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Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/GetSmarterAboutMoney/~3/HIE1qq3dQSc/rob-carrick-six-investing-themes-for-65-year-olds

Six investing themes for 65-year-olds

From maintaining a cash cushion to talking to your adviser, Rob Carrick offers up six investing tips for anyone in their 60s. ► MORE

Payout or Pension?

Shortly after I moved to my current residence, I switched jobs. My previous line of work was slowly coming to a close, and I needed to make sure that I wasn’t left jobless, so I kept my eyes open for new employment. When the opportunity came, I took another job that offered longer term employment. While...
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Source: http://canadianfinanceblog.com/payout-or-pension/

Source: http://www.millionairecorner.com/article/jobless-claims-increase-one-month-high

Jobless Claims Increase to a One-Month High

Jobless claims in the week ending May 26 rose to a one-month high of 383,000, an increase of 10,000 from the previous week’s revised figure of 372,000, the Labor Department reported Thursday. The four-week moving average, a less volatile number that flattens out week-to-week fluctuations in the data, was also 374,500, an increase of 3,750 from the previous week’s revised average of 370,750. Analysts consider 375,000 jobless claims to be a benchmark that signals strong enough hiring to lower the unemployment rate. The number of Americans filing for continuing unemployment claims during the week ending May 19 was 3,242,000, a decrease of 36,000 from the preceding week. The 4-week moving average was 3,263,750, a decrease of 12,000 from the prior week. The total number of people claiming benefits in all programs for the week ending May 12 was 6,137,862, a decrease of 30,753 from the week before. States reported 2,618,366 persons claiming emergency unemployment benefits for the week ending May 12, a decrease of 12,141 from the prior week. There were 3,416,540 claimants in the comparable week in 2011. The largest increases in initial jobless claims for the week ending May 19 were in California, Florida, Maryland, South Carolina, and Texas. The largest decreases were in Georgia, Michigan, Pennsylvania, Washington, and Wisconsin.

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5 Full Proof Ways To Beat Rising Gas Prices

Long gone are the days of paying 65 cents per liter to gas up your car. Prices of gas at the pump are rising daily, and its our due diligence to put up a fight by saving money every time we fill our car. Every year we keep getting impressed with the technology in cars, [...]

Source: http://www.financefox.ca/5-full-proof-ways-to-beat-rising-gas-prices/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=5-full-proof-ways-to-beat-rising-gas-prices

My Favourite Takeaways – Guide to What’s Good, Bad and Downright Awful in Canadian Investments Today – Part 1 of 2

I’ve been meaning to post a review of Rob Carrick’s Guide to What’s Good, Bad and Downright Awful in Canadian Investments Today for many months now. After meeting Rob at dinner the other week, and hearing about his new book, I figured it was time to get my butt in gear and comment [...]

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/myownadvisor/CsCc/~3/N4vZCyBItHU/

Source: http://tacklingourdebt.com/2012/05/22/top-summer-vacation-spots-canada-touring-prince-edward-island/

Top Summer Vacation Spots in Canada – Touring Prince Edward Island

top summer vacation spots in canada

Next Stop - Prince Edward Island

Our next stop on our tour of the top summer vacation spots in Canada is Prince Edward Island, commonly referred to as PEI. Prince Edward Island, a small island off the east coast of Canada, is famous for many things including the miles and miles of hot white sandy beaches, as well as the vast array of golf courses. Although the winters can be somewhat rough on the east coast of Canada, the summers in Prince Edward Island are hot, which makes it perfect for a fun summer vacation for the whole family. Look at all the beaches!

beaches on prince edward island

Let’s Go Swimming

With miles of hot sandy beaches to explore on Prince Edward Island, you will find that one of the most popular beaches is known as Cavendish Beach.

cavendish beach

Play Some Golf

If you love to golf then PEI is the perfect location for you to plan to spend your summer vacation. Golfing on Prince Edward Island is simply amazing.

golfing on PEI

With over 30 golf courses for an avid golfer to choose from PEI offers some of the best golfing in Canada. Anyone that enjoys golfing will love the many golf vacation packages available such as:

For the Ladies
Guys Getaway
Family Fun
Couple Escape
Short Stays

Go Kayaking

You will enjoy a beautiful view of the coast of PEI when you take your family on a PEI kayaking adventure. From the water you will be able to enjoy the amazing sand dunes, regal red cliffs and beautiful landscapes.

Have Lots of Fun at the Waterparks and Amusement Parks

These are two of my favourite summer time activities. I love waterparks and amusement parks. On Prince Edward Island you will find two very popular amusement parks and two very exciting waterparks.

When you go to Sandspit Amusement Park you will enjoy rides such as the Tilt-A-Whirl, Scrambler, Paratrooper, Rok-N-Rol and the Cyclone Roller Coaster. Your kids will enjoy the Bumper Cars and Bumper Boats, along with sliding down the 50 foot slide.

Pack up the kids and enjoy a great day at Shining Waters Family Fun Park.

As you can see, Prince Edward Island offers something fun for everyone in your family, so pack up and head to PEI this summer.

Have you ever been to Prince Edward Island? What did you do for fun?

Source: http://canadianfinanceblog.com/income-inequality-and-financial-engineers/

Income Inequality and Financial Engineers

With everything in the news over the last year about the “99%” and income inequality, I thought I might take a look at what really got under peoples’ skin about certain segments of the population being so wealthy. After all, the majority of people in North America believe in the principles of the free market...
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Source: http://tacklingourdebt.com/2012/05/10/treat-your-mother-brunch-mothers-day/

Treat Your Mother to Brunch on Mother's Day

mothers day brunch Mother's Day is right around the corner and with that in mind why not plan to treat your Mother to a delicious homemade Mother's Day Brunch this year?

Using the easy to follow recipes found in this free Easy Breezy Brunch eCookbook you could make Sausage and Cheese Tartlets for starters, followed by Blueberry Pancakes with maple syrup, or Brunch Burritos.

Make Mom's brunch even more exciting by creating a Frozen Banana Latte just for her. And end the brunch right with a homemade Orange Almond Coffee Cake. Yum!!

Click on the link to download your free copy of this Easy Breezy Brunch eCookbook today so that you have plenty of time to buy any groceries that you may need to make these wonderful brunch recipes for your Mom.

Happy Mother's Day Ladies!!

