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As we approach the end of 2012, you’ve likely heard lots of talk among politicians and the media about the impending “fiscal cliff.” This term refers to a combination of tax increases and spending cuts that are slated to take effect in January 2013 if Congress fails to take action. But how will this affect you? Payroll Tax - 2013 will bring the expiration of the payroll tax cut enacted by Congress in 2011. Starting next year, the current employee payroll tax rate of 4.2 percent will go back to 6.2 percent. Higher Tax Levels - At the end of...

Many people dream of retiring early, but few actually make it a reality. Taking certain proactive measures, such as investing in a 401(k) in your 20s and eliminating debt, will help set you on the path to early retirement. But even if you achieve these goals, it's nearly impossible to know whether that nest egg will be enough to get by. You'll have to consider certain factors such as the lifestyle you'd like to maintain, the number of years before you start receiving Social Security checks (full benefits kick in between age 65 and age 67, depending on the year...

As the son of Punjabi immigrants, I was not surprised to read a report from the Financial Services Authority showing that among Britain’s major faith groups, Hindus and Sikhs are the best at making ends meet. Of course they are! They never go on holiday. They never eat out. And they haggle over everything: I spent my childhood being dragged around Wolverhampton as my mother bartered over everything from secondhand sofas to sultanas. I kept the most excruciating of these memories suppressed until I read the results of another study this week, showing that most business negotiators are bad at...

Wealthy Parents Enlist Financial Advisers for Money TalkBy Colleen Debaise The Associated Press Published: Jul 31, 2005 NEW YORK (Dow Jones/AP) - For financial planner Peg Eddy, work is sometimes child's play - literally. In her sunny San Diego office, Eddy serves lemonade and cookies to clients as young as 8, talking to them about their parents' money and using a favorite prop - a four-slotted piggy bank - to teach them about saving, spending, investing and donating. "If anyone is uncomfortable with a topic they can put up the time-out sign," she says. Laying out the rules of the...

As a former Registered Reprsentative and Agent with First Command Financial Planning, I am curious to hear from other former agents. Specifically, I would like comments addressing whether you felt due diligence was served during the recruting process, and how you were dealt with after resigning.

WHEN was the last time you asked your financial adviser to join you at a family function? If the answer is "never", you are not alone. Weddings, birthdays and even the backyard BBQ are normally reserved for friends with whom you have some sort of relationship or bond and can talk comfortably on a range of subjects. With the stock market a depressing reminder that most investments are going backwards, and superannuation a conversation-stopper at the best of times, the person who tells you where to put your money might not be someone you'd normally socialise with. Moreover, dismal returns...