Read the full article]]> Debt, Mortgages, Housing, Buying/Owning a House, Buying vs. Renting, News 2010-07-31T02:06:00-05:00 http://ffscambridge.com/blog/post/irs_ruling_makes_employer_provided_health_coverage_available_to_children_un/ http://ffscambridge.com/blog/post/irs_ruling_makes_employer_provided_health_coverage_available_to_children_un/#When:00:03:00Z About a year ago I noted that a hodgepodge of state laws enabled some parents to keep their post-college-age children covered under an employer-sponsored health plan. This spring the IRS issued new guidelines under the Affordable Care Act allowing employers to provide coverage for children under the age of 27 as a tax-free employee benefit.

Read the full article]]> Health Care, News, Risk Management, Insurance 2010-07-21T00:03:00-05:00 http://ffscambridge.com/blog/post/steinbrenner_estate_hits_home_run/ http://ffscambridge.com/blog/post/steinbrenner_estate_hits_home_run/#When:20:56:00Z The death of New York Yankees owner George Steinbrenner this morning provides his heirs with a huge windfall: an estate with an estimated in excess of one billion dollars, inherited in a year when there is no Federal estate tax.

Read the full article]]> News, Taxes, Tax Updates, Truly Random 2010-07-13T20:56:00-05:00 http://ffscambridge.com/blog/post/restaurant_week_2010_bargain_high_end_meals/ http://ffscambridge.com/blog/post/restaurant_week_2010_bargain_high_end_meals/#When:21:09:01Z Now in its 10th year, Boston Restaurant Week | Summer 2010 will kick into gear next month. Fine restaurants in the Boston area will offer reduced-price versions of their cuisine, giving thrifty diners opportunities to eat well at a discount.

Read the full article]]> Boston/Cambridge/New England, Cash Flow, Food, Saving 2010-07-12T21:09:01-05:00 http://ffscambridge.com/blog/post/ma_securities_division_recovers_from_its_own_security_breach/ http://ffscambridge.com/blog/post/ma_securities_division_recovers_from_its_own_security_breach/#When:21:07:00Z The Commonwealth of Massachusetts requires companies to notify individuals if there is evidence that their personal confidential information has been leaked inappropriately. In fact, MA law requires that notice also be given to the department of consumer affairs and the state attorney general's office if this happens. Apparently, the attorney general's office almost had to notify itself last month after it accidentally disclosed thousands of Social Security numbers.

Read the full article]]> 2010-07-06T21:07:00-05:00 http://ffscambridge.com/blog/post/congress_likely_to_extend_homebuyer_credits_as_foreclosures_continue/ http://ffscambridge.com/blog/post/congress_likely_to_extend_homebuyer_credits_as_foreclosures_continue/#When:19:18:00Z Late last year, Congress extended an $8,000 tax credit for new homebuyers and created a $6,500 credit for some existing homeowners who sell their old homes and buy new ones. These credits were originally available for houses purchased under contracts signed by April 30, 2010 and closed by June 30, but new legislation may give a break to those who can’t meet the June 30 deadline.

Read the full article]]> Boston/Cambridge/New England, Economy, Housing, Buying/Owning a House, Taxes 2010-06-30T19:18:00-05:00 http://ffscambridge.com/blog/post/financial_reform_may_include_fiduciary_standard/ http://ffscambridge.com/blog/post/financial_reform_may_include_fiduciary_standard/#When:15:26:00Z At last, the financial regulatory bill resulting from months of activity in the House and Senate contains language that might result in the implementation of a standard requiring broker-dealers to act as fiduciaries.

Read the full article]]> Financial Planning Advice, News 2010-06-25T15:26:00-05:00 http://ffscambridge.com/blog/post/ffs_blog_posts_resume/ http://ffscambridge.com/blog/post/ffs_blog_posts_resume/#When:01:42:00Z Those of you who follow my blog are undoubtedly aware that I have not written anything here since the end of last year. In January 2010, my wife had transplant surgery. This made it necessary for me to cut back on many of my normal activities, including writing articles for this blog. Now that she's recovering, I’m hoping to get back to writing blog articles, though perhaps not at the same rate as before. In any case, expect to start seeing activity on the FFS Blog again. Thanks for your patience.

Read the full article]]> Blogging 2010-06-25T01:42:00-05:00 http://ffscambridge.com/blog/post/congress_fumbles_estate_tax_fix_for_2010_and_beyond/ http://ffscambridge.com/blog/post/congress_fumbles_estate_tax_fix_for_2010_and_beyond/#When:22:43:00Z It looks like Congress won’t get around to fixing the estate tax before this year ends. Aside from boosting the incomes of estate planning attorneys, this doesn’t help anyone.

Read the full article]]> Taxes, Tax Updates 2009-12-31T22:43:00-05:00 http://ffscambridge.com/blog/post/variability_in_college_debts_highight_the_need_for_planning/ http://ffscambridge.com/blog/post/variability_in_college_debts_highight_the_need_for_planning/#When:10:38:00Z A report released this month on indicates that while average college debt levels reached $23,200 for the graduating class of 2008, there is an extremely wide range of variation among student debts loads in different parts of the country and at different school. It’s not very enlightening to speak of an “average” college debt when average debt levels at specific institutions vary from $5,000 to $106,000.

Read the full article]]> Debt, Education Planning, College/Graduate School Loans, News 2009-12-29T10:38:00-05:00 http://ffscambridge.com/blog/post/no_huge_surprise_macroshares_umm_and_dmm_will_terminate_early/ http://ffscambridge.com/blog/post/no_huge_surprise_macroshares_umm_and_dmm_will_terminate_early/#When:16:39:00Z This past summer I wrote about the novel Macroshares trusts released this year that enable investors to speculate on the direction of housing prices. Earlier this week, MacroMarkets announced that instead of terminating in 2014, the trusts will terminate next week.

Read the full article]]> Housing, Buying/Owning a House, Investing, Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs), News 2009-12-24T16:39:00-05:00 http://ffscambridge.com/blog/post/house_passes_financial_reform_bill_with_loopholes/ http://ffscambridge.com/blog/post/house_passes_financial_reform_bill_with_loopholes/#When:00:15:01Z Last Friday, the House passed the the Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, a measure hailed as the biggest reform of financial services in half a century. Already, though, some interesting exceptions have been spotted in the bill, which weighs in at 1200-plus pages. The bill does a number of laudable things, including the creation of a Consumer Financial Protection Agency to oversee financial products and services.

Read the full article]]> Financial Planning Advice, News 2009-12-16T00:15:01-05:00 http://ffscambridge.com/blog/post/watch_out_for_year_end_mutual_fund_distributions/ http://ffscambridge.com/blog/post/watch_out_for_year_end_mutual_fund_distributions/#When:01:10:00Z For many people, December is the riskiest month in which to buy into a new mutual fund in a taxable account. This has nothing to do with the gyrations of the stock market, and everything to do with taxes.