Source: http://consumerist.com/2012/05/father-son-kicked-off-flight-because-3-year-olds-dont-care-about-the-seatbelt-sign.html

Father & Son Kicked Off Flight Because 3-Year-Olds Don't Care About The Seatbelt Sign

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Tax Treatment of Restricted Stock Unit (RSU) Benefits

If you work for a large company, chances are Employee Stock Option benefits (ESOPs) have been replaced with Restricted Stock Units (RSUs). There are significant differences between tax treatment of ESOPs and RSUs. In this post, we will look at how RSUs are taxed for Canadian residents. Restricted Stock Units are simply a promise to [...]

Tax Treatment of Restricted Stock Unit (RSU) Benefits is brought to you by Canadian Capitalist -- Helping you to invest & prosper.

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/ccapitalist/~3/yOVMzFYNrBI/

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Wednesday, May 30, 2012

Facebook's IPO Debacle, Day 3: Un-Friended and Dis-Liked on Wall Street

Filed under: Technology, Morgan Stanley , Facebook, Market News

It's day three of the Facebook (FB) valuation debate and the world is, once again, falling apart.

As the stock's value continues to drop -- it closed Tuesday at $31, down 8.9% on the day, and down 19% from the IPO price of $38 -- lead underwriter Morgan Stanley (MS) is being attacked for its 11th-hour cut in estimates of Facebook's revenue forecasts. SEC Chairman Mary Schapiro, has claimed that "we need to look at" issues related to the IPO, and analysts are criticizing everyone from Nasdaq to Facebook itself, desperate to find someone to blame.

In a particularly poignant vignette, one outraged hedge fund manager, a self-described "blue collar Wall Street guy" is livid because his $100 million investment in the company has headed south.

The Problems of Valuation

While there's ample evidence to suggest that Morgan Stanley may have colored outside the lines, the bigger problem is that, as the market is trying to determine the actual value of Facebook, it's becoming increasingly clear that many of the traditional valuation rules don't apply. The company has minimal infrastructure, doesn't produce a tangible product, and is still groping its way toward a solid monetization strategy. When it comes to advertising, a standard valuation question for a media stock, Facebook is disappointing: As the economic bloviators have endlessly pointed out, the site's advertising revenues are unimpressive. And, to make things worse, there's Facebook's claim that the move to portable devices has made it even harder to create a stable revenue stream.

(Of course, it's almost impossible to find a website with a good advertising-based business model, but those kinds of big-picture, systemic flaws aren't really interesting to the jittery buy/sell crowd that is currently complaining about Facebook.)

When it comes to determining the actual worth of Facebook, value investors will have to focus their attention on two somewhat intangible factors: the website's CEO and its place in the social media market.

The Big Boss

Regarding the first, there are the image problems faced by Mark Zuckerberg himself, a somewhat self-conscious 28-year-old college dropout who has been far from impressive in his few public appearances. The Facebook valuation problems don't seem to have hit him too closely, although his worth -- on paper -- has dropped by $3 billion since Friday. In fact, some finance writers are trying to coin the word "Zucked" to describe a paper billionaire who loses a huge chunk of his supposed wealth. Personally, I prefer "Fulded"; then again, my long-term memory stretches all the way back to 2008.

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But, as any student of Zuckerberg's tenure can attest, the young man in question has a firm vision for the future of Facebook, coupled with a willingness to learn, a strong eye for talent and an iron grip on the wheel. In eight years, he has transformed a college project into a social network that connects more than one-seventh of the world's population. And, when it comes to Facebook's unimpressive revenues, it's worth remembering that "unimpressive" in this context means a mere $1 billion in profit last year.

Regarding the second factor, Facebook's place in the social media market, few analysts noted that, even as GM announced plans to stop paying the site for advertising, it was doubling down on its use of Facebook's fan pages. In fact, counting its distributors, dealers, factories, suppliers, and other associates, GM operates hundreds of fan pages, without paying Facebook a penny.

This factor suggests a clear revenue route to revenue for the site. Facebook currently has over 900 million users, and is on track to hit a billion later this year. Millions of companies, institutions, and artists use the site to create fan pages that they use to connect to customers. In fact, fan pages are on track to become a cottage industry of their own, with an ever-growing cadre of marketers offering to build pages, maintain pages, and advise customers on how to use pages. As yet, Facebook hasn't monetized this feature, but it isn't hard to imagine how they could.

How Much Is It Really Worth (Again)

So, to recap, Facebook's paper value dropped from $104 billion to $93 billion in three days.

This didn't happen because of any major moves on the part of the company and wasn't a response to any big market forces. The site's founder and CEO, the guy who built it and has a vision for its growth, is still in the driver's seat -- what's more, with 57% of the company's voting stock under his control, he isn't going anywhere.

Gallery: 5 Companies Getting Burned By Facebook

As for the future, Facebook still has big plans, and now has a very fat war chest that will make some of them possible. Admittedly, it has a somewhat questionable advertising-based revenue stream, but it is sitting on a potential gold mine. In other words, for the long-term investor, it looks like a great deal. The only question now is how much of a drop should we wait for before buying in?

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Source: http://www.dailyfinance.com/2012/05/22/facebooks-ipo-debacle-day-3-un-friended-and-dis-liked-on-wall/

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Market Models Show Improvement

Nothing dramatic occurred on Tuesday in terms of changes to our market models. The Bull Market Sustainability Index (BMSI) did pop back into the low end of “healthy” territory, which makes us more open to redeploying cash. The other models (MRM, 80-20) remain in neutral territory. The classifications are updated automatically each day [...]

Source: http://ciovaccocapital.com/wordpress/index.php/risk-reward/market-models-show-improvement/

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Gas Stations Are Hosing Debit Card Users at the Pump

Filed under: Energy, Autos, Credit Cards

Debit Cards Feel like you're getting gouged at the gas pump amid rising prices? You actually are if you're using a debit card.

Despite the passage of the Durbin Amendment to the Dodd-Frank legislation last year, gas stations have yet to pass along more than $1 billion in debit card transaction fee savings to consumers, according to a survey released Monday by the Electronic Payments Coalition.

When the Durbin Amendment was under consideration, retailers stressed the need to cap debit card transaction fees to a flat rate of approximately $0.24, rather than allow it to be based on 1.15% of the total transaction, says Trish Wexler, a spokeswoman for the coalition.

"Consumers were used in Washington to get this legislation passed," Wexler said. "There's no evidence they've passed on these savings to consumers. They haven't been able to show they are lowering prices or offering discounts to people who use debit cards."

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Indeed. Ever drive into a gas station expecting to pay the low price per gallon advertised on its sign, only to find that deal is only good if you pay in cash?

