Consumerism Commentary

Your Ego and Your Wallet

This is an article by Marc Pearlman. Marc is a money management professional who has been in the finance industry over 20 years, and he is the author of The Positive… Read more...

The Role of Money in Choosing a Relationship

Do people have any kind of control over whom they fall in love with? Perhaps Cupid's arrow strikes randomly, and there is no choice but to obey the heart -- or chemicals… Read more...

How to Solve the Financial Literacy Problem

Opinions are generally clear about why such a large percentage of the American population winds up in financial jeopardy. There's no formalized way to learn how… Read more...

Home Mortgage Interest Deduction

Although the home mortgage interest deduction is one of the most oft-cited benefits of owning a home, most taxpayers don't take advantage of it because it requires… Read more...

Suze Orman’s New Prepaid Debit Card: The Approved Card

As Ron Lieber reported in the New York Times, personal finance guru Suze Orman is launching her own debit card brand, the Approved Card, following in the footsteps… Read more...

Binding Arbitration: Wells Fargo Taking Away Customers’ Rights

If you enter into an agreement with a company, and that company does something to wrong you, most of the time you can avail yourself of the American judicial system… Read more...

How to Solve the Financial Literacy Problem

by Flexo

Opinions are generally clear about why such a large percentage of the American population winds up in financial jeopardy. There’s no formalized way to learn how to use money properly and with the best results; most people learn by experience. It would save a lot of headaches if we could somehow warn people in advance ... Continue reading this article…

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Podcast 143: Tax Law Changes in 2012

by Flexo

Today on the Consumerism Commentary Podcast, Bryan J Busch talks to Kathy Pickering, Executive Director of H&R Block’s Tax Institute. They discuss the difference between smart investments vs. emotional decisions, the importance of financial planning, and how most people are better off just buying an index fund and ignoring investment gurus. Consumerism Commentary Podcast Tax ... Continue reading this article…

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How Rich Are the Presidential Candidates?

by Flexo

When politicians are campaigning, some try to reinforce the idea that they are similar to most Americans. Candidates for President of the United States try to avoid being labeled as elitist, because some sort of connection and kinship with their constituency is important for winning the favor of voters who aren’t already entrenched with a ... Continue reading this article…

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Home Mortgage Interest Deduction

by Flexo

Although the home mortgage interest deduction is one of the most oft-cited benefits of owning a home, most taxpayers don’t take advantage of it because it requires itemizing taxes. If itemized deductions including mortgage interest paid throughout the year exceed the standard deduction, a taxpayer can take advantage of the benefit. The benefit isn’t as ... Continue reading this article…

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The Worst Celebrity Tax Problems

by Flexo

It’s with a tinge of schadenfreude that people are fascinated with the failures and foibles of famous celebrities. Every year, the IRS chases people who evade or underpay federal income tax, and actors and popular figures in the media, who often don’t manage their own finances, make the news. The latest is Lindsay Lohan. You ... Continue reading this article…

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Schwab Creates Low-Cost 401(k) Fund Choices

by Flexo

I used to work for a company in the financial services industry. Another branch of the corporation I worked for is involved with institutional money management. This department manages institutional investments like company retirement plans and pensions. This is a service they provided to other companies of various types, much like Fidelity and Schwab offer ... Continue reading this article…

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Good Debt and Bad Debt

by Flexo

Misuse of credit can destroy a family’s financial life. A household can crumble under the weight of debt, whether it has increased from a poor house-purchasing decision, a drastic change in the real estate market, a shopping addiction, an unexpected medical bill, or the lack of preparedness for an emergency. It’s no surprise people consider ... Continue reading this article…

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Choosing a Career Path By Chasing Hot Jobs

by Flexo

A recent article in Fortune Magazine predicts that one of the hottest jobs ten years from now will be data scientist. If this prediction is true, parents of teenagers in their first year of high school and their parents might consider encouraging their kids to develop the skills necessary to be in high demand by ... Continue reading this article…

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Suze Orman’s New Prepaid Debit Card: The Approved Card

by Flexo

As Ron Lieber reported in the New York Times, personal finance guru Suze Orman is launching her own debit card brand, the Approved Card, following in the footsteps of music mogul Russell Simmons and his Rush Cards. Suze Orman’s debit card will be a prepaid debit card, ensuring customers using the card can spend generally ... Continue reading this article…

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