Free-For-All in Online Trading (January 01, 2007)
Price Controls for Pills (January 01, 2007)
Silicon Medicine (November 01, 2006)
The United States spends $1.8 trillion a year on health care. And unlike the rest of our high-tech economy, health-care services haven't been getting cheaper. In his book The End of Medicine, Andy Kessler provides some convincing arguments for why this might change. The former hedge fund manager believes computer technology will soon revolutionize medicine.
Marshaling Resources at InstantBull.com (November 01, 2006)
Columnist Bonnie Biafore conducts a walk-through for InstantBull.com, a new website promising more efficient access to investment information.
The Wonderful Wizard (October 01, 2006)
Columnist Bonnie Biafore suggests ways to transfer computer data files and settings efficiently and safely when you're moving from your old computer to
a new one.
Investors as Corporate Watchdogs (October 01, 2006)
My brother is one of the most successful investors I know because his accomplishments are based on logical research, patience and vision. Lately, however, he's developed an investment strategy under which his opinions seem to matter more than his profits.
Recent Tax Law Changes Encourage Retirement Savings (October 01, 2006)
Planners Alexandra Armstrong and Karen Preysnar report on how the Pension Protection Act of 2006 may affect investors.
Life After the Bubble (October 01, 2006)
Writer Michael Maiello examines whether Wall Street is any safer for the average investor six years after a major downturn and a series of corporate scandals.
Not for Clients Only (September 01, 2006)
Contributor Thomas D. Saler reviews top-ranked
investment newsletters that allow nonsubscribers
limited online access to their websites.
New Uses for Old Computers (September 01, 2006)
Columnist Bonnie Biafore reports where to go online to learn how to dispose of old computers and other electronics in environmentally responsible ways.
Checking Your Credit Report (September 01, 2006)
Planners Alexandra Armstrong and Karen Preysnar offer tips on how to obtain, analyze and correct your credit reports.
Market Perspective (September 01, 2006)
Healthier Foods, Lower Calories and Bottled Water
The Rate Race: Keeping Track of Interest Rates (September 01, 2006)
As interest rates rise, people with adjustable-rate mortgages face larger monthly payments and many credit card issuers increase the rates they charge on outstanding balances. At the same time, you may find some comfort in the fact that banks are offering significantly more appealing rates on certificates of deposit and savings accounts.
How Markets Parse Fed Announcements (September 01, 2006)
Transcription of interview with Jeremy Siegel, Professor, Wharton School
The Internet Has a Knack for Niches (September 01, 2006)
Amazon.com sells a lot of unpopular books. Books ranked outside of the company's top 100,000 account for a full 25 percent of its sales. Chris Anderson's The Long Tail, which as of this writing ranked 17th on Amazon.com, explores the phenomenon of companies selling a large number of individually unpopular products.
More Education About Fees Needed, Study Says (August 01, 2006)
Even if you're a savvy investor, you may be paying too much in mutual fund fees. It's an easy mistake to make, experts say. And it's backed up by a recent study by researchers at Wharton, Yale and Harvard that indicates a high degree of confusion about mutual fund fees among average investors. The study concluded that investors could benefit from better disclosure of information by mutual fund companies and more education about fees.
Backing Up Data Online (August 01, 2006)
Columnist Bonnie Biafore describes the wide range
of high-speed options that investors now have for backing up their computerized records.
It's About Time (August 01, 2006)
Columnist James D. Miller illustrates ways in which time-saving computer technologies and products offer big opportunities for businesses that can develop and
market them successfully.
Building a Culture of Charity (August 01, 2006)
The Trek for Cheap Travel (July 01, 2006)
Bonnie Biafore reports on specialized search engines and online travel agencies you can use to track down some of the cheapest airfares and accommodations.
When Brokers Change Teams (July 01, 2006)
When your broker jumps ship to join another firm, ask some hard questions about how
your account might be affected if you agree to follow, Ken Janke suggests.