Read the full article]]> Investing, Mutual Funds, Taxes, Yearend Tax Ideas 2009-12-12T01:10:00-05:00 http://ffscambridge.com/blog/post/2009_yearend_income_tax_planning_thoughts/ http://ffscambridge.com/blog/post/2009_yearend_income_tax_planning_thoughts/#When:02:12:00Z As the end of the year approaches, it’s always a good idea to take see if there are any last-minute moves that make sense for you. Here are four opportunities for tax savings:

Read the full article]]> Education Planning, Housing, Buying/Owning a House, Taxes, Yearend Tax Ideas 2009-12-09T02:12:00-05:00 http://ffscambridge.com/blog/post/cybermonday_tips_for_safe_shopping_online/ http://ffscambridge.com/blog/post/cybermonday_tips_for_safe_shopping_online/#When:18:03:00Z As the Christmas shopping season approaches, it’s a good idea to do what you can to reduce your risk of identity fraud when you shop online.

Read the full article]]> Debt, Credit Cards, Identity Theft 2009-11-30T18:03:00-05:00 http://ffscambridge.com/blog/post/securities_industry_seeking_dilution_of_the_fiduciary_standard/ http://ffscambridge.com/blog/post/securities_industry_seeking_dilution_of_the_fiduciary_standard/#When:14:06:00Z The big guns in the securities industry have expressed a desire for a “harmonized fiduciary standard” for broker-dealers and investment advisers. That sounds good, but as the details emerge, it looks more and more as though this "harmonized" standard is actually a "gutted" standard, tailored for the benefit of large financial companies.

Read the full article]]> Financial Planning Advice, News 2009-11-23T14:06:00-05:00 http://ffscambridge.com/blog/post/the_ffs_blog_now_available_on_the_amazon_kindle/ http://ffscambridge.com/blog/post/the_ffs_blog_now_available_on_the_amazon_kindle/#When:02:19:00Z I’ve learned from Newstex, which syndicates this blog through its Authoritative Blog Content service, that the FFS Blog's content can now be accessed using an Amazon Kindle.

Read the full article]]> Blogging, News 2009-11-19T02:19:00-05:00 http://ffscambridge.com/blog/post/caterpillar_settles_suit_over_excessive_401k_fees/ http://ffscambridge.com/blog/post/caterpillar_settles_suit_over_excessive_401k_fees/#When:13:57:00Z Construction-equipment manufacturer Caterpillar recently announced its willingness to settle a lawsuit in which it was accused of charging excessive fees in four of its employee 401(k) plans.

Read the full article]]> News, Retirement, 401(k) plans 2009-11-16T13:57:00-05:00 http://ffscambridge.com/blog/post/new_england_economy_not_out_of_the_woods_in_2010/ http://ffscambridge.com/blog/post/new_england_economy_not_out_of_the_woods_in_2010/#When:17:54:00Z Yesterday the New England Economic Partnership (NEEP) held its Fall Economic Conference at the Boston Federal Reserve. Regional economists reported that they expect unemployment in New England to peak next year, despite improvements in the national economic outlook.

Read the full article]]> Boston/Cambridge/New England, Economy, Housing, Buying/Owning a House, News 2009-11-11T17:54:00-05:00 http://ffscambridge.com/blog/post/one_out_of_five_hedge_funds_is_lying/ http://ffscambridge.com/blog/post/one_out_of_five_hedge_funds_is_lying/#When:19:31:00Z A recent scholarly paper reveals an interesting conclusion: quite a few hedge fund managers misrepresent the truth about past legal and regulatory problems, performance, or assets under management.

Read the full article]]> Investing, Hedge Funds, News 2009-11-09T19:31:00-05:00 http://ffscambridge.com/blog/post/homebuyer_tax_credit_extended_and_broadened_to_aid_existing_home_owners/ http://ffscambridge.com/blog/post/homebuyer_tax_credit_extended_and_broadened_to_aid_existing_home_owners/#When:21:10:00Z Congress just couldn’t resist the urge to give more money away.

Read the full article]]> Housing, Buying/Owning a House, News, Taxes, Tax Updates 2009-11-05T21:10:00-05:00 http://ffscambridge.com/blog/post/federal_reserve_hints_on_when_interest_rates_will_rise/ http://ffscambridge.com/blog/post/federal_reserve_hints_on_when_interest_rates_will_rise/#When:02:12:00Z The Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) left its Federal Funds rate unchanged in a range of zero to 0.25% today; it also gave a few hints as to what would need to happen before it starts raising interest rates.

Read the full article]]> Economy, News 2009-11-05T02:12:00-05:00 http://ffscambridge.com/blog/post/signs_that_housing_prices_are_stabilizing/ http://ffscambridge.com/blog/post/signs_that_housing_prices_are_stabilizing/#When:02:34:00Z Today I found a nice article at Smartmoney.com that summarizes several indicators that can help you make an educated guess as to whether housing prices in an area are likely to go up.

Read the full article]]> Boston/Cambridge/New England, Economy, Housing, Buying/Owning a House, Residential Property Investing, News 2009-11-03T02:34:00-05:00 http://ffscambridge.com/blog/post/massachusetts_economy_has_hit_bottom_maybe/ http://ffscambridge.com/blog/post/massachusetts_economy_has_hit_bottom_maybe/#When:02:18:00Z Economists at the University of Massachusetts believe the state’s economy may have bottomed, but the indicators remain ambiguous.

Read the full article]]> Boston/Cambridge/New England, Economy, News 2009-11-01T02:18:00-05:00 http://ffscambridge.com/blog/post/irs_extends_deadline_for_re_depositing_2009_required_minimum_distributions/ http://ffscambridge.com/blog/post/irs_extends_deadline_for_re_depositing_2009_required_minimum_distributions/#When:19:29:00Z Under the Worker, Retiree, and Employer Recovery Act of 2008, Required Minimum Distributions (RMDs) for 2009 from IRAs were waived. People who inadvertently received a distribution were confused about their options, but the IRS has issued clarifying guidance.

Read the full article]]> News, Retirement, IRAs, Taxes 2009-10-27T19:29:00-05:00 http://ffscambridge.com/blog/post/first_time_homebuyers_tax_credit_extension_proposals_gaining_ground/ http://ffscambridge.com/blog/post/first_time_homebuyers_tax_credit_extension_proposals_gaining_ground/#When:20:55:00Z As the November 30th deadline for the $8,000 first-time homebuyers credit approaches, members of both the House and the Senate are floating ideas for ways to extend the credit.