Ideally, gas stations should list three separate prices per gallon based on the grade: one price for a cash payment, one for a debit transaction, and another if a credit card is used, says Wexler.

To see what the Electronic Payments Coalition thinks consumers should pay at the pump when using a debit card, see their calculator to punch in the price at your local gas station and the size of your gas tank.

Turns out the cost savings, in some cases, could be a wash if you use cash. And that may be the least painful route to take, given that using your debit card takes the money from the same account from which the cash could be pulled.

Motley Fool contributor Dawn Kawamoto does not own stock in any of the companies listed. She is, however, heavily invested in using fossil fuel to run her megamonster gas-guzzler minivan.

Source: http://www.dailyfinance.com/2012/04/17/gas-stations-are-hosing-debit-card-users-at-the-pump/

The Penny, Not the Cent will be Gone

There appears to be quite a bit of confusion surrounding the announcement made in Budget 2012 that the penny would be eliminated from our coinage system. Some Canadians believe that by eliminating the penny, businesses would always round up the cost of individual items and hence drive up prices. That is not quite true. The [...]

The Penny, Not the Cent will be Gone is brought to you by Canadian Capitalist -- Helping you to invest & prosper.

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ExxonMobil's Safety Obsession: Inside the Mind of an Oil Giant

Filed under: Energy, Exxon Mobil, Books

ExxonMobil (XOM) is an easy company to hate.

As the world's largest publicly traded oil and gas company, it's hard not to blame it for the pain we experience at the pump -- particularly when you consider how much money it makes. If it were a country, its 2011 revenues of $486 billion would have placed it 20th in terms of GDP, ahead of Poland, Sweden, and Argentina, just to name a few.

Yet, like the bully who mistreated you in primary school, ExxonMobil is widely misunderstood. While many of its unsavory habits are common knowledge, it also has a naive and sensitive side. You just have to get to know the company to understand where it's coming from.

Extreme Events, Extreme Reactions

Aside from the founding of giant Standard Oil in 1870 and its court-mandated breakup 40 years later -- which created the offspring that would become both Exxon and Mobil -- there are two events in ExxonMobil's history that shape its present condition more than anything.

The first was the crash of the Exxon Valdez oil tanker in Alaska's Prince William Sound in 1989. And the second was the 1992 kidnapping and killing of Sidney Reso, then-vice president of international operations for Exxon.

These two events affected Exxon's internal machinations more than most outsiders ever knew -- until now.

Pulitzer Prize-winning author Steve Coll gives us a glimpse into the energy giant's reaction to these events in his recent book, Private Empire: ExxonMobil and American Power.

Time Out for a Safety Minute!

The Exxon Valdez incident ignited a fervent obsession with safety and risk, Coll reports. So focused on safety is the company now that every meeting at every office begins with a "safety minute."

During this "safety minute," a randomly chosen employee speaks about one safety issue or another -- no matter how minuscule. Some examples: the failure to turn off a coffeepot in the employee break room, or the unusually high incidence rate of paper cuts among the office staff.

Sponsored Links

Additionally, employees are required to back their cars into parking spaces, a measure meant to speed up evacuations in case of emergency. Even employees conduct at home is eligible for scrutiny. The proper way to use a ladder when cleaning gutters might be discussed, or the dangers of getting too much sun on a beach vacation.

The incident involving Reso spurred an equally intense fixation on the security of the company's senior executives.

Anyone who ascends to the top of ExxonMobil's corporate hierarchy now enjoys a personal protection regime similar to that of an American presidential candidate or holder of high national office. Its chief executive officer is prohibited from flying commercial, and is obligated instead to choose among the company's multiple luxurious jets for both personal and professional travel.

Gallery: Fortune 500 Companies
gallery

While ExxonMobil makes for a perfect corporate villain, who would have guessed that a swashbuckling energy giant would be obsessed with things such as sunburns, paper cuts, and coffeepots? Perhaps it's true that we shouldn't judge a book, or in this case an oil company, by its cover.

Motley Fool contributor John Maxfield does not have a financial interest in any oil companies, including ExxonMobil.

Source: http://www.dailyfinance.com/2012/05/15/exxonmobil-safety-obsession-valdez-reso-steve-coll-book/

Source: http://firstsecurityfinancialshow.com/blog/bid/142483/Women-Taking-the-Wheel

Women Taking the Wheel

Women in Retirement Many women have not realized that now is the time to take control of your finances. For too long, a great number of you have relied on men, be it a husband or whatnot, to control your finances and help you plan for retirement. And the truth is, this line of thinking continues to this day.

Now is the time to put a stop to all that. Now is the time you take the wheel. Now is the time to realize that a successful retirement may very well hinge on your own ability to prepare. Let's take a look at a few facts that every woman should be aware of.

Fact #1: A longer life expectancy can have a huge effect on your retirement.

If you are a married woman, there is a good chance that your husband is older than you. In many cases, your husband may be several years older. More than a decade of difference isn't all that uncommon. Because of this, there is a good chance that when your husband passes away, he will do so several years ahead of you. This can mean a great deal to your retirement, as you will need to prepare for the long haul without your husband's guidance. In many cases, a widow will see her standard of living go down without proper planning.

The same goes for a single woman. The average lifespan is now close to 85, and you may find yourself living many years beyond that. While this is clearly a good thing, you must prepare for at least 30 years of retirement, just to be on the safe side.

Fact #2: A little knowledge can go a long way.

You can't beat a little education to help you get through life. When it comes to retirement planning, this is especially true. Whether or not you've been following your husband's lead and allowing him to control all of your finances or allowing a professional to handle things for you, it's time you educated yourself. Take the time to learn as much as you can about the financial products contained in your retirement portfolio. Ask questions. Maybe even take a few basic classes to help you understand anything you might be having trouble with. Finances can often be a bit difficult to understand for anyone, so never hesitate to educate yourself and stay informed.

Fact #3: Surveys back up the consensus.

If you follow the numerous financial surveys that are conducted each year, you'll find that retirement planning is a huge issue for women right now. One of these was conducted by the Society of Actuaries. Here are some facts that this survey unveiled, and they're not exactly encouraging:

-- Only 8% of female retirees are planning for the long haul, which can translate to a twenty year gap in finances. In turn, this gap translates to a large number of women who simply aren't prepared for their extended life expectancy without the benefit of a spouse.

-- For men over the age of 85, a total of 45% of them are widowed. For women, the number is nearly doubled at 85%. That number may be staggering, but it simply reinforces the need for a woman to know how to handle her finances into her later years.

