The color of money

Michelle Singletary: Calculating the real cost of that speeding ticket

For many drivers, the fear of rising auto insurance rates keeps them from driving too fast or leaving their license at home.

The week ahead

Tom Hudson: Can Jaime Dimon hold onto both jobs?

A fortress balance sheet may not be enough to protect JPMorgan’s CEO from the building chorus of criticism. Jaime Dimon has guided JPMorgan since 2005, navigating through the financial crisis, serving as the de facto spokesman for big banks and becoming the poster boy of the arrogance in high finance. He has survived a multi-billion dollar trading scandal and now faces regulators’ questions over actions of its energy traders and credit card collection procedures. No fewer than eight government agencies have launched investigations into JPMorgan.
Investing

Andrew Menachem: Debunking the myths about volatility

When the stock market goes up, most investors feel good. They’re happy with their investment decisions and start counting all the money they’ve made on paper. Of course the opposite occurs when the market goes down. Investors get scared and wonder why they ever bought stocks in the first place.
The color of money

Michelle Singletary: The rich have issues, too

With so many families still trying to recover from the Great Recession, the wealthy aren’t feeling much love from the American public.
The week ahead

Tom Hudson: JCPenney is facing a hard sell

It’s probably been a long time since you shopped at JCPenney. That’s the case for most of us. But for the sake of its employees and shareholders, it needs to figure out how to bring buyers back. And soon.
PERSONAL FINANCE

Money lessons from Mom

Studies underscore what families already know: mothers are key players when it comes to financial literacy.
The color of money

Michelle Singletary: Eight steps to making better financial choices

When it comes to your money, what you decide today can affect your finances for years to come.
Money Dilemmas

Meg Green: There’s trouble ahead for extravagent parents

The dilemma: My parents have lived the good life, especially since they retired here in Florida 18 years ago. They own a beautiful home, belong to a country club, have traveled extensively and have a summer home in Michigan, where we’re from and where I live.
The week ahead

Tom Hudson: Whither the Oracle of Omaha?

The tone on Wall Street in the week ahead will be set from a convention center in Middle America even before the opening bell Monday. When the world’s highest profile long-term investor spends his weekend eating Dilly Bars, sipping Cherry Coke and pontificating about elephants, it has the potential to move the market.
Your money now

Make that refund count

Most of us will fritter away that ‘extra’ money from Uncle Sam. Here are some better ideas.
The week ahead

Tom Hudson: What will the Fed do next?

There is little that is riveting about a cost-benefit analysis. Still, we perform them all the time without applying such an formal academic-sounding name to it. If I have a cup of coffee after 4 p.m., will I be able to go to sleep at a reasonable time? Do I cut cable TV and rely on what’s available through NetFlix and Hulu?
The color of money

Michelle Singletary: The cure for re-fi envy

Do you have refinance envy? Come on, admit it. You’ve been at an event or having lunch with co-workers and someone brags about the interest rate she just got by refinancing her mortgage. You stay silent, grieving that you can’t take advantage of the low rates. You grumble when you read news stories like this one from The Associated Press on April 18: “Average U.S. rates on fixed mortgages fell closer this week to their historic lows, making homeownership more affordable and refinancing more attractive. … The average rate for the 30-year fixed loan dipped to 3.41 percent from 3.43 percent last week. That’s not far from the 3.31 percent rate reached in November, which was the lowest on records dating back to 1971.”
The Home Economist

Garage sales: Is it worth it?

It’s spring cleaning time — and that means garage sale season. But in order to be successful, you have to assign realistic values to your stuff.
The week ahead

Tom Hudson: And you thought tax season was over

Most of us are tax cheats. Not the lying-about-our-income kind but the not-paying-online-sales-tax kind. When you spend money with an online retailer you are supposed to pay what’s called a use tax for most items. Consider it a sales tax but instead of the retailer adding it on to your receipt, you are responsible for doing it come tax time.
The color of money

Michelle Singletary: Retirement is work

You know the saying, “It’s not rocket science.”
Investing

Tax changes may mean adjusting your investment strategy

If you’re an investor, you need to pay close attention to the recent changes in the federal tax laws.
YOUR MONEY NOW

Are annuities right for you?

While financial advisors are at odds over the benefits and costs of an annuity, there’s one thing they all agree on: It’s complicated.
The week ahead

Tom Hudson: The economics of immigration

One of the most important pieces of federal legislation for long term investors isn’t about spending or taxes. It’s not about banking regulations or even Social Security reforms. It’s immigration. A long-awaited major immigration reform bill is expected to be the focus on Capitol Hill in the coming week.
The color of money

Michelle Singletary: Dividing up money brings a family division

As much as we like to think our relationships can’t be defined by money, it happens.
Income taxes

There’s still time to save some money

Here’s what you need to know if you haven’t filed your return