Read the full article]]> Economy, Housing, Buying/Owning a House, News, Taxes 2009-10-24T20:55:00-05:00 http://ffscambridge.com/blog/post/consumer_financial_protection_agency_act_moves_to_house_for_vote/ http://ffscambridge.com/blog/post/consumer_financial_protection_agency_act_moves_to_house_for_vote/#When:02:26:00Z Today the House Financial Services Committee approved a bill establishing the Consumer Financial Protection Agency (CFPA).

Read the full article]]> Debt, Credit Cards, Mortgages, News 2009-10-23T02:26:00-05:00 http://ffscambridge.com/blog/post/2010_limits_for_retirement_plans_social_security_wage_base_announced/ http://ffscambridge.com/blog/post/2010_limits_for_retirement_plans_social_security_wage_base_announced/#When:17:45:00Z Despite a decline in the Consumer Price Index (CPI), major retirement plan limits remain unchanged.

Read the full article]]> News, Retirement, 401(k) plans, Social Security 2009-10-16T17:45:00-05:00 http://ffscambridge.com/blog/post/whats_the_best_day_of_the_year_for_house_buying/ http://ffscambridge.com/blog/post/whats_the_best_day_of_the_year_for_house_buying/#When:17:14:00Z Yesterday’s second hour of the radio program “On Point” featured the author of “Buy Ketchup in May and Fly at Noon: A Guide to the Best Time to Buy This, Do That, and Go There.”

Read the full article]]> Cash Flow, Housing, Buying/Owning a House, Meeting Your Goals 2009-10-08T17:14:00-05:00 http://ffscambridge.com/blog/post/nine_strategies_for_minimizing_your_taxes_in_2009_and_2010/ http://ffscambridge.com/blog/post/nine_strategies_for_minimizing_your_taxes_in_2009_and_2010/#When:15:18:00Z At this time of year it’s a good idea to look for last-minute opportunities to minimize your taxes. Most opportunities require some action before the end of the calendar year; here are several ideas to consider.

Read the full article]]> Housing, Buying/Owning a House, Taxes, Yearend Tax Ideas 2009-10-06T15:18:00-05:00 http://ffscambridge.com/blog/post/boston_income_growth_ranks_among_nations_top_ten/ http://ffscambridge.com/blog/post/boston_income_growth_ranks_among_nations_top_ten/#When:21:53:01Z Bizjournals.com recently released its analysis of per capita income growth in the 100 largest US metro areas. Except for Bridgeport-Stamford, CT, Boston was the only metro area in New England ranked among the top 10 .

Read the full article]]> Boston/Cambridge/New England, Economy 2009-10-01T21:53:01-05:00 http://ffscambridge.com/blog/post/another_helpful_primer_on_the_economic_collapse/ http://ffscambridge.com/blog/post/another_helpful_primer_on_the_economic_collapse/#When:22:00:00Z Last week, the NPR show This American Life marked the anniversary of the housing-credit crisis by updating its entertaining report on the events that led to the collapse of the credit markets last year.

Read the full article]]> Debt, Mortgages, Economy, Housing, Really Bad Ideas 2009-09-30T22:00:00-05:00 http://ffscambridge.com/blog/post/further_criticism_of_macroshares_umm_and_dmm/ http://ffscambridge.com/blog/post/further_criticism_of_macroshares_umm_and_dmm/#When:23:47:00Z Don Dion, writing in TheStreet.com, has included UMM and DMM on his list of the "10 Most Dangerous ETFs." Technically, they're not ETFs, but that's a minor quibble. Going beyond the criticisms I offered of MacroShares Major Metro Housing Up (UMM) and Major Metro Housing Down (DMM), Dion comments:

Read the full article]]> Housing, Investing, Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs) 2009-09-25T23:47:00-05:00 http://ffscambridge.com/blog/post/annuities_might_make_sense_for_some/ http://ffscambridge.com/blog/post/annuities_might_make_sense_for_some/#When:02:41:00Z Annuities have a bad reputation. They’re insurance contracts, which means they’re necessarily complicated. Often, they involve lots of hard-to-understand fees. And variable annuities, in particular, have earned a really bad reputation. Still, there is evidence that some form of annuity could be useful for many retirees.

Read the full article]]> Investing, Annuities, Retirement 2009-09-25T02:41:00-05:00 http://ffscambridge.com/blog/post/gao_to_irs_tighten_up_enforcement_of_home_mortgage_interest_deduction/ http://ffscambridge.com/blog/post/gao_to_irs_tighten_up_enforcement_of_home_mortgage_interest_deduction/#When:21:45:00Z Home mortgage interest has been a tax-deductible expense on Federal tax returns since 1913. But in a report issued recently, the General Accounting Office (GAO) has recommended that the IRS do a better job of enforcing the rules that apply to the mortgage interest deduction.

Read the full article]]> Debt, Mortgages, Housing, Buying/Owning a House, Taxes, Tax Updates 2009-09-17T21:45:00-05:00 http://ffscambridge.com/blog/post/which_cell_phone_provider_is_the_best_fit_for_you/ http://ffscambridge.com/blog/post/which_cell_phone_provider_is_the_best_fit_for_you/#When:19:21:00Z Figuring out which cell phone plan to buy can be a huge pain. There's no point in paying for services that you don't use, and if you pick the wrong plan, you're stuck for as long as two years unless you pay a termination fee. Over at the Flowing Data blog, there are some graphs that help simplify the process.

Read the full article]]> Cash Flow, Truly Random 2009-09-17T19:21:00-05:00 http://ffscambridge.com/blog/post/risk_management_advice_get_your_flu_shots_including_h1n1/ http://ffscambridge.com/blog/post/risk_management_advice_get_your_flu_shots_including_h1n1/#When:15:09:00Z I don’t often write this sort of advice, but here’s my household risk management recommendation for the Fall: get your flu shots.

Read the full article]]> Boston/Cambridge/New England, News, Risk Management 2009-09-14T15:09:00-05:00 http://ffscambridge.com/blog/post/boston_fed_sees_signs_economy_is_stabilizing/ http://ffscambridge.com/blog/post/boston_fed_sees_signs_economy_is_stabilizing/#When:02:26:00Z The Federal Reserve’s latest “beige book” report offers a few encouragements on the state of the New England economy.

Read the full article]]> Boston/Cambridge/New England, Economy, News 2009-09-10T02:26:00-05:00 http://ffscambridge.com/blog/post/will_401k_contribution_limits_drop_in_2010/ http://ffscambridge.com/blog/post/will_401k_contribution_limits_drop_in_2010/#When:20:55:00Z Each year, contribution limits on 401(k)s, IRAs and other retirement plans are adjusted to keep up with inflation. However, because of a quirk in the rules that define how limits on 401(k) and pension plan contributions are calculated, it’s possible that 2010 limits on these plans could actually decline from current levels.