-- 20% of men at age 65 are expected to need professional care for a number of years after their retirement. For women, the number is 30%. While this isn't a huge difference, it's large enough to be concerned.

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/GetSmarterAboutMoney/~3/sjNbca3RtLA/robin-taub-raising-kids-can-be-taxing

Raising Kids Can Be “Taxing”!

Raising kids is expensive. According to some estimates, the cost of raising a child in Canada from birth to adulthood ranges from $193,000 to $250,000. Fortunately, there are plenty of tax breaks for families with children that will help lower your taxes. The first three I will describe are non-refundable tax credits – they can only be used against taxes otherwise owing. ► MORE

Source: http://shakingthemoneytree.blogspot.com/2012/05/when-mama-aint-healthy.html

When Mama ain't' healthy....

...ain't nothing in the house that's healthy.

I must say that being down like this is really messing up all parts of my world. I have been off one day or two days each week, depending on sub availability. On my days off I have all these grandiose plans to get things caught up, but it never happens. I sleep. and I sleep, and I sleep. I'm like the cats and just move from surface to surface to nap. Quite sad. On the days I work, I come home so exhausted I collapse and sleep til morning. I have to say, it's getting old real fast.

So what else isn't healthy?

finances. I haven't been keeping track like I do. There are no snowflakes to speak of. I don't have the energy to get groceries. More than once I have sent the boys with $ to go pick up a sub or pita for their supper. Their dad has been working late and it just isn't in me to shop and cook and clean up. bye bye grocery money.
body. no walking. no exercise. no truly healthy eating. I am tired but laying around and sleeping makes me feel like crap
house. lordy there are piles of laundry to do and tidying. dishes always around. rooms that need cleaning. blarg
blogging. I've had zero motivation to blog and hardly even to read other blogs. THAT is when I know things are definitely off kilter.

I feel like I am missing out on so much. I guess I never really realized how sick I was or that this really was going to be with me for the rest of my life.

I am so thankful for this long weekend. DS2 and DH are gone up north camping. DS1 and I are at home and I'm not sure what his plans are.

I hope I use my time as well as I can and feel like I have done some things and have rested over this weekend.

Have a great weekend everyone. May it bring you lots and lots of pleasure.

Source: http://www.millionairecorner.com/article/millionaire-corner-daily-financial-news-and-analysis-npointpolitics-may-24-2012

Millionaire Corner Daily Financial News and Analysis, nPointPolitics - May 24, 2012

Price of Oil Reaches Seven Month Low, US Supply on the Rise The price of oil fell below $90 in US trading on Wednesday for the first time in nearly seven months as US supplies continue to grow, USA Today reports. Gas prices at the pump were flat at $3.678 per gallon on Wednesday, according AAA. The nationwide average for a gallon of regular unleaded has dropped by 26 cents since peaking in the first week of April. Gasoline is 16.5 cents per gallon cheaper than it was the same time last year. Commodity prices, including oil, are falling across the board on fears that Europe’s debt crisis may deepen at the same time that supplies of many of those commodities are on the rise.
To read the original article please click nPointPolitics.

Is the Kindle Fire's Flame Burning Out?

Filed under: Technology, Media, Apple, Amazon.com

Amazon.com (AMZN) turned heads last year with its economically priced tablet, but necks are apparently stiffening up these days.

Tech tracker IDC is reporting that Amazon sold just 750,000 of its $199 Kindle Fire tablets during the first three months of the year, well off the 4.8 million units that it sold during last year's fourth quarter.

There are plenty of perfectly good explanations that account for part of the slide.

Of course sales will fall sequentially in the first quarter. Tablets are hot sellers during the holiday shopping season.
Amazon introduced the Kindle Fire in November, so it received a lot of media attention at the time.
Apple (AAPL) rolled out the new iPad in March, stealing media coverage.
Along with the new iPad's launch, Apple decided to continue selling the entry-level model of the iPad 2 at a $100 discount to the original $499 price.

All four factors definitely weighed down Amazon's momentum earlier this year, but things are more grim than even the explanations suggest.

Take Two Tablets and Call Me in the Mourning

Did tablet sales slip after the holidays? Absolutely. Apple sold 15.4 million iPads during the final three months of 2011, only to sell just 11.8 million iPads during the first three months of 2012.

However, the 23% sequential slide is mild compared to Amazon's 84% decline for the Kindle Fire.

IDC claims that the seasonal slowdown resulted in a 38% drop in worldwide media tablet shipments. Why did Amazon fare so badly? Apple actually increased its share of market this past quarter, while Amazon went from 17% during the holidays to 4% now.

Amazon did garner plenty of media coverage and hype during the mid-November debut of its tablet, but that also means that it only had half a quarter of market availability.

Apple's decision to shave the price of the iPad 2 to $399 in March played a part, but that still leaves us to wonder what went wrong in January and February, before consumers knew about the cheaper iPad 2s.

Besides, even with the lower price of the iPad 2, it still costs twice as much as a Kindle Fire.

A Moving Target

All those "Apple did this" and "Apple did that" excuses for the Fire's softening sales don't explain everything.

While Amazon was the undisputed distant silver medalist during the fourth quarter, Samsung passed it up for second place this past quarter. Amazon is now being fitted for a bronze medal, with Lenovo and Barnes & Noble's (BKS) Nook Tablet not too far behind.

Things may get hairier. Target (TGT) -- the cheap-chic department store chain -- will stop selling the Kindle Fire this month. Target may have thought that stocking the cheap tablets would be a good way to increase its sales in consumer electronics, but ultimately the chain realizes that it doesn't want to arm a rival that has an ecosystem in place to replace Target's DVDs, CDs, video games, and books with digital editions that Amazon delivers directly.

If other retailers follow Target's lead, Amazon will be back to relying on pushing its proprietary products on its website's landing page.

Fire Sale

"We expect a new, larger-screened device from Amazon at a typically aggressive price point," IDC predicts, echoing what many analysts believe will happen. The seven-inch Kindle Fire may soon have a larger sibling to match the 9.7-inch iPad, and obviously it will sell for a lot less than Apple's market-defining tablet.

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Maybe that will help, but it obviously won't be enough to close the gap with Apple. As makers of Android-fueled tablets try to battle it out on price, Apple's pedigree and developer-rich App Store make it the runaway champion.

If Amazon and other tablet makers let Apple be the one to replace textbooks with e-readers in the classroom, the battle will be over. And it won't just be Amazon licking its wounds as it wonders why the Kindle Fire never set the world ablaze the way it had originally wanted.

