WSJ.com: Money

Baby Boomers To Kids: Kiss Your Inheritance Goodbye

Thu, 09 Jul 2009 21:29:59 EDT

Facing shrunken portfolios, some seniors are revising retirement plans and may not to leave money to their children, writes Brett Arends.

The Failure of a Fail-Safe Strategy

Fri, 10 Jul 2009 00:08:06 EDT

Asset allocation, a bedrock of investing for decades, appeared to fail miserably in 2008, sending many investors back to the drawing board.

Catching the Gold Bug

Thu, 09 Jul 2009 23:14:53 EDT

More small investors are acquiring physical gold amid apocalyptic panic over the financial system. But buying gold in this form is costly and presents unique risks.

Fixed-Rate Credit Cards May Vanish

Thu, 09 Jul 2009 23:38:39 EDT

Could fixed-rate credit cards soon be a thing of the past? Some companies have already notified cardholders about converting fixed rates to a variable rate tied to the prime rate.

Employers Can Shift Your 401(k)

Thu, 09 Jul 2009 23:38:39 EDT

Employers can, and sometimes do, change an employee’s 401(k) investment options even after they’ve been made. This little-understood practice is likely to become more common.

How Much Power Does Your House Eat?

Thu, 09 Jul 2009 23:38:39 EDT

An array of gadgets provide information about how much electricity is used across a home.

Five Promising Stocks From Your Pantry

Thu, 09 Jul 2009 23:38:39 EDT

Packaged-food makers seem a safer—and cheaper—bet than some sectors that have attracted investor interest, such as financial-services and consumer-discretionary companies.

Jobless Feel Effects of States' Stimulus Rejection

Wed, 08 Jul 2009 09:51:19 EDT

Many in Alabama and Mississippi don't qualify for unemployment benefits because their states turned down federal stimulus funds.

Entrepreneurs Win Tax Case Versus IRS

Fri, 10 Jul 2009 07:46:12 EDT

The IRS lost a fight to limit tax deductions that can be used by investors in LLCs and LLPs to offset other income.

Job Openings Remained Scant in May

Wed, 08 Jul 2009 05:57:46 EDT

Fewer job openings and more workers reluctant to quit in May made it harder for the unemployed to get hired.

Consumers Face a Long, Hard Workout

Fri, 10 Jul 2009 07:46:25 EDT

Don't count on credit to give the economy the shove that it needs. Consumer delinquencies hit a record in the first quarter.

Cash-Balance Plans Appeal to Small Firms

Thu, 09 Jul 2009 23:38:39 EDT

Cash-balance plans are a type of defined-benefit plan governed by the Employee Retirement Income Security Act, and can be effective for high earners, particularly professionals.

No Fast Rebound for Target Funds

Tue, 07 Jul 2009 07:24:01 EDT

Target-date funds lost investors as much as 40% of their savings last year. But now that the stock market is showing signs of improvement, is it time to let these retirement vehicles off the hook?

Breaking Down the Obama IRA

Tue, 07 Jul 2009 13:50:20 EDT

The pros and cons of the White House plan to promote retirement savings.

Bonds Face Future---and Cower

Thu, 09 Jul 2009 23:38:39 EDT

With the financial crisis seemingly ebbing, many investors are moving out of Treasurys into riskier and potentially better-performing areas, including high-yield bonds and stocks.

How 24 Fund Categories Fared

Thu, 09 Jul 2009 23:38:39 EDT

How 24 fund categories have fared so far after a whirlwind of events in the first half of 2009.

Bright Outlook for Income Investors

Mon, 06 Jul 2009 10:37:17 EDT

The percentage payout of many dividend-paying stocks has actually gone up, which could be good news for income investors.

Ten Ways Banks Take Your Money

Mon, 06 Jul 2009 12:23:28 EDT

Consumers need to keep their guard up as financial institutions increasingly impose new fees and charges. Here are 10 fees to keep an eye out for.

Are Scholarships Taxable?

Sat, 04 Jul 2009 23:16:11 EDT

A reader wants to know whether scholarships won in college are taxable.

Wendy's/Arby's Get Cooking

Mon, 06 Jul 2009 11:01:49 EDT

The prospects for greater operating efficiencies and growth in the restaurant chain's cash flow suggest the shares could be worth as much as $9 a piece in the next few years.

Funds Lag After Rally

Sat, 04 Jul 2009 23:55:09 EDT

Even after the recent stock-market rally, almost all target-date funds for retirement savers have negative returns for the 12 months through midyear.

Don't Overlap on Insurance

Sat, 04 Jul 2009 23:16:11 EDT

Travel insurance can have its benefits, but often it overlaps with protection consumers can get elsewhere.

A Town That Shreds Together ...

Thu, 09 Jul 2009 23:38:39 EDT

Many local governments, corporations and small businesses are partnering with mobile-shredding companies to host neighborhood get-togethers.

Stocks With Takeover Appeal

Thu, 09 Jul 2009 23:38:39 EDT

Five stocks priced to attract corporate suitors—if they weren’t so reluctant to spend.

Cracked Houses: What the Boom Built

Fri, 10 Jul 2009 00:12:06 EDT

Hundreds of thousands of people are finding almost-new homes need many thousands of dollars in fixes because of construction defects.

Tax Breaks for Helping a Struggling Relative

Wed, 01 Jul 2009 14:22:26 EDT

Helping to support a loved one? Uncle Sam offers some nice tax breaks.

How Banks, Marketers Aid Scams

Thu, 09 Jul 2009 23:38:39 EDT

Karen Blumenthal talks about some common practices at banks and marketers that made it harder to stop an elderly relative from sending money to scammers.