Read the full article]]> News, Retirement, Planning for your retirement, 401(k) plans 2009-09-04T20:55:00-05:00 http://ffscambridge.com/blog/post/401k_fair_disclosure_act_may_improve_inferior_plans_with_high_fees/ http://ffscambridge.com/blog/post/401k_fair_disclosure_act_may_improve_inferior_plans_with_high_fees/#When:00:02:00Z About 50 million people own 401(k)-type retirement plans, and the percentage of workers with defined-benefit (pension) plans has been dwindling for years. One problem with 401(k) plans is that many plans don’t disclose their fees openly. That would change if Congress moves forward with a bill currently awaiting action in the House of Representatives.

Read the full article]]> Investing, Investing 101, Meeting Your Goals, News, Retirement, Planning for your retirement, 401(k) plans 2009-09-02T00:02:00-05:00 http://ffscambridge.com/blog/post/simple_iras_rollovers_distributions_are_not_so_simple/ http://ffscambridge.com/blog/post/simple_iras_rollovers_distributions_are_not_so_simple/#When:21:33:00Z SIMPLE IRA plans give small employers an easy way to make employer matching contributions to an employee's retirement plan. The administration of these plans is much simpler for employers than most other retirement plans, but SIMPLE IRAs involve twists and turns that can be confusing for the employees who own the accounts.

Read the full article]]> Retirement, IRAs, Taxes 2009-08-28T21:33:00-05:00 http://ffscambridge.com/blog/post/does_testosterone_explain_investment_behavior_in_men_and_women/ http://ffscambridge.com/blog/post/does_testosterone_explain_investment_behavior_in_men_and_women/#When:01:02:00Z A number of behavioral finance studies have shown that men tend to take greater levels of investment risk than women. Researchers at the University of Chicago and Northwestern University have added to these observations with new evidence that high testosterone levels are associated with risky investment behavior.

Read the full article]]> Investing, News, Truly Random 2009-08-26T01:02:00-05:00 http://ffscambridge.com/blog/post/some_etfs_are_scarier_than_others/ http://ffscambridge.com/blog/post/some_etfs_are_scarier_than_others/#When:15:23:00Z Announcements of new exchange-traded funds arrive in my e-mailbox almost daily, but today’s seemed ironically timed: a new inverse ETF tied to the performance of twenty-year Treasuries.

Read the full article]]> Financial Planning Advice, Investing, Bonds, Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs), News 2009-08-21T15:23:00-05:00 http://ffscambridge.com/blog/post/roth_ira_conversions_and_2010_part_1/ http://ffscambridge.com/blog/post/roth_ira_conversions_and_2010_part_1/#When:02:10:00Z The coming change in Roth IRA conversion rules has been discussed (seemingly) endlessly in the financial planning community, especially lately. What follows is a short summary of how the conversion laws will change. In future posts, I'll write more about the considerations that should go into a Roth IRA conversion decision.

Read the full article]]> Financial Planning Advice, Retirement, IRAs, Taxes 2009-08-21T02:10:00-05:00 http://ffscambridge.com/blog/post/sec_adds_its_voice_to_warnings_about_leveraged_and_inverse_etfs/ http://ffscambridge.com/blog/post/sec_adds_its_voice_to_warnings_about_leveraged_and_inverse_etfs/#When:02:24:00Z The SEC issued a joint warning with FINRA today about the risks of leveraged and inverse ETFs for retail investors.

Read the full article]]> Financial Planning Advice, Investing, Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs), News 2009-08-19T02:24:00-05:00 http://ffscambridge.com/blog/post/consumer_price_index_suggests_inflection_point/ http://ffscambridge.com/blog/post/consumer_price_index_suggests_inflection_point/#When:02:01:00Z Yesterday the Bureau of Labor Standards provided a CPI update through July 2009. Prices seem to be firming, but no clear pattern has yet emerged.

Read the full article]]> Boston/Cambridge/New England, Cash Flow, Food, Economy, News 2009-08-16T02:01:00-05:00 http://ffscambridge.com/blog/post/always_scrutinize_financial_planner_endorsements_carefully/ http://ffscambridge.com/blog/post/always_scrutinize_financial_planner_endorsements_carefully/#When:18:23:00Z Last week I received an email that really annoyed me. It was an invitation to a seminar on how to use celebrity endorsements as a marketing tool.

Read the full article]]> Financial Planning Advice, Really Bad Ideas 2009-08-10T18:23:00-05:00 http://ffscambridge.com/blog/post/massachusetts_smothers_its_tax_holiday/ http://ffscambridge.com/blog/post/massachusetts_smothers_its_tax_holiday/#When:13:01:00Z For several years Massachusetts, like many states, has had a summer tax holiday weekend – sort of like Christmas in August. This year, the Grinch has come to the Bay State.

Read the full article]]> Boston/Cambridge/New England, Cash Flow, Economy 2009-08-07T13:01:00-05:00 http://ffscambridge.com/blog/post/napfa_kicks_off_consumer_financial_planning_education_series/ http://ffscambridge.com/blog/post/napfa_kicks_off_consumer_financial_planning_education_series/#When:21:31:00Z The National Association of Personal Financial Advisors (NAPFA), of which I’m a member, is launching a free consumer education webinar series this week.

Read the full article]]> Economy, Financial Planning Advice, Investing, Investing 101, News, Risk Management 2009-08-05T21:31:00-05:00 http://ffscambridge.com/blog/post/avoiding_the_great_recession/ http://ffscambridge.com/blog/post/avoiding_the_great_recession/#When:19:18:00Z Probably we could have avoided last year’s economic crisis if only everyone had watched Saturday Night Live a few years ago.

Read the full article]]> Cash Flow, Debt, Economy, Truly Random 2009-08-05T19:18:00-05:00 http://ffscambridge.com/blog/post/first_time_homebuyer_credit_attracting_scam_artists/ http://ffscambridge.com/blog/post/first_time_homebuyer_credit_attracting_scam_artists/#When:17:53:00Z I can’t say I’m very surprised by this: the IRS is reporting its first prosecution of a fraud scheme involving the new $8,000 first-time homebuyer credit.

Read the full article]]> Housing, Buying/Owning a House, News, Really Bad Ideas, Taxes 2009-07-30T17:53:00-05:00 http://ffscambridge.com/blog/post/brokerage_firms_distancing_themselves_from_leveraged_inverse_etfs/ http://ffscambridge.com/blog/post/brokerage_firms_distancing_themselves_from_leveraged_inverse_etfs/#When:15:13:00Z As I noted about a month ago, FINRA has drawn attention to the fact that leveraged and inverse exchange-traded funds are often not appropriate for retail investors. In response, some prominent broker/dealer firms have announced that they are backing away from the sale of such ETFs

Read the full article]]> Investing, Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs), News 2009-07-28T15:13:00-05:00 http://ffscambridge.com/blog/post/should_you_pay_off_your_mortgage_before_you_retire/ http://ffscambridge.com/blog/post/should_you_pay_off_your_mortgage_before_you_retire/#When:11:54:00Z Boston College’s Center for Retirement Research recently released a brief that examines whether people nearing retirement should pay down their mortgages.