Motley Fool contributor Rick Munarriz does not own shares in any stocks in this article. The Motley Fool owns shares of Amazon.com and Apple. Motley Fool newsletter services have recommended buying shares of Amazon.com and Apple. Motley Fool newsletter services have recommended creating a bull call spread position in Apple and writing puts on Barnes & Noble.

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Source: http://www.dailyfinance.com/2012/05/11/is-the-kindle-fires-flame-burning-out/

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Waiting for Godot… and kids to grow up…

Welcome New York Times readers! For regular readers, here’s the NYT article that talks about the Person Under the Stairs (aka my son who lives in the basement):
Rules for When Your Child Moves Home
Here’s the stages of learning myself and my kid had to go through to learn about money since it wasn’t a talent [...]

Source: http://singlemomrichmom.com/waiting-for-gdt-kids-to-grow-up/

Source: http://www.npr.org/blogs/money/2012/05/07/152041633/how-an-investors-gain-can-be-your-loss?ft=1&f=127413671

How An Investor's Gain Can Be Your Loss

Guest columnist Dean Baker explains how many forms of investment contribute little or no value to society.

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Tuesday, May 29, 2012

Square Foot Gardening 101 – Investing In Your Health

Don’t have a green thumb? Are you a novice gardener? Don’t have lots of space for a garden but still want one? Square Foot Gardening (SFG) might be for you. Developed by Mel Bartholomew in the mid-1970s, Mel invented Square Foot Gardening (SFG) because he thought it would be a great concept for expert gardeners. His [...]

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/myownadvisor/CsCc/~3/suYLowfClZw/

Bargain Shopping Simplified: Is This App the Answer?

Filed under: Technology, Saving Money, Shopping

Comparison shopping is an art to some and an obsession to others. But getting the best price in one way can come at a cost in others -- in the gas you burn while driving to reach that great sale, for example, or the time it may take you to travel from one grocery store to the next to cherry-pick each one's weekly sale items, or the hours spent scouring the Internet for bargains.

NetPlenish, a startup based in Ventura, Calif., aims to help you minimize those hidden costs.

Its app sorts through the various merchants selling the items you want, and bundles them together to get you the best overall deal. It even compares combinations of items to determine whether you'll save more with shipping costs by buying primarily from one merchant, or whether you'll spend the least by using a wider variety of retailers.

And of course, it's all mobile.

Though services like Soap.com, Amazon's Fresh, and Alice.com all serve a similar purpose -- providing one-stop shops for household staples -- NetPlenish distinguishes itself through its mobile app, its price comparison capabilities and its simplified checkout. (A complicated, time-consuming checkout process is one of our biggest peeves about online shopping).

Smaller Purchases, Bigger Savings

People have always been willing to put in the effort to score deals on bigger purchases, like cars and travel, and the Web gave them plenty of tools for that. Kayak.com, for example, tracks multiple sites to get customers the best airfares. But incremental savings can add up quickly on everyday purchases -- trouble is, most folks don't have the patience to look.

"People usually use price comparison for a television but not for diapers," said Dave Compton, CEO and founder of NetPlenish. "If you wanted to do this for everyday items, you'd have to get a big ol' honkin' spreadsheet."

Shopping even without deal searching is a time suck. According to NetPlenish, the average consumer spends 45 minutes nearly twice a week on errands. Compton -- still haunted by the memory of trying to go shopping with his toddler daughter in tow -- wants to harness the power of the Internet to get the whole shopping experience down from 45 minutes to 45 seconds.

A More Powerful Algorithm

At the heart of NetPlenish is its ShopGenius algorithm, which scours vendors' prices to find the best deals for multiple items on a user's shopping list. ShopGenius then lets merchants compete to provide the best overall price, including shipping, sales tax and the lowest possible product price.

"NetPlenish solves a big problem that consumers face every day, which is a single store may not have the best price repeatedly for items you need to buy over and over, like toothpaste, toilet paper, diapers and dog food," Compton said. "With NetPlenish, your items come from a different merchant each delivery, based on who has the lowest price at the time of your purchase."

The app, for both iPhones and Androids, is fairly simple to use: Users can add items to their shopping list manually or by scanning bar codes. After that, they can simply tap the items they need replenished, and they'll receive the products directly from among the more than 20 merchants NetPlenish works with, including Walmart, Target, Walgreens, Drugstore.com and Sephora.

Though you may still pay, say, $15 for shipping after saving $15 by optimizing your deals, NetPlenish views the time saved as a net-positive. And with its painless method for adding regularly purchased items to your shopping list, it turns shopping into practically a wave of the hand.

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No Checkout Checkout

Still, the biggest selling point for NetPlenish may be its ease of check-out. The final step of shopping on an e-commerce site -- especially when using a mobile device -- can be painful: too many hoops to jump through, too many steps, too many numbers to enter and anti-spam codes to type. In fact, anywhere from 25% to 55% of online shopping carts get abandoned before the purchases are completed, in large part because consumers lose patience.

That fact meshes with another recently reported piece of data: 58% of online shoppers said they'd rather safely store their account information once, in a single place that can be easily accessed no matter where they're shopping online, according to a MasterCard survey conducted by Harris Interactive.

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That's why NetPlenish created what it bills as a mobile commerce first: "No Checkout Checkout," which eliminates the hassle of having to fill out order forms on a tiny phone screen. Shoppers just click one button to order products from NetPlenish's roster of merchants.

Shoppers abandon their online carts, Compton said, because e-commerce has never truly mimicked real commerce.

"You and I go to Safeway -- we get our change, lickity split," Compton said. "E-commerce, you're mired down with two to three pages of checkout. That's why people drop off. The 'No Checkout Checkout' is important: It's hard for me to type. You want me to go through five pages with a fat thumb?"

The Wave of the Future?

Last year, 7 % -- or $202 billion -- of U.S. retail sales were conducted online, according to research firm Forrester, and mobile purchasing is on the rise: In the first quarter of 2011, 13% of U.S. online adults used a smartphone to make a purchase; mobile commerce is expected to grow at 39% a year over the next five years, reaching $31 billion by 2016.

Sellers are adapting: Some 57% of online retailers have developed a mobile commerce strategy, and 48% already have a mobile-optimized site. And 56 of the top 100 retailers in the U.S. have developed Android, iPad, or iPhone m-commerce apps.