Some Written Unwritten Rules (July 01, 2006)
Swanson's Unwritten Rules of Management, a booklet authored by Raytheon Company chairman and CEO Dennis Swanson, until recently was distributed free by the company. Warren Buffett and Jack Welch reportedly were among the fans of the booklet, which contained 33 commonsense rules of business and had attained cult status in the business community.
Laptop Travel Tips (June 13, 2006)
Shanna Rendon has been traveling to CompuFest by plane with a laptop since 1999. She says it is pretty easy to do and gives helpful hints.
Remembering Rukeyser (June 01, 2006)
Ken Janke examines the legacy of the late Louis Rukeyser, popular host of public
television's "Wall $treet Week" for more than 30 years.
Interest in ETFs on the Rise (June 01, 2006)
Lower Costs, Transparency Part of Their Appeal
In Defense of Stock Options (May 01, 2006)
Also: Stocks vs. Bonds, Dividends and Averaging Down.
How Price Discrimination Works (May 01, 2006)
Two Customers, Two Prices.
SRI Rebellion in the Making? (May 01, 2006)
Socially responsible investing is a concept that has grabbed the imaginations of many investors, including a lot of BetterInvesting members. Those who apply SRI attempt to align investment decisions with their beliefs -- political, religious, philosophical or ideological, as the case may be.
Risks of Low-Quality, Long-Term Bonds (May 01, 2006)
Larry Swedroe, research director of Buckingham Asset Management, follows a simple investing strategy when it comes to bonds.
Checking Up on Charities (May 01, 2006)
Bonnie Biafore suggests resources that can be used to evaluate the thousands of charities you may want to donate to.
Computer Security: Phishing (April 24, 2006)
Phishing is a fraudulent attempt to obtain personal information such as passwords and credit card details. We all need protection from the destructive results that could occur. Brian Altschul describes phishing and the steps to take to repel these intrusions.
Evaluating Your Financial Planner (April 01, 2006)
What are the differences between an insurance agent, a stockbroker and an investment adviser?
Big Oil Cited as the Main Culprit (March 01, 2006)
When energy prices spike, the typical investor takes action. Although gyrations in energy prices have become commonplace, individual investors pay close attention to oil price shifts and tend to make changes in their spending and behavior, according to the results of BetterInvesting's latest Voice of the American Shareholder survey.
The Value of Free E-mail Services (March 01, 2006)
Why would you want to use a free e-mail account, particularly when your Internet service provider gives you several of them? Bonnie Biafore cites several reasons.
The Basics of Brokerages (February 01, 2006)
What To Consider When Choosing One.
Protecting Your Online Brokerage Account (February 01, 2006)
The chance that a hacker will make his way into your home computer is relatively slim, but that doesn't mean you should slack off when it comes to protecting your online brokerage accounts.
Cyberthievery -- No Recourse? (February 01, 2006)
What if a hacker accesses your PC, lifts your online brokerage password and empties the account? Are you protected?
Proof Positive (January 01, 2006)
Proof Positive
Avoiding Investment Shortcuts and Bias Traps (January 01, 2006)
Avoiding Investment Shortcuts and Bias Traps
Sites for Price Comparisons (January 01, 2006)
Whether you're shopping online or prefer brick-and-mortar shops, price-comparison sites may be a good place to start bargain hunting. Bonnie Biafore takes a look at a number of options.
Are You Willing To Be a Risk Taker? (January 01, 2006)
If your parents or grandparents lost all
their money in 1929, you may have
difficulty taking risks with your own money.
Preliminary Listing: BetterInvesting Investors Fairs for 2006 (January 01, 2006)
Preliminary Listing: BetterInvesting Investors Fairs for 2006
Wealth Managers for the Not-So-Wealthy (December 02, 2005)
The latest buzzword in the money management business is "wealth manager."
2005 Nicholson Award Winners for 2004 Annual Reports (December 01, 2005)
Each year BetterInvesting members throughout the nation participate in a program that reviews corporate annual reports from the perspective of the long-term investor. Known as the Nicholson Awards Program, the recognition is based on reviews of hundreds of annual reports by active investors whose rating forms are then presented to the participating companies.