Read the full article]]> Cash Flow, Saving, Debt, Mortgages, Financial Planning Advice, Investing, News, Retirement 2009-07-27T11:54:00-05:00 http://ffscambridge.com/blog/post/desperately_seeking_ice_cream_finding_new_englands_finest/ http://ffscambridge.com/blog/post/desperately_seeking_ice_cream_finding_new_englands_finest/#When:19:48:00Z When I moved to Boston, I was surprised to discover that despite the severity of New England winters, ice cream is a regional obsession. Here’s a useful resource for finding the area’s finest ice creameries as you travel this summer.

Read the full article]]> Boston/Cambridge/New England, Cash Flow, Food, Truly Random 2009-07-23T19:48:00-05:00 http://ffscambridge.com/blog/post/summer_camp_costs_may_qualify_for_child_care_tax_credits/ http://ffscambridge.com/blog/post/summer_camp_costs_may_qualify_for_child_care_tax_credits/#When:19:01:00Z The IRS is drawing attention to the fact that the cost of sending your children to a summer day camp can qualify you for lower taxes via the child care tax credit.

Read the full article]]> Cash Flow, Taxes, Truly Random 2009-07-21T19:01:00-05:00 http://ffscambridge.com/blog/post/ma_secretary_of_state_investigating_leveraged_exchange_traded_funds/ http://ffscambridge.com/blog/post/ma_secretary_of_state_investigating_leveraged_exchange_traded_funds/#When:17:23:00Z As more attention is focused on to the risks of leveraged exchange-traded funds (ETFs), regulators are starting to investigate how they’re being sold to retail investors.

Read the full article]]> Boston/Cambridge/New England, Investing, Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs), News 2009-07-16T17:23:00-05:00 http://ffscambridge.com/blog/post/10_ways_to_support_charity_through_social_media/ http://ffscambridge.com/blog/post/10_ways_to_support_charity_through_social_media/#When:15:00:00Z New social media, like many relatively recent offspring of the internet, are in some ways an invention in search of a need. One thing that social media can be useful for is as a means to support and encourage your favorite charities.

Read the full article]]> Blogging, News, Taxes, Charitable Deductions, Truly Random 2009-07-14T15:00:00-05:00 http://ffscambridge.com/blog/post/fine_dining_for_the_thrifty_restaurant_week_comes_to_boston_in_august/ http://ffscambridge.com/blog/post/fine_dining_for_the_thrifty_restaurant_week_comes_to_boston_in_august/#When:15:13:00Z Although I’m not a true “foodie,” I do enjoy a good meal. I enjoy saving money, too. Restaurant Week enables me to do both simultaneously. Now in its ninth year in Boston, Restaurant Week offers an opportunity for locals to sample the offerings of pricey restaurants at a discount. Moreover, there are Restaurant Weeks in other cities.

Read the full article]]> Boston/Cambridge/New England, Cash Flow, Food, Saving 2009-07-10T15:13:00-05:00 http://ffscambridge.com/blog/post/taleb_on_distinguishing_between_investing_skill_and_random_chance/ http://ffscambridge.com/blog/post/taleb_on_distinguishing_between_investing_skill_and_random_chance/#When:11:57:00Z Several weeks ago I found time to read Nassim Nicholas Taleb’s Fooled By Randomness. This book, entertaining and eminently readable, is something between a memoir and a treatise on the pervasive human tendency to discern patterns in places where they don't actually exist. Among many examples, he shows how easy it is to mistake a lucky idiot for a skilled investment manager.

Read the full article]]> Investing, Investing 101, Mutual Funds, Passive vs. Active, Truly Random 2009-07-06T11:57:00-05:00 http://ffscambridge.com/blog/post/macroshares_umm_and_dmm_let_you_hedge_house_prices_but_should_you/ http://ffscambridge.com/blog/post/macroshares_umm_and_dmm_let_you_hedge_house_prices_but_should_you/#When:11:12:00Z Last May I attended a talk by Yale economist Robert Shiller in which he indicated that his company, MacroMarkets, was seeking SEC approval for a derivative product tied to home prices. Finally, this week the new “housing ETFs” are available. What are they about, and who should buy them?

Read the full article]]> Financial Planning Advice, Housing, Buying/Owning a House, Residential Property Investing, Investing, Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs), Meeting Your Goals, News 2009-07-01T11:12:00-05:00 http://ffscambridge.com/blog/post/leverage_and_exchange_traded_funds_dont_necessarily_mix_the_leverage_trap/ http://ffscambridge.com/blog/post/leverage_and_exchange_traded_funds_dont_necessarily_mix_the_leverage_trap/#When:16:10:00Z I noted last week that the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) has warned brokers that inverse and leveraged ETFs are inappropriate for many retail investors. Having discussed the workings and problems of inverse ETFs, I’d like to continue by taking a look at leveraged exchange-traded funds.

Read the full article]]> Investing, Investing 101, Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs), News 2009-06-30T16:10:00-05:00 http://ffscambridge.com/blog/post/united_kingdom_regulators_outlaw_commission_based_financial_advice/ http://ffscambridge.com/blog/post/united_kingdom_regulators_outlaw_commission_based_financial_advice/#When:01:54:00Z The Financial Times reported yesterday on a United Kingdom Financial Services Authority ruling that will eliminate commissions paid by fund managers and life insurance companies to financial advisors.

Read the full article]]> Financial Planning Advice, News 2009-06-28T01:54:00-05:00 http://ffscambridge.com/blog/post/leveraged_inverse_exchange_traded_funds_draw_finra_warning/ http://ffscambridge.com/blog/post/leveraged_inverse_exchange_traded_funds_draw_finra_warning/#When:16:05:00Z

The Financial Industry Regulatory Authority (FINRA) recently notified brokers who sell complex Exchange-Traded Funds (ETFs) that “inverse and leveraged ETFs typically are not suitable for retail investors who plan to hold them for more than one trading session.” The warning is long overdue, as leveraged ETFs were first introduced in 2006 after three years of SEC review.

Read the full article]]> Investing, Investing 101, Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs), News 2009-06-26T16:05:00-05:00 http://ffscambridge.com/blog/post/summer_airfares_appear_poised_to_rise/ http://ffscambridge.com/blog/post/summer_airfares_appear_poised_to_rise/#When:18:29:00Z Scott McCartney, who writes a travel column for the Wall Street Journal, noted yesterday that there are signs that airlines appear to be replacing their summer sales with fare increases. His travel blog, The Middle Seat, discusses some of the indications that fares are on their way up and includes several helpful videos with air travel tips.