Talking about the choices available via NetPlenish, Dave McClure, founding partner at 500 Startups and a NetPlenish investor, noted: "This is a $50 billion bricks-and-mortar market, yet only 5% of these products are currently being sold online."

As e-commerce and m-commerce grow, retailers will either shift their strategies to adapt, or close stores and shrink, a la Best Buy's recent announcement that it would shutter 50 locations. Apps like NetPlenish, with its one-stop shopping and seamless checkout, could accelerate the shopping revolution.

Source: http://www.dailyfinance.com/2012/05/17/bargain-shopping-simplified-is-this-app-the-answer/

Source: http://shakingthemoneytree.blogspot.com/2012/04/sunday-health-musings.html

Sunday health musings

First, thank you so much to everyone for your amazing support on my Friday post about my vehicle loan. It means so much to me. I get more support on here than in my own world. As for my plans, first I need to get this paid off and then come up with a battle plan for what is next.

I went back to the specialist in the city this past week. The news wasn't great. While I am finished my round of steroids, it did not put me into remission as they had hoped. (for colitis, remission means there are no active flare ups, blood, etc) Doesn't mean the disease goes away, just is sleeping. Dormant seems a better term for me.

The everyday meds are not sufficient to keep the inflammation down so we are up to step 2, which is a drug with all kinds of scary side effects and potential medical problems. One of the potential problems is a decrease in my white blood cell count, so I have to go for blood work once a week for two months and then if all is well, once a month for the rest of my life.

While I am glad to be off the steroids and all their nasty side effects, the ones with these new drugs aren't great either. The worst is the joint pain. My knees ache so badly right now I can barely move or get up/sit down. This is supposed to fade as my body adjusts to the meds. I sure hope so. Right now, this sucks.

Step 2 of drugs was supposed to cost $200 a month. I am very happy to have medical coverage. I filled my prescription with trepidation. The bill came to $5. Thank goodness.

If step 2 does not work, step 3 is the final step of meds currently available. They are about $30 000 a year and I am told medical insurance does not cover them. I hope it does not come to that.

I need to get my butt to the school for a bit and get some work done. I need to get groceries too. and clean.

On the bright note, I get to use my clothes line for the first time since last fall. That makes me very very happy :-)

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Did You Know That Oil Prices Are Heading Downward -- Fast?

Filed under: Energy, Economy

When gasoline prices began to spike earlier this year, the popular opinion was that oil prices would continue to climb into the peak summer travel season.

So much for popular opinion.

Crude oil futures have taken a hit lately, delivering an 8.6% slide to speculators over the past five trading days. On Tuesday, June crude settled at a three-month low, due in part to fears about Europe's financial crisis erupting into another economic setback and stifling global oil demand.

Obviously a sharp one-week drop isn't the last word on where oil prices are ultimately heading, but the news is likely to be good for your pocketbook.

How Much Cheaper Are We Talking?

After five weeks of surprising declines, the U.S. Energy Information Administration is revising its forecast for average gasoline prices during the summer driving period. The EIA is now targeting an average cost of just $3.79 a gallon. The original forecast called for an average of $3.95 per gallon.

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This is obviously welcome news to drivers, but it's still worth cheering about even if you don't have a car.

From food to clothing, how do you think merchandise makes its way to a store near you? Transportation costs are baked into the prices that you're paying as a consumer, and lower oil prices should help.

There are also many industries celebrating the recent decline in energy prices.

Retreating gasoline prices are good for hotel chains and amusement park operators, since drivers are less likely to put off summer road trips if gasoline isn't going through the roof.

Since jet fuel is a major component of an airline's operating costs, airlines often have to bump rates higher as fuel costs climb. The same works in reverse, although falling prices don't apply to those who bought their tickets earlier. Cruise lines also rely on oil, and dips in oil prices can turn a loser quarter into a profitable one.

Most consumers and companies agree that falling gas prices are good. They put more money in the wallet of the penny-pinching driver. The cheering isn't unanimous, though.

Not Everybody's Excited About Lower Gas Prices

ExxonMobil (XOM) -- the country's second most valuable company -- benefits from the higher prices as long as drivers don't cut back on their consumption. The same can be said for many of the energy producers.

General Motors (GM) is another company that also wouldn't mind higher fuel costs. It would help the automaker move more of its plug-in Chevy Volt cars, which have been hard sellers in recent months. Given the fuel efficiency of most newer cars, one can argue that automakers would benefit from folks trading in their older gas guzzlers as fuel prices inch higher.

However, at the end of the day, the cheering squad for lower fuel prices is larger and louder. Over the past few weeks, the consumer's been winning.

Longtime Motley Fool contributor Rick Munarriz does not own shares in any of the stocks in this article. Motley Fool newsletter services have recommended buying shares of General Motors and ExxonMobil.

Source: http://www.dailyfinance.com/2012/05/09/did-you-know-that-oil-prices-are-heading-downward-fast/

ipad apple ipad verizon

If I could draw your attention.....

to my sidebar, you will see that my vehicle loan is now down to $1372.

Let me rephrase that - my vehicle loan is now down to $1372!!!!!!!!!!

DS1 is home safetly so I took money from my income tax refund and whapped that onto my loan. Lookie the percentage it's at!! That's right. 95%

That means I need a wee bit of snowflakes and my two regular payments at the start of May and of June, and this loan (knocks on wood) is done.

I have a lot of mixed feelings about this and while it will be something to celebrate, I am coming to the realization that they will always be a SOMETHING to pay for or to save for.

I guess that, in itself, shows how much I have learned the past few years.

Source: http://shakingthemoneytree.blogspot.com/2012/04/if-i-could-draw-your-attention.html

What is iShares Planning After Acquiring Claymore

Recently, I had a chance to chat with Mary Anne Wiley, head of BlackRock Canada on what the 800 pound Gorilla in the ETF marketplace plans to do after the blockbuster acquisition of the #2 player Claymore Investments was recently finalized. After the acquisition closed, iShares rebranded all Claymore products (ticker symbols remained the same) [...]

What is iShares Planning After Acquiring Claymore is brought to you by Canadian Capitalist -- Helping you to invest & prosper.

