One in four bankers would cheat to make $10 million. This is one of many unsettling findings in a new survey of Wall Streeters. As always, you’re on your own out there.
Economics & Policy
‘Pet Flipping’ Is Now a Thing
The term sounds absurd, along the lines of “cat juggling,” the fake underground gag used for laughs in the old Steve Martin film The Jerk. But apparently, pet flipping is a real scam — and it’s on the rise.
Women at the Auto Repair Shop: Better at Haggling, Yet More Likely to Get Ripped Off
According to a new study, it’s good and bad to be a woman when dealing with auto mechanics: It’s bad because you’re more likely to get above-market price quotes for the job at hand, but good because you’re more likely than a man to negotiate a better price.
Why Saving Money and Cutting Debt Doesn’t Cut It Anymore
Consumer savings are up, and credit card debt is down. But experts say the economic current is running against us, so even those who think they are swimming are probably just treading water.
Workers Revolt: Forget Stocks, Give Me Lifetime Income!
The do-it-yourself retirement has largely failed. Swapping traditional pensions for 401(k) plans sounded good while markets were roaring. But 15 years of choppy returns has brought us full circle: Most workers now say no benefit would be more valuable than guaranteed retirement income.
Four in five employees would forfeit at least 5% …
Philanthropists of the World: You’re Doing It Wrong!
A new book takes issue with those who give for the wrong reasons. Does it really matter why we give, as long as we give? Here are three ways to fix charity.
State vs. State: Hot Summer for States Stealing Businesses, Workers, Tax Revenues
So much for the United States. In skirmishes around the country, states are battling it out with their neighbors—and sometimes, states in other time zones—over sales tax revenues, marijuana taxes, weapons manufacturing businesses, and the pool of local labor.
Here are a few of the ongoing state-vs.-state showdowns:
The Dakotas …
5 Ways Companies Win by Giving Stuff Away
Consumers love freebies. But the companies handing out complimentary donuts, comic books, ice cream, pancakes, and Slurpees love giveaways even more. On the surface, freebies look like obvious money losers. But when handled wisely, giveaways are all but guaranteed to boost sales.
Last week, Procter & Gamble hosted an enormous giveaway …
5 Summer Travel Scams to Avoid
With the summer comes peak season for scammers coming up with new ways to empty tourists’ wallets — increasingly, by getting their hands on travelers’ personal financial information. Here are five tricks to be on the lookout …
Will Wall Street Finally Put Clients First? Maybe Some Day — But Don’t Hold Your Breath
Efforts to compel all financial advisers to act in the best interest of their clients have been derailed–again.
‘Give While You Live’ Dominates Charitable Giving
The recovery in charitable giving is one of the slowest since any recession. But individuals who prefer to not wait until they die, and flush corporations, are picking up some slack.
The Other Complication for Airbnb and the Sharing Economy: Taxes
Few people involved in the sharing economy know what taxes they’re supposed to pay, nor how to pay them. Because the rules are unclear, enforcement is almost nonexistent, and the feeling that “sharing” shouldn’t be taxed at all, very few people do pay them.