Oil's Well or Not? (December 01, 2005)
In this new column, Thomas Saler discusses online resources on the subject of oil prices.
Backing Up Isn't Hard To Do (November 01, 2005)
Bonnie Biafore reminds us to back up our computer's files and offers tips on how often it should be done.
The Fight for Our Homes (November 01, 2005)
Jeffrey Bray discusses how telephone and cable companies are fighting to become
permanent guests in our homes.
Investor Confidence Continues To Fall (October 01, 2005)
Even before Hurricane Katrina darkened economic forecasts for the second half of the year, investor confidence was on the wane, according to the BetterInvesting Index of Shareholder Confidence.
The Conduct of Standards Wars (October 01, 2005)
Standards wars make for the bloodiest of corporate conflicts. And 2006 will bring us two -- the first between videogame consoles and the second between battling DVD standards.
The New, New American Dream (September 01, 2005)
Despite being aware of the variable nature of their credit rates, some consumers may not have adequately budgeted for a rise in their variable-debt payments.
Piracy Hasn't Permanently Set Sail (September 01, 2005)
Through its recent Grokster decision the U.S. Supreme Court handed the movie and music industries a temporary reprieve. But the Grokster decision won't be enough to save the entertainment business.
How To Be a Good Client (September 01, 2005)
We know how to find a good financial planner, but do we know how to be a good client?
Spotting Phishy E-mail (August 01, 2005)
Bonnie Biafore hands out advice for spotting phishing e-mails with phony Internet links.
Barriers to Google's Future (August 01, 2005)
Investors might expect Google to experience tremendous growth in profits, but competition will limit how much more money Google can make from its Internet search engine.
Charging for Content: The Coming Test (July 01, 2005)
This month we welcome James D. Miller to the pages of BetterInvesting Magazine. Miller, an associate professor of economics at Smith College, will cover a wide range of business and investing topics from an economist's point of view.
Investing in Gold Will Test Your Mettle (June 01, 2005)
Investing in gold may not be your best choice, says Ken Janke.
Becoming Bookmark Smart (June 01, 2005)
Organize your bookmarks by function instead of by name with the help of Bonnie Biafore.
A Year of New Initiatives (March 01, 2005)
Introducing a New Column
Identity Theft on the Web (January 31, 2005)
Identity thieves are always thinking up new ways to steal your personal information. Bonnie Biafore offers some advice on avoiding this financial nightmare.
Women Turn to Other People, Men Go to the Net (January 29, 2005)
Voice of the American Shareholder -- Women Turn to Other People, Men Go to the Net
A Savings Bonds Primer (December 01, 2004)
The Internet makes it easier to obtain savings bond information, but there are still misconceptions regarding how these bonds really work.
I Know It's Here Somewhere (November 30, 2004)
Can't remember where you stored those files? A few months ago Google introduced its Desktop Search. Bonnie Biafore reviews this new product.
Earnings: The Deciding Vote (November 30, 2004)
With the outcome of the presidential election out of the way, one of the uncertainties overhanging the stock market has been
eliminated, but there will be many more to come, says Ken Janke.
Onward and Upward (November 29, 2004)
Editorial
What's an Index? (October 31, 2004)
Charles Dow and Edward Jones, founders of the Dow Jones & Co., started the Dow index in 1882 to measure the activity of the New York Stock Exchange. The original 11 companies in this first Dow Jones Index were Western Union, Pacific Mail Steamship and nine railroads.
Creating Hyperlinks in Excel (March 31, 2004)
Bonnie Biafore teaches Excel users how to create hyperlinks in their spreadsheets.
How One-Year Returns for the S&P 500 Index Stack Up (January 30, 2004)
Here's a chart that supports the popular saying, "A picture is worth a thousand words."
Making a List (July 01, 2002)
Bonnie Biafore offers suggestions on how to subscribe to and manage numerous e-mail lists and online newsletters. "Subscribing willy-nilly to them might lead to an overflowing in box," she warns. "By using good planning and applying discipline, you can harvest the knowledge from these lists while keeping your subscriptions under control."
The Great Boom Ahead (February 27, 1996)