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/ccapitalist/~3/_3GVaRU0nQQ/

Source: http://consumerist.com/2012/05/many-insurers-changing-prescription-categories-so-customers-pay-more-for-already-expensive-meds.html

Many Insurers Changing Prescription Categories So Customers Pay More For Already Expensive Meds

Why the European Debt Crisis Is Far From Over

Filed under: Economy, Investing, Credit, Currency

The European debt crisis is back in the headlines, and the news is not good. Portugal's prime minister resigned after his austerity plan for the beleaguered nation were rejected by opposition parties in parliament, and Germany's leadership is waffling on funding the huge bailouts needed by debt-burdened countries such as Ireland and Greece, reflecting the deep ambiguity of German voters weary of bailing out their weaker neighbors. Despite the brave talk of a few months ago, it now seems all but inevitable that Portugal will also need a gigantic bailout of at least 70 billion euros, or $99 billion.

Ratings agencies have downgraded Portugal's debt, and investors have responded by pushing the yield on its bonds to more than 8%, roughly 4.5% higher than the yield on German bonds. Yields on Ireland's debt exceed 10%, reflecting the perceived risk of default or renegotiation.

With Europe at risk of stumbling as a result of its austerity measures and the costs of bailouts, investors need to rethink investments in eurozone economies and the euro itself.

Eurozone growth is already anemic: France managed a meager 0.3% gain in the fourth quarter of 2010, and 1.5% for all of 2010, while the U.S. economy expanded 3.1% in late 2010.

The bailouts are not small potatoes. The temporary rescue fund, known as the European Financial Stability Facility, is currently set at 250 billion euros ($353.6 billion) , and European Union officials want to expand it to 440 billion euros ($622.3 billion). The wealthier nations of Europe have already loaned 177 billion euros ($250.3 billion) to bail out Greece and Ireland, and the high yields on those nations bonds and credit default swaps -- insurance against default -- show that investors continue to see a high risk of default.

Spain Also at Risk

While Spain's economy expanded at a modest 0.9% pace last year, its debt situation remains precarious enough that ratings agency Moody's recently downgraded its bonds. The basic problems of Spain will be familiar to Americans: A property bubble drove residential real estate prices to unrealistic heights, and lenders made loans based on those sky-high valuations. Once home prices retreated, banks were left with large quantities of defaults on land and houses.

Analysts are now suggesting Spanish banks will need at least 50 billion euros in additional capital ($70.7 billion) to cover these mounting losses.

As if these losses weren't troubling enough, rising interest rates threaten to further undermine Spain's homeowners. The European Central Bank President Jean-Claude Trichet recently said that the ECB's key interest rate could rise from 1% as early as April. Fully 97% of Spain's home loans are variable-rate: Their payments will rise when interest rates click higher.

Despite an unemployment rate around 20% and its recent debt downgrades, mainstream analysts see Spain as an unlikely candidate for a costly bailout. But Spain is burdened with the costs of bailing out its own banks, and other analysts are not so sanguine, citing a lack of information on the quality of assets held by the banks. In other words, some fear Spanish banks are overstating the value of their real estate holdings to hide the full extent of their losses.

Structural Flaws in the European Union Papered Over

While there is plenty of chatter about bailouts, austerity measures and heavy debt loads, few analysts are speaking to the potentially fatal weakness built into the European Union and its single currency, the euro, a flaw that is now painfully obvious.

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While the European Union consolidated power over the shared currency and trade, it left control over trade deficits and budget deficits entirely in the hands of the member states. Lip service was paid to fiscal responsibility via caps on deficit spending, but in the real world, there were no meaningful controls limiting private or state credit expansion, or on sovereign borrowing and spending.

In effect, the importing nations within the union (Ireland, Greece, Portugal and to a degree, Spain and Italy) were given the solid credit ratings and expansive credit limits of their exporting cousins such as Germany, The Netherlands and France. To make a real-world analogy, it's as if a spendthrift younger brother was handed a no-limit credit card with a low interest rate, backed by a guarantee from a sober, cash-rich and credit-averse older sibling.

For awhile, it was highly profitable for the big European and international banks to expand lending to these eager new borrowers. This led to over-consumption by the importing nations and handsome profits for big Eurozone banks. And while the real estate and credit bubble lasted, the citizens of the bubble economies enjoyed the consumerist dream of borrow and spend today, and pay the debts tomorrow.

Tomorrow has arrived, but the foundation of the banks' assets -- the market value of housing -- has eroded to the point that both banks and homeowners face insolvency. The heightened risk of default, both by banks and the governments trying to bail them out, has caused interest rates in the debt-burdened countries to rise. Faced with rising costs of servicing their debts, and spending cuts to bring deficits under control, the citizens of the states such as Portugal are rebelling against austerity measures. On the other side, taxpayers and voters in fiscally sound member states such as Finland and Germany are rebelling about being saddled with the costs of bailing out their weaker neighbors.

This structural imbalance will not be easily addressed, but until it's fixed, the E.U. and the euro, are at risk of a great political and fiscal fracturing.

Source: http://www.dailyfinance.com/2011/03/27/why-the-european-debt-crisis-is-far-from-over/

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The Economy Ahead: What to Expect in 2012

Filed under: Economy, Personal Finance

With 2011 fast coming to a close, it's time to think about what's next -- if you dare.

The good news is, there's less talk among the experts of a double-dip recession. But there's also little sign that it's time to pop the champagne cork. The general expectation is for the economy to grow between 2% and 2.5% in 2012 -- not great, but better than no growth.

Some are even more pessimistic. In the recently released annual Bank of America Merrill Lynch 2012 CFO Outlook, 38% of financial executives at U.S. companies said they expected the U.S. economy to expand in 2012, down from 56% in last year's survey and 66% the year before. But only 7% predicted layoffs, and some 46% plan to hire -- the same percentage as planned to in 2011. And 36% said credit had gotten easier to access, compared to 28% last year.

So, there are positive signs, but uncertainly looms large. In the recent Country Financial Security Index, 30% of respondents said they believed 2012 would be better than 2011, 28% said it would be worse and 32% said about the same.

"Next year will be more about the middle and less about the extremes that we've suffered in 2011," says Mark Lamkin, CEO of Lamkin Wealth Management. Over the last four years, the markets had 2% declines about 100 times more than any other time in S&P history. It also recorded 2% daily gains more times that ever before. "Unprecedented was the norm in 2011. Next year will be a year of meeting in the middle."

Expect a modest, but sustained, recovery. The economy won't fire on all cylinders though, predicted Alan Levenson, chief economist for T. Rowe Price: There are too many "what ifs?"

Here's a look at some of the factors that will help determine the fate of 2012.

The Job Market

With unemployment still stuck near 9%, inquiring minds want to know whether 2012 will bring any real relief for job seekers? It may be too close to call. "Job growth picks up in the second half of 2012, but the unemployment rate is expected to be little changed in the fourth quarter of 2012 versus the fourth quarter of this year," said Levenson.

