Articles of Interest / Blog Posts
What Makes Us Happy?
Researchers that study happiness often ask whether money buys happiness. The research suggests that, yes money can buy happiness. But, only up to a point. For example, once a person’s basic needs are met, additional money does not always make people happier.
Two British scientist’s investigation hopes to shed new light […]
How can I avoid becoming a victim of a social engineering scam?
Imagine that you receive an email with an urgent message asking you to verify your banking information by clicking on a link. Or perhaps you get an enticing text message claiming that you’ve won a free vacation to the destination of your choice — all you have to do is click on a link you […]
Is there any way to stop getting unwanted robocalls?
Whether it’s a helpful announcement from your child’s school or an appointment reminder from a doctor’s office, getting robocalls has become an everyday occurrence. Unfortunately, robocalls are also used by criminals to collect consumers’ personal and financial information and/or conduct various scams.
The good news is that consumers have won additional protections against unwanted robocalls under […]
Working from Home: Is It Rewarding or Restricting?
Imagine that your employer gives you the choice between working from home or commuting to the office throughout your work week. You might think the obvious choice is to work from the comfort of your own home; after all, staying in your pajamas all day and avoiding stressful commutes sound appealing. But there are some […]
Is It Time to Review Your IRA Estate Planning Strategies?
The Setting Every Community Up for Retirement Enhancement (SECURE) Act, which was passed in December 2019 as part of a larger federal spending package, included a provision that warrants special attention from those who own high-value IRAs. Specifically, the “stretch” IRA provision — which permitted nonspouse beneficiaries who inherited IRAs to spread distributions over their […]
Do Target-Date Funds Hit the Bull’s-Eye for You?
More than half of 401(k) participants have assets invested in target-date funds.1 These “all-in-one” funds are often the default option in workplace plans, and their apparent simplicity appeals to many investors. But target-date funds are not as simple as they appear to be. Like all investment strategies, they have strengths and weaknesses.
Focused on time
Target-date funds […]
Synthetic Biology
Spider silk, “can be tougher than Kevlar, lighter than carbon fiber, and warmer than the densest down,” writes John Cumbers, a senior contributor for manufacturing in Forbes. Seen as a holy grail of biomaterials, the silk is often expensive because of its natural production relying on spiders.
What if the spiders were no longer needed […]
How can I improve my credit report?
Most lenders use credit report information to evaluate the creditworthiness of potential borrowers. Borrowers with good credit are presumed to be more creditworthy and may find it easier to obtain a loan, often at a lower interest rate.
You can do a number of things to help improve what’s on your credit report, including the following.
Pay […]
How can I lower my credit card debt?
If you find that you are struggling to pay down a credit card balance, here are some strategies that can help eliminate your credit card debt.
Pay off cards with the highest interest rate first. If you have more than one card that carries an outstanding balance, one option is to prioritize your payments according to […]
Closing Gaps in Your Insurance Coverage
Buying insurance is about sharing or shifting risk, but you may think you’re covered for specific losses when, in fact, you’re not. Here are some common coverage gaps to consider when reviewing your own insurance coverage.
Life insurance
In general, you want to have enough life insurance coverage (when coupled with savings and income) to allow your […]