Read the full article]]> Cash Flow, Saving, News 2009-06-25T18:29:00-05:00 http://ffscambridge.com/blog/post/saving_on_the_cost_of_keeping_cool_this_summer/ http://ffscambridge.com/blog/post/saving_on_the_cost_of_keeping_cool_this_summer/#When:13:54:00Z Although early summer in the Boston area has been unseasonably cool, it probably won’t stay that way. Coupled with some of the highest electrical rates in the nation, warm weather provides plenty of motivation for energy conservation. Here are some suggestions for cutting your electric bill during the summer.

Read the full article]]> Boston/Cambridge/New England, Cash Flow, Saving, News 2009-06-23T13:54:00-05:00 http://ffscambridge.com/blog/post/regulatory_reform_proposal_calls_for_wider_application_of_fiduciary_standar/ http://ffscambridge.com/blog/post/regulatory_reform_proposal_calls_for_wider_application_of_fiduciary_standar/#When:16:53:00Z Yesterday I noted that the Treasury Department has posted the Obama administration's proposals for financial regulatory reform. In the midst of all the information that's there, I missed an important detail. The administration's white paper, Financial Regulatory Reform: A New Foundation, calls for the fiduciary standard to be applied to broker-dealers. This would be a landmark change from current practice.

Read the full article]]> Financial Planning Advice, Investing, Stocks, News 2009-06-18T16:53:00-05:00 http://ffscambridge.com/blog/post/brookings_institution_report_ranks_boston_economy_30th_nationally/ http://ffscambridge.com/blog/post/brookings_institution_report_ranks_boston_economy_30th_nationally/#When:12:43:00Z Yesterday the Brookings Institution released a report evaluating the effect of the Great Recession on employment and other economic indicators in the nation’s 100 largest cities. Even with a below-average showing for housing prices, Boston's economy doesn't look so bad in comparison to many other cities.

Read the full article]]> Boston/Cambridge/New England, Economy, Housing, News 2009-06-18T12:43:00-05:00 http://ffscambridge.com/blog/post/financial_regulatory_reform_likely_not_enough/ http://ffscambridge.com/blog/post/financial_regulatory_reform_likely_not_enough/#When:01:57:00Z At the height of the credit market crisis last year, there were loud calls for dramatic changes in the regulation of financial institutions. Now that the sturm und drang has ceased, the reforms that will be realized will be much tamer.

Read the full article]]> Economy, Investing, Mutual Funds, News, Risk Management, Insurance 2009-06-18T01:57:00-05:00 http://ffscambridge.com/blog/post/boston_consumer_prices_continue_to_slip/ http://ffscambridge.com/blog/post/boston_consumer_prices_continue_to_slip/#When:23:58:00Z The Bureau of Labor Statistics released its report today on changes in New England region prices for May 2009.

Read the full article]]> Boston/Cambridge/New England, Cash Flow, Food, Economy, News 2009-06-17T23:58:00-05:00 http://ffscambridge.com/blog/post/irs_tax_break_for_new_car_buyers_in_states_without_sales_tax/ http://ffscambridge.com/blog/post/irs_tax_break_for_new_car_buyers_in_states_without_sales_tax/#When:14:52:00Z The IRS announced last week that its interpretation of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 is that new car buyers in states without a sales tax deserve a break this year.

Read the full article]]> Economy, News, Taxes, Tax Updates 2009-06-15T14:52:00-05:00 http://ffscambridge.com/blog/post/boston_federal_reserve_bank_few_signs_of_recovery/ http://ffscambridge.com/blog/post/boston_federal_reserve_bank_few_signs_of_recovery/#When:12:54:00Z The Federal Reserve Bank’s “Beige Book,” issued eight times a year, was released this week. The outlook for New England is uncertain, with few bright spots.

Read the full article]]> Boston/Cambridge/New England, Economy, Housing, News 2009-06-12T12:54:00-05:00 http://ffscambridge.com/blog/post/ignore_consumers_research_council_of_america_guide_to_americas_top_financia/ http://ffscambridge.com/blog/post/ignore_consumers_research_council_of_america_guide_to_americas_top_financia/#When:10:36:00Z Today I’m going to tell you something to cross off your list of criteria when trying to choose a financial planner, physician, or lawyer: inclusion in one of the Consumer’s Research Council of America's so-called guides.

Read the full article]]> Financial Planning Advice, News, Really Bad Ideas 2009-06-11T10:36:00-05:00 http://ffscambridge.com/blog/post/why_not_buy_a_chrysler_or_gm_car_now_while_theyre_going_begging/ http://ffscambridge.com/blog/post/why_not_buy_a_chrysler_or_gm_car_now_while_theyre_going_begging/#When:00:02:01Z Here’s the test of whether you're a true contrarian: would you buy a Chrysler today?

Read the full article]]> Cash Flow, Saving, Economy, News 2009-06-10T00:02:01-05:00 http://ffscambridge.com/blog/post/credit_card_accountability_act_leaves_room_for_bank_shenanigans/ http://ffscambridge.com/blog/post/credit_card_accountability_act_leaves_room_for_bank_shenanigans/#When:12:46:00Z The Credit Card Accountability and Disclosure Act of 2009 Act, signed last month, was supposed to drastically improve protections for consumers. While the new law eliminates some problems, banks are good at finding loopholes.

Read the full article]]> Debt, Credit Cards, News 2009-06-08T12:46:00-05:00 http://ffscambridge.com/blog/post/cut_your_cable_tv_bill_100/ http://ffscambridge.com/blog/post/cut_your_cable_tv_bill_100/#When:01:21:00Z Running out of budget-cutting ideas? Here’s one: cut your cable bill to zero.

Read the full article]]> Cash Flow, Saving 2009-06-06T01:21:00-05:00 http://ffscambridge.com/blog/post/time_to_consider_renovating_your_home/ http://ffscambridge.com/blog/post/time_to_consider_renovating_your_home/#When:12:10:00Z With the economy still in the doldrums, doing a home renovation could be an excellent idea. It’s a bit counter-intuitive, but hear me out.

Read the full article]]> Boston/Cambridge/New England, Debt, Mortgages, Economy, Financial Planning Advice, Housing, Buying/Owning a House 2009-06-03T12:10:00-05:00 http://ffscambridge.com/blog/post/what_will_happen_to_social_security_and_medicare/ http://ffscambridge.com/blog/post/what_will_happen_to_social_security_and_medicare/#When:11:38:00Z Each year the trustees of the Social Security/Medicare trusts are required to report on the status of the trust funds. Last month, having included the effects of the recession in their projections, they released a new report. The news is not good.

