People today are more responsible for their own retirement income security. Over the past 15 to 20 years there has been a shift in responsibility for long-term well-being away from institutions (employers, the government) to individuals. For example, in 1980, 70% of pension plans were defined contribution (DC, as opposed to defined benefit plans; DC plans shift more of the responsibility for the growth of retirement funds to the consumer); by 1997, 92% of plans were defined contribution (Conte 1998). In 1988, one-fourth (25%) of workers were covered primarily by DC plans; in 1998, over three-fifths (63%) were covered by such plans (Copeland 2002). (more…)

Although bank credit cards are a relatively recent innovation, typically marked by the establishment of the “businessman’s Diner’s Club card” in 1950, U.S. society has historically depended upon the availability of consumer credit. For example, farmers depended on store credit before the harvest of their crops in rural America, whereas industrial workers were issued “script” for purchases in the company store that were later deducted from their wages. Significantly, both forms of consumer credit often produced a form of debt/labor servitude. This common experience was recounted in the famous lyrics of Tennessee Williams, “I owe my soul to the company store.” (more…)

Only 25 years ago, today’s ubiquitous use of “universal” bank credit cards might have seemed a futurist fantasy. Prior to the finance regulation of the financial services industry in 1980, banks made consumer loans as “installment” credit. Loan approval was based on an assessment of the applicants’ household income, personal assets, credit repayment history, and outstanding debt. Preferred clients had financial collateral and repaid their loans (pre approved auto loan) on a fixed time schedule. Similarly, financial companies and banks cautiously issued charge cards and revolving credit cards to low-risk clients, primarily upper- and some middle-income households, who used them for convenience or for business. (more…)

When you buy insurance, the U.S. government typically doesn’t back your insurer’s guarantee or banking insurances. So it’s up to you to make certain that any company you consider is licensed to do business in your state. You can do this through your state insurance commissioner. Visit the website of the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (www.naic.org) for a list of state commissioner web addresses and phone numbers. (more…)

You may enjoy shopping (whether it is cyber shopping or online grocery shopping) and do it often, or you might go to the mall only if you need to buy something. In either case, wise buying decisions will help you get the most out of the products you buy now and will enable you to meet your long-term financial goals. To get the most for your money, you need to recognize the factors that affect your buying habits. There is shows some of the economic, social, and personal factors that influence the purchases you make. (more…)

Successful financial plan must include or take into account the following condition:

- It is based on ‘hard’ facts, such as age, earnings, health, investments; and ‘soft’ data such as attitudes, beliefs and values.

- The plan must be a clearly written, logical document that uses language appropriate to the individual. (more…)

Why do so many people have money problems? The main reason is that they do not plan how they will use their money. You can avoid money problems by setting and achieve some clear personal financial goals in mind. (more…)

Economic factors across the country and around the world can affect personal finances. They play a role in day-to-day financial planning and decision making for most people. Economics is the study of the decisions that go into making, distributing, and using goods and services. The economy consists of the ways in which people make, distribute, and use their goods and services. To understand economics and the economy, you need to be aware of the market forces, financial institutions, global influences, and economic conditions that affect global as well as personal decisions. (more…)

Almost all of us are aware with credit scores and what it affect your personal financial planning. But not all are really know how FICO score is calculated. The first thing is to interpret FICO score is to realize that there are many FICO score factors to mark your final credit score. (more…)

One major key to controlling your debt—as you no doubt have heard before—is to stop paying interest on all loans. Revolving interest can be a money management killer.

Please take note that if you could not control your debt, your debt will control you. In current financial condition, debt is an all important element of your personal financial planning. (more…)