financial goals you should set for 2012. Specifically, there are some …
One-Quarter of Consumers Haven’t Even Started Holiday Shopping Yet
In a survey conducted this past weekend, 25% of consumers said they hadn’t yet bought a single present for the holidays. But they can’t blame retailers — many of which launched Christmas sales starting in September.
Wendy’s Beats Burger King — By Rounding Its Hamburgers?
It’s been nearly three decades since Wendy’s started asking America “Where’s the beef?” As it turns out, the question it should have been asking all along was, “What shape is the beef?” The longstanding third-place hamburger …
Last-Minute Online Holiday Shopping: Still Time for Free Shipping That’ll Arrive for Christmas
Not only has free shipping been readily available to online shoppers this holiday season, the deadlines for placing an order shipped for free in time for Christmas have never been closer to the holiday itself. While most stores cut off such free shipping offers earlier this week, several e-retailers are still floating promotions …
Hacker Is Selling Your Personal Data Online — Cheap!
Did you know there’s a virtual online marketplace where hackers gather to buy and sell the fruits of their criminal labors? Think of Amazon or eBay — except the items customers put into their virtual shopping carts are stolen credit card numbers rather than audiobooks or dusty collectibles. If this sounds infuriating, just wait until …
Why the End of December Is a Great Time to Buy a Car
New or used? Economy, mid-level, or luxury? No matter what kind of vehicle you have in mind, the end of the year is when hardnosed bargain hunters head to the car dealership—for good reason.
The Blackberry Moral (Or: The Trouble With Too Many Options)
We were intrigued but not surprised by a recent article in the New York Times detailing troubles at Research in Motion, maker of the Blackberry. Among several problems facing the Canadian tech company is an overabundance of …
Real Estate Crash Hit Lower-Priced Homes The Hardest
When the housing bubble popped — in 2006, 2007, or 2008, depending on where you were — chances are that the value of your home took a nose dive. But who got hit worse, the top of the market or the bottom?
The Hidden Pitfalls of 529 College Savings Plans
The year-end push to contribute to a 529 state college savings plan is in full force. These plans make a lot of sense. But they also have drawbacks. Here’s how to make the most of them.
The Beginning of the End of the 9-to-5 Workday?
The traditional eight-hour workday may soon be the exception rather than the rule. New evidence shows that we’re reaching a tipping point in terms of workplace flexibility, with businesses seeing the wisdom of allowing employees …
Brace For a January Blizzard — of Credit Card Offers
Fewer Americans are defaulting on their credit card bills. That’s good news for our budgets and credit scores, but the improvement is also making credit card issuers happy. Fewer charge-offs means they’re in a better position to …