Eurozone Crisis

The European sovereign debt crisis won't be solved over night. Some experts are forecasting a mild recession on the Continent, but others go a step further. "Europe will enter a deeper recession with some of the PIIGS [Portugal, Ireland, Italy, Greece and Spain] defaulting and credit downgrades of some major European banks and governments," says Bill Garrett of Garrett Financial.

The European Central Bank is likely to do either a quantitative easing program, a TARP-style program, or a Eurobond deal if Germany approves, or perhaps a combination of these. "This will put Europe in recession, but avoid a run on banks and a Lehman style event," says Lamkin.

China Taps the Brakes

Slowing demand from China, combined with Beijing's ongoing money-tightening measures, is prompting concern that this vital engine of economic activity may lose momentum at an inopportune time for the rest of the world, said Scott Berg, portfolio manager of T. Rowe Price's Global Large-Cap Stock Fund.

Stock Market Oscillations

For the equities markets, there's just one word -- volatility. The elections, congressional gridlock, and the European debt crisis will be the chief stirrers of the uncertainty pot. "Look for more of the same," says Mickey Cargile, founder and managing partner of Cargile Investment Management. "Investors will need to be patient and have the courage not to bail out of the stock market. I've never seen a stock market that wants to go up as much as this."

Lamkin is optimistic: "With record earnings in the S&P 500 this year, earnings get even better and as confidence returns the P/E's expand for the market," he says. "This leads to a total return in stocks of 8% to 12% for 2012."

Bond Market Inversions

"Risky bonds [will] become 'safe' and 'safe' [will] become risky," predicts Lamkin. "Fixed income bonds face headwinds of higher rates before year's end, six months ahead of the Fed's schedule."

Municipal bonds won't have as good a year in 2012 as they did in 2011, but because of a favorable supply and demand outlook, they should post mid-single-digit gains, says Lamkin.

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The government and corporate bond yield gap will narrow, says Frank Fantozzi, CEO of Planned Financial Services. The performance gap between government and corporate bonds will reverse in 2012, with corporate bonds outperforming as they post modest single-digit gains as interest rates rise and credit spreads narrow. He says bond yields may be volatile within a 1.7% to 3% range, but he expects them to rise over the course of the year, with the yield on the 10-year Treasury ending the year around 3%.

Ongoing economic growth will help normalize interest rates, as will a continuation of Fed policy, stable inflation and tightening fiscal policy. The wide gaps between yield on government bonds and other bonds are likely to converge some in 2012, says Fantozzi.

Gold Keeps Going

2011 was a bull year for gold, with record prices topping $1,900. Will they keep rising in 2012? David Morgan, publisher of The Morgan Report, which focuses on money, metals and mining, believes precious metals will continue to rise because of the inability of the global financial system to do anything other than take the "easiest" way out of the Eurozone debt crisis: debasing the euro, rather than letting massive debt defaults occur.

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"I do expect a soft first quarter of 2012," says Morgan. "More consolidation through the summer and higher prices by year end. $60 silver by year end 2012 and gold over $2400. But it may take a year to get to those prices."

"If the euro problem does not get resolved in some meaningful way, gold could begin its move much earlier and faster," says Morgan.

Cargile, on the other hand, says there is no reason to buy gold. "Gold produces no income; it depends on someone buying it for more than you paid. It's a manipulated market, and volatile."

Politics As Usual

The U.S. credit rating downgrade was largely caused by political intransigence, and as we roll toward the November elections, it will get harder and harder for the opposing parties in Washington to find common ground. "Political gridlock will continue," says Cargile. "It's working for them, but it isn't for us."

But there's the possibility that as the election nears, Obama and the GOP nominee will leave behind the extremes and meet in the middle, which business likes, says Lamkin. "If voters vote accordingly, the most important budget decisions since World War II will be made with the right candidates with a bipartisan banner. After the election, I believe the market will have a strong fourth quarter based on this meeting in the middle and optimistic outlook."

Housing Begins Its Rebound

The first half of 2012 may be the last great opportunity to purchase a home at the lowest market prices we have seen in many years, and at the lowest interest rates we can remember, says Scott Cramer, endowment strategist and president of Cramer & Rauchegger.

From October 2010 to October 2011, the inventory of existing homes for sale dropped from 3.8 million homes to 3.3 million. That's still an excess of inventory, but we could see a major jump in home sales next year as banks realize that the homes they are holding on to will sell, giving them an incentive to release their inventory more quickly, he says. This could lead to the beginning of a slight increase in home prices by late 2012. The Fed also stated recently that it could ease off its commitment to leave interest rates unchanged until 2013, and could slightly increase rates before the end of 2012.

The Smart Moves for You in 2012

So what does all this mean to you? The experts weighed in on smart moves to make in light of the conventional wisdom about what to expect next year.

o. Seek dividends: One problem companies share with individuals is that their bank deposits aren't making them any money. So some of those earnings are getting paid out in dividends to shareholders. There are many solid, well-run companies with great balance sheets paying more than 4% on an annual basis.

o. Consider small and mid-cap U.S. stocks: These should provide attractive returns for investors in 2012, in part due to mergers and acquisitions activity powered by large corporate cash reserves.

o. Skip emerging markets ... or not: The jury's still out on emerging markets. Some experts say to avoid them, "Buy domestic, not emerging markets or Europe. Buy what you understand. U.S. corporations are strong," says Cargile. But other experts think they're returns will exceed those of developed markets. Long term, emerging markets offer intriguing growth prospects.

o. Get creative: You may have dismissed bonds because with a fixed income vehicle, the interest rate is locked in and principal will be negatively impacted by inflation. However, a step-up bond starts with one rate, then increases after a period of time. This gives the fixed income investor a degree of inflation protection, says Cary Guffey, a financial adviser with NBC Securities.

o. Keep up good habits: The recession tamed consumer spending, sparked saving and inspired us to pay down debt. Don't stop in 2012. Start or continue building your emergency fund until you have at least six months of living expenses stashed. Diversify. Stay cool when it comes to the stock market. The wild ride is far from over. Rethink any rash moves motivated by emotions.

Mostly, be ready for anything.

Gallery: 6 Big Financial Lessons of 2011

Correction: A previous version of this story referred to Mickey Cargile's firm as WNB Private Client Service. In 2011, that company changed its name to Cargile Investment Management.

Source: http://www.dailyfinance.com/2011/12/28/the-economy-ahead-what-to-expect-in-2012/