American consumers claim that they’re not spending as much money this year on restaurants, bar tabs, home purchases, and other key categories. The actual consumer spending data tells a different story.
Decision Making
Back to School Shopping: Parent-Teen Worlds Collide
A renewed sense of thrift has overtaken back-to-school shoppers, setting the scene for parent-teen conflicts
Your Funeral Home May Be Scamming You
Funeral homes have long been accused of taking advantage of their customers, who are forced to make a series of expensive decisions in the immediate aftermath of a loved one’s death, when they’re extraordinarily vulnerable. And a …
What It Means to Be ‘Wealthy’ in America Today
Correction appended: July 24, 2013, 11:03 p.m. E.T.
The rich don’t really think they’re rich. In a new survey, the vast majority of investors with $1 million in assets don’t consider themselves wealthy. Which brings up the question: What do the terms rich and wealthy really mean?
Gordon Gekko Lives: New Evidence That Greed Is Rampant on Wall Street
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.
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.
New Age Philanthropy: Donor-Advised Funds Defy Sluggish Giving Trends
The new face of philanthropy is donor-advised funds for the masses. These fast growing accounts have bucked the trend toward sluggish giving since the recession.
Delaying Retirement? Count Yourself Lucky
The recession has forced many to delay retirement. That only feels like a hardship. Here’s a look at the bright side.
What Retirement Crisis? Retirees Say They’re Doing Just Fine, Thank You Very Much
The common narrative is that low yields are crushing retirees’ income and lifestyle. Why do so many report having all the money they need? Here are five reasons
Please Don’t Use a ‘Best Places to Retire’ List to Decide Where to Retire
It can be confusing to make sense of the many “best places to retire” lists out there. Here’s the good news: you can ignore all of them
How to Stay Engaged After Retirement
Retired chess champion Garry Kasparov is making his mark–off the chess board. He and others show us how and why to stay engaged when our working years are behind.
10 Steps to Spring Clean Your Finances
When it comes to spring cleaning, you probably haul the junk out of your garage, scrub your fridge, and wash the rugs and drapes. But don’t forget about your personal finances. Just after tax season is the perfect time to perform …