Will 2013 be as severe as some economists think? The fiscal cliff is getting closer and closer. How will Congress respond? In the worst-case scenario, Congress argues and deadlocks. Tax hikes and roughly $109 billion in federal spending cuts take a bite out of GDP and another recession becomes a possibility.1

Hurricane Sandy’s fury has exacted a considerable and tragic toll. Even with the relief efforts now underway, it will be some time before things return to normal in many communities. How has Sandy impacted Main Street, Wall Street and the broader economy?

You stand at your window and look across the street. Nice house, you think. Nice landscaping. Nice sports car. Nice driveway. New bikes for the kids. Wow, your neighbors are really well off. If only you had that kind of money. That plain home down the street with the older model sedan parked out front pales in comparison. A couple in their seventies lives there, and the front yard hasn’t been spruced up in a[…]

Thinking about buying a timeshare? You may want to think twice about it. While some people buy timeshares and love them, many question their choice after an initial honeymoon period. Years later, they realize that they have bought more than part-time use of a resort property – they have also bought into a cycle of aggravating fees and maintenance charges, adjusted for inflation. In the wake of the recession, demand for timeshares has waned. Many of[…]

What financial, business or life priorities do you need to address for 2013? Now is a good time to think about the investing, saving or budgeting methods you could employ toward specific objectives. Some year-end financial moves may prove crucial to the pursuit of those goals as well. What can you do to lower your 2012 taxes? Before the year fades away, you have plenty of options. Here are a few that may prove convenient: *Make[…]

Are fresh headwinds buffeting Wall Street? Stocks performed surprisingly well in the first three quarters of 2012, but developments in the fourth quarter are giving analysts pause. While no one sees the bulls turning tail and running, there are emerging factors that may challenge their advance in the near term. This earnings season isn’t shaping up so well. The Wall Street Journal believes it will be the poorest we’ve seen in almost three years, with[…]

There is seldom a dull moment on Wall Street. Stocks may rise or fall dramatically over the course of a year or a decade. Sometimes, breaking news may tempt you to pull money out of your 401(k) or greatly reduce your contributions. If you’re considering such a move, think twice. Don’t stop saving for retirement. Even if you think you’re wealthy enough to forego putting money in your 401(k) for a while, you could end[…]

That said, stock market historians have repeatedly analyzed market behavior in presidential election years, and what stocks do when different parties hold the reins of power in Washington. They have noticed some interesting patterns through the years which may or may not prove true for 2012.

ll too often, family wealth fails to last. One generation builds a business – or even a fortune – and it is lost in ensuing decades. Why does it happen, again and again? It is because families fall prey to serious money blunders – old and new. Classic mistakes are made, and changing times aren’t recognized. Procrastination. This isn’t simply a matter of failing to plan, but also of failing to respond to acknowledged financial weaknesses. For[…]

We are now in plain view of the “fiscal cliff”. After the election, Congress may or may not end up keeping income and estate tax rates at their recent levels. Next year may bring some notable financial developments, and it isn’t too soon for households to think about them. You may want to prioritize tax reduction. If the Bush-era tax cuts sunset, everyone will see higher taxes. The federal income tax brackets (10%, 15%, 25%,[…]