Read the full article]]> Economy, Financial Planning Advice, News, Retirement, Planning for your retirement, Social Security 2009-06-01T11:38:00-05:00 http://ffscambridge.com/blog/post/disability_insurance_how_much_to_get_what_affects_premium_costs/ http://ffscambridge.com/blog/post/disability_insurance_how_much_to_get_what_affects_premium_costs/#When:13:57:00Z My final post in recognition of Disability Insurance Awareness Month discusses key factors that can affect the cost of disability insurance. I’ll also touch on the question of how much disability coverage a person needs and discuss the things that you should consider in determining how much disability insurance to buy.

Read the full article]]> Financial Planning Advice, Health Care, Risk Management, Insurance 2009-05-28T13:57:00-05:00 http://ffscambridge.com/blog/post/it_looks_like_its_time_to_refinance/ http://ffscambridge.com/blog/post/it_looks_like_its_time_to_refinance/#When:02:45:00Z A couple of items at the Calculated Risk blog caught my eye today; both suggest that mortgage rates might well be headed higher.

Read the full article]]> Debt, Mortgages, Economy, Investing, Bonds, News 2009-05-28T02:45:00-05:00 http://ffscambridge.com/blog/post/disability_insurance_definitions_of_disability/ http://ffscambridge.com/blog/post/disability_insurance_definitions_of_disability/#When:12:32:00Z If you’re shopping for your own disability coverage (rather than receiving disability insurance as an employer benefit), you'll encounter a myriad of policy differences. You need to understand one of the most critical elements in any disability insurance policy: the definition of what a “disability” is.

Read the full article]]> Financial Planning Advice, Health Care, Risk Management, Insurance 2009-05-27T12:32:00-05:00 http://ffscambridge.com/blog/post/disability_insurance_what_kinds_can_you_get/ http://ffscambridge.com/blog/post/disability_insurance_what_kinds_can_you_get/#When:12:35:00Z My first post discussed why you might need disability insurance; today I’d like to explain a few of the important variations in disability coverage.

Read the full article]]> Financial Planning Advice, Health Care, Risk Management, Insurance 2009-05-26T12:35:00-05:00 http://ffscambridge.com/blog/post/continuing_health_insurance_after_graduation/ http://ffscambridge.com/blog/post/continuing_health_insurance_after_graduation/#When:10:15:00Z Earlier this month I offered a list of financial planning suggestions for recent college graduates. Since It's often the case that there's a delay period between graduation and the start of a new job, I’d like to expand on one of the items in the list: finding health insurance after graduation.

Read the full article]]> Financial Planning Advice, Health Care, Risk Management, Insurance 2009-05-23T10:15:00-05:00 http://ffscambridge.com/blog/post/new_england_economists_now_predict_450000_jobs_lost_and_uncertain_future/ http://ffscambridge.com/blog/post/new_england_economists_now_predict_450000_jobs_lost_and_uncertain_future/#When:02:13:00Z Yesterday I attended the spring New England Economic Partnership (NEEP) conference, held semiannually by the nonprofit economic research group that studies the region's economy. They were optimistically cautious.

Read the full article]]> Boston/Cambridge/New England, Economy, News 2009-05-23T02:13:00-05:00 http://ffscambridge.com/blog/post/disability_insurance_why_you_probably_need_it/ http://ffscambridge.com/blog/post/disability_insurance_why_you_probably_need_it/#When:11:54:00Z May is Disability Insurance Awareness Month. You won’t be getting any “Happy Disability Insurance Awareness Month” cards, though, because Hallmark™ hasn't caught up to this yet.

Read the full article]]> Cash Flow, Meeting Your Goals, Risk Management, Insurance 2009-05-19T11:54:00-05:00 http://ffscambridge.com/blog/post/happy_days_are_not_here_again_yet/ http://ffscambridge.com/blog/post/happy_days_are_not_here_again_yet/#When:10:04:00Z Last Thursday, I attended an excellent seminar held by State Street Global Advisors and Morningstar. Although the meeting focused on building portfolios with exchange traded funds (ETF's), the highlight of the afternoon was a presentation on the current state of the global markets.

Read the full article]]> Debt, Economy, Investing, Risk Management 2009-05-18T10:04:00-05:00 http://ffscambridge.com/blog/post/warnings_about_the_vagaries_of_working_with_stock_brokers/ http://ffscambridge.com/blog/post/warnings_about_the_vagaries_of_working_with_stock_brokers/#When:01:13:00Z Brokers are not innately bad people, but the systems under which they’re required to function can make it tough for them to work in the best interests of their clients.

Read the full article]]> Investing, Meeting Your Goals, News 2009-05-17T01:13:00-05:00 http://ffscambridge.com/blog/post/napfa_your_money_bus_tour_comes_to_boston/ http://ffscambridge.com/blog/post/napfa_your_money_bus_tour_comes_to_boston/#When:13:11:01Z Could you use some free financial advice from a qualified financial planner? The NAPFA Consumer Education Foundation (NCEF), in collaboration with TD AMERITRADE Institutional and Kiplinger's Personal Finance magazine, will be helping Boston-area consumers make wise money decisions next week on May 20th and 21st.

Read the full article]]> Boston/Cambridge/New England, Financial Planning Advice, Meeting Your Goals, News 2009-05-14T13:11:01-05:00 http://ffscambridge.com/blog/post/the_financial_services_industry_putting_clients_last/ http://ffscambridge.com/blog/post/the_financial_services_industry_putting_clients_last/#When:11:25:00Z The IBM Institute For Business Value recently published a study on the global financial services industry. The report, "Toward transparency and sustainability: building a new financial order" makes a number of interesting points about how the financial markets industry will need to change in the future in order to remain profitable. It also reveals something many consumers have suspected all along.

Read the full article]]> Financial Planning Advice, News 2009-05-12T11:25:00-05:00 http://ffscambridge.com/blog/post/investing_for_inflation_vs_deflationasset_classes_part_iii/ http://ffscambridge.com/blog/post/investing_for_inflation_vs_deflationasset_classes_part_iii/#When:20:22:00Z At last I’ve gotten to the question I promised to address last month: how do different kinds of investments perform in inflationary environments versus deflationary ones, and is there any way to protect yourself against both risks?

Read the full article]]> Debt, Economy, Housing, Residential Property Investing, Investing, Investing 101, Bonds, Stocks, News 2009-05-09T20:22:00-05:00 http://ffscambridge.com/blog/post/financial_planning_checklist_for_recent_college_graduates/ http://ffscambridge.com/blog/post/financial_planning_checklist_for_recent_college_graduates/#When:11:32:00Z College graduation season, which lasts for several weeks, is upon us here in the Boston area. According to the National Postsecondary Student Aid Study (NPSAS), graduating seniors with educational debts carry an average debt load on the order of $20,000. More and more, college students are beginning their working lives with fairly heavy debt loads. It's more important than ever for newly-minted grads to hit the ground running with a plan for their finances.

