http://www.philly.com/r?19=960&32=3796&7=195642&40=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.philly.com%2Fphilly%2Fbusiness%2Fpersonal_finance%2F Personal finance news and tips from Philly.com. en-us Sun, 08 Nov 2009 08:01:00 GMT 2009-11-08T08:01:00Z en-us http://www.philly.com/r?19=961&43=167966&44=69497997&32=3796&7=195642&40=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.philly.com%2Fphilly%2Fbusiness%2Fpersonal_finance%2F20091108_Personal_Finance__Losses__not_taxes__should_be_concern_in_futures_trading.html Question: I've started trading futures and currencies. It's a small account, but I'm worried about the effect on my taxes because there is so much trading. Is there anything I can do about that? Sun, 08 Nov 2009 08:01:00 GMT 174adbf795db0724fb4791174c46a44d 2009-11-08T08:01:00Z http://www.philly.com/r?19=961&43=167966&44=68837702&32=3796&7=195642&40=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.philly.com%2Fphilly%2Fbusiness%2Fpersonal_finance%2F110309_economic_indicators.html Every analyst has favorite hidden indicators. Here are seven favorites you can use to get a better understanding of the economy. Tue, 03 Nov 2009 12:27:29 GMT ac91b1e5d52b02ba850b79e0d709e270 David Ralis 2009-11-03T12:27:29Z http://www.philly.com/r?19=961&43=167966&44=68837572&32=3796&7=195642&40=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.philly.com%2Fphilly%2Fbusiness%2Fpersonal_finance%2F110309_parents_job.html Older adults have the experience that can be passed on to their children, even if financial support cannot. So moms and dads should move beyond the birds and the bees and sit their kids down and talk about the spending and the saving. Tue, 03 Nov 2009 12:21:35 GMT e62e93876fda8ebdbd9f1fc9d64d5974 David Ralis 2009-11-03T12:21:35Z http://www.philly.com/r?19=961&43=167966&44=68837312&32=3796&7=195642&40=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.philly.com%2Fphilly%2Fbusiness%2Fpersonal_finance%2F110309_protect_elderly.html When a New York City jury recently convicted Anthony Marshall, 85, the only child of millionaire-socialite-philanthropist Brooke Astor, of 14 counts of fraudulently squeezing huge sums out of his late mother's $180 million estate, many observers thought it was simply an isolated case of financial patricide among the super rich. No way! Tue, 03 Nov 2009 12:11:55 GMT 45081fe28b601c1cc759fbd43d51e971 David Ralis 2009-11-03T12:11:55Z http://www.philly.com/r?19=961&43=167966&44=68734267&32=3796&7=195642&40=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.philly.com%2Fphilly%2Fbusiness%2Fpersonal_finance%2F20091102_ap_airlinesratchetupholidaysurcharges.html If you plan to travel around the upcoming holidays, prepare to pay a little more _ again. Tue, 03 Nov 2009 12:07:04 GMT 9ddede7c44b3fc8b7b55b6f49bdd8aee 2009-11-03T12:07:04Z http://www.philly.com/r?19=961&43=167966&44=68470732&32=3796&7=195642&40=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.philly.com%2Fphilly%2Fbusiness%2Fpersonal_finance%2F20091102_Need_help_with_heat__Get_poorer__and_expect_to_be_colder.html A family of four will have to be about $11,000 poorer this winter than last year to qualify for LIHEAP assistance for fuel bills and heating emergencies. Even then, new caps will limit the amount of aid they can get. Mon, 02 Nov 2009 14:14:21 GMT e327ead2cec63efe2ce336e2c2ebb542 2009-11-02T14:14:21Z http://www.philly.com/r?19=961&43=167966&44=68547807&32=3796&7=195642&40=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.philly.com%2Fphilly%2Fbusiness%2Fpersonal_finance%2F110209_credit_protection.html Businesses that extend credit now have to take extra steps to protect your personal information on the front end, and investigate if they find something of concern. Mon, 02 Nov 2009 14:49:19 GMT 4317a2eb5addffa83e10ad397937c09e David Ralis 2009-11-02T14:49:19Z http://www.philly.com/r?19=961&43=167966&44=68547132&32=3796&7=195642&40=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.philly.com%2Fphilly%2Fbusiness%2Fpersonal_finance%2F110209_mortgage_relief.html While the Obama administration is touting the progress lenders have made on modifying mortgages, critics say the process remains complicated and drawn out. And in some cases, loan modification doesn't work, because the homeowners simply have too much debt and too little income to afford their homes. Mon, 02 Nov 2009 14:44:49 GMT f3dfaf71a1ea854766b39cfb1dbc5f63 David Ralis 2009-11-02T14:44:49Z http://www.philly.com/r?19=961&43=167966&44=68546942&32=3796&7=195642&40=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.philly.com%2Fphilly%2Fbusiness%2Fpersonal_finance%2F110209_mortgage_payment.html Your options: Keep paying or try to change your loan's terms. But some people wonder, what if I just stop paying the mortgage? It may be a tempting idea, but it quickly leads to trouble. Here's what could happen if you don't pay the mortgage. Mon, 02 Nov 2009 14:40:58 GMT 06effed67215ecc132482e5c3f3ce1c7 David Ralis 2009-11-02T14:40:58Z http://www.philly.com/r?19=961&43=167966&44=68545667&32=3796&7=195642&40=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.philly.com%2Fphilly%2Fbusiness%2Fpersonal_finance%2F110209_building_block.html The rule of thumb is that you'll need to replace 70 percent of your pre-retirement income on average once you retire, but evidence continues to mount that this assumption by many professionals and retirement savers is way off base. Mon, 02 Nov 2009 14:33:17 GMT 14ad89a8db24b70332b2883cc7bef710 David Ralis 2009-11-02T14:33:17Z http://www.philly.com/r?19=961&43=167966&44=68545087&32=3796&7=195642&40=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.philly.com%2Fphilly%2Fbusiness%2Fpersonal_finance%2F110209_rebuilding_your_portfolio.html Now that the economy and market are recovering, it's time to work on rebuilding your investment portfolio. Here are some steps you should take to rebuild your investment portfolio now that the economy and market are recovering. Mon, 02 Nov 2009 14:30:12 GMT 52e124e052dbbbef67b1d30029fb6680 David Ralis 2009-11-02T14:30:12Z http://www.philly.com/r?19=961&43=167966&44=68146782&32=3796&7=195642&40=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.philly.com%2Fphilly%2Fbusiness%2Fpersonal_finance%2F20091101_Personal_Finance__Foreign_offerings_will_allow_investments_in_currencies.html It seems simple enough: If investors are souring on the dollar and gravitating to other currencies, why not follow along? Sun, 01 Nov 2009 09:01:00 GMT 7ae80c958fbdc991838499cc311b97b1 2009-11-01T09:01:00Z