Read the full article]]> Cash Flow, Saving, Debt, Credit Cards, Education Planning, College/Graduate School Loans, Financial Planning Advice, Retirement, Planning for your retirement, Risk Management, Insurance, Taxes 2009-05-06T11:32:00-05:00 http://ffscambridge.com/blog/post/standard_and_poors_active_managers_didnt_outperform_in_this_bear_market/ http://ffscambridge.com/blog/post/standard_and_poors_active_managers_didnt_outperform_in_this_bear_market/#When:16:28:00Z There’s a continuing debate over the question of whether active mutual fund management (funds that buy in and out of the market, looking for stocks that managers believe will outperform the market) is capable of consistently beating passive management (buy stock indexes). Standard and Poor’s Index Services recently weighed in with its latest assessment on this question.

Read the full article]]> Investing, Mutual Funds, Passive vs. Active 2009-05-04T16:28:00-05:00 http://ffscambridge.com/blog/post/the_roots_of_the_credit_crisis_simplified/ http://ffscambridge.com/blog/post/the_roots_of_the_credit_crisis_simplified/#When:16:17:00Z Are you still a little baffled about how the financial system came to be in such a mess? Here’s a very nice visualization of what happened (it's also the first video I've ever posted!)

Read the full article]]> Economy, Housing, News 2009-05-01T16:17:00-05:00 http://ffscambridge.com/blog/post/swine_flu_and_household_emergency_planning/ http://ffscambridge.com/blog/post/swine_flu_and_household_emergency_planning/#When:13:46:00Z In recent years, health authorities have been urging that nations and businesses should prepare for the possibility of an avian influenza pandemic. Recent news of a serious swine flu outbreak in Mexico has prompted the World Health Organization to declare a phase 4 pandemic alert, meaning that the potential for community-wide outbreaks has been confirmed, but that a full-blown pandemic is not yet certain.

Read the full article]]> News, Risk Management, Emergencies 2009-04-28T13:46:00-05:00 http://ffscambridge.com/blog/post/incentive_stock_options_isos_and_income_taxes_part_two/ http://ffscambridge.com/blog/post/incentive_stock_options_isos_and_income_taxes_part_two/#When:17:32:00Z A couple of weeks ago I began a primer on ISOs and some of the tax implications of exercising them. I’d like to discuss some cases in which an ISO grant is employed in a manner that is “disqualifying.”

Read the full article]]> Investing, Employer Stock (ESPP, ISO, NQSO, etc), Taxes, Alternative Minimum Tax (AMT) 2009-04-27T17:32:00-05:00 http://ffscambridge.com/blog/post/the_first_ffs_blog_blogoversary/ http://ffscambridge.com/blog/post/the_first_ffs_blog_blogoversary/#When:18:35:00Z It seems only right to take a moment for brief reflection on the occasion of our first blogoversary!

Read the full article]]> Blogging 2009-04-25T18:35:00-05:00 http://ffscambridge.com/blog/post/chipping_away_at_the_cost_of_eating_out/ http://ffscambridge.com/blog/post/chipping_away_at_the_cost_of_eating_out/#When:04:57:00Z A friend who works in the food services industry (thanks, BE!) responded to my post on restaurants by informing me that there's a wave of promotions going on in the food-eaten-away-from-home world these days. He notes that a number of restaurants have begun waiving extra charges for splitting a meal or bringing your own wine.

This week I also discovered a site that offers a growing registry of restaurants that offer “kids eat free” specials: mykidseatfree.com.

Read the full article]]> Cash Flow, Food, News 2009-04-25T04:57:00-05:00 http://ffscambridge.com/blog/post/a_visual_explanation_of_how_quantitative_easing_works/ http://ffscambridge.com/blog/post/a_visual_explanation_of_how_quantitative_easing_works/#When:16:18:00Z I gave a short discussion of quantitative easing in the second post of my Inflation/Deflation series. I learned recently that the Financial Times web site has a nice explanation of how quantitative easing works to check deflation; if you're a visual learner, you might find it helpful. You may have to register at the FT site to view it, but registration is free.

The piece explains the risks of quantitative easing and makes an important point: although many economists believe that too much quantitative easing could be very bad and that too little easing won't check deflation, no one knows for certain a priori how much quantitative easing is too much (or not enough).

Read the full article]]> Economy, Investing, Investing 101, News 2009-04-20T16:18:00-05:00 http://ffscambridge.com/blog/post/incentive_stock_options_isos_and_income_taxes/ http://ffscambridge.com/blog/post/incentive_stock_options_isos_and_income_taxes/#When:15:47:00Z There are a number of companies (mostly in high-tech) that reward their employees with a form of deferred compensation called incentive stock options (ISOs). The tax rules for these stock options are complicated, but if you receive this kind of benefit, you need to understand the basic rules for them to be able to use them effectively. For some time I’ve wanted to discuss how profits from stock purchased via ISO exercises are taxed. This post, which will be the first of two parts, is more of a primer than an exhaustive discussion, but I hope it will be useful. (Keep in mind that ISO-related tax calculations can be complex; you should consult a tax adviser before implementing transactions involving ISOs).

Read the full article]]> Investing, Employer Stock (ESPP, ISO, NQSO, etc), Taxes, Alternative Minimum Tax (AMT) 2009-04-16T15:47:00-05:00 http://ffscambridge.com/blog/post/irs_includes_phishing_scams_among_its_dirty_dozen/ http://ffscambridge.com/blog/post/irs_includes_phishing_scams_among_its_dirty_dozen/#When:03:29:00Z Periodically the IRS issues a list of tax scams that it considers especially troublesome. Most of the 2009 “Dirty Dozen” Tax Scams involve fraudulent tax filings and other abuses of the tax system. However, the first item on the list is “phishing:” the use of e-mails that appear to come from the IRS but that are actually from crooks looking for ways to steal bank account information, social security numbers, and other personal information.

Read the full article]]> Identity Theft, News, Taxes 2009-04-15T03:29:00-05:00 http://ffscambridge.com/blog/post/inflation_or_deflation_which_do_we_have_part_ii/ http://ffscambridge.com/blog/post/inflation_or_deflation_which_do_we_have_part_ii/#When:19:27:00Z Previously I discussed some of the differences between inflationary and deflationary economic environments. I’d like to pick up where I left off, mention one challenging aspect of deflation, and talk a bit about which environment we’re experiencing.

Read the full article]]> Economy, Investing, Investing 101, News 2009-04-13T19:27:00-05:00