Boomer Personal Finance Resources: Money Management for Now According to the U.S. Census, it is predicted that between 2000 and 2010, Americans age 45 to 64 will increase from 62.4 million to 81 million; and those age 65 to 84, from 30.7 million to 34.1 million. As we retire in increasing numbers, and without new legislation to reverse current trends, the fiscal health of Social Security and Medicare are likely to decline. The costs of chronic and nursing home care increasingly may exceed the ability of the middle class to pay for them. As the first of the "401(k) generation" retires, many of us will confront the reality that we have not saved enough for our future. On the subject of Boomer personal finance, I would like to start you on your journey to reliable online tools that you can use to guide you, and to help your decision-making for a prosperous future.
~101 Online Financial Calculators Every Entrepreneur (and Everyone!) Needs What's also convenient is that the urls have been changed to "tinyurls" and renamed to help you distinguish what calculator you want to use!
It’s not always easy, but you can make it less difficult by making use of the huge number of financial tools for businesses and personal finance on the Internet. Don’t get caught off guard by the unexpected financial pitfalls of owning a business. Keep one step ahead with the useful links found in this downloadable booklet! In this ebooklet are 101 of the best online calculators that can help you get and keep your finances in order! What an excellent resource to have at your fingertips! What a find for Boomer personal finance issues! Sponsored by The American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, the 360 Degrees of Financial Literacy Web site offers more than merely “general information for managing personal finances”. It’s a virtual cornucopia of financial resources for every segment of life. More than half of the life subjects on their “life compass” pertain to us boomers and older seniors. With a common sense approach to money management issues, this site has trustworthy information to use at almost any stage of life! ~AARP: Free Tax Aid Locator AARP has a great perennial online tool for Boomer personal finance! The AARP Tax Aid Locator allows you to type in your zipcode, and locates venues near you that offer free tax assistance. It gives you the time(s) of operation(s), as well as contact information. There are over 7,000 locations around the U.S., and they are staffed with IRS-trained volunteers. ~AARP: Money AARP's site has provided a very comprehensive, up-to-date section on Boomer personal finance. Bookmark this site on your PC's desktop! ~AARP: Reverse Mortgages Boomer personal finance issues wouldn't be complete without touching upon the subject of reverse mortgages. The oldest of our league (born in 1946) turn 62 this year (2008). This is the earliest that you can apply for a reverse mortgage. Not only do boomers consider this choice on or before their retirement, but their parents do as well! It's wise to get as much credible information as possible. AARP's section on Reverse Mortgages is chocked full of information on reverse mortgages, starting with the basics. Well worth keeping as a great bookmark in your "Reverse Mortgage Information" online folder!
~AnnualCreditReport.com AnnualCreditReport.com's site allows you to request a free credit file disclosure, commonly called a credit report, once every 12 months from each of the nationwide consumer credit reporting companies: Equifax, Experian and TransUnion. ~Bankrate.com Bankrate, Inc. is the Web's leading aggregator of financial rate information. The site continually surveys approximately 4,800 financial institutions in all 50 states and the District of Columbia in order to provide clear, objective, and unbiased rates to consumers. They provide free rate information to consumers on more than 300 financial products, including mortgages, credit cards, new and used automobile loans, money market accounts, certificates of deposit, checking and ATM fees, home equity loans and online banking fees. ~BenefitsCheckUpDeveloped and maintained by The National Council on Aging (NCOA), BenefitsCheckUp is the nation's most comprehensive Web-based service to screen for benefits programs for seniors with limited income and resources. BenefitsCheckUp includes more than 1,550 public and private benefits programs from all 50 states and the District of Columbia. ~BigCharts BigCharts is the world's most comprehensive and easy-to-use investment research Web site, providing access to professional-level research tools such as interactive charts, quotes, industry analysis and intraday stock screeners, as well as market news and commentary. These tools combine with a graphical interface and our intuitive navigation to make your research experience productive, entertaining and fun. Best of all, BigCharts is a free service supported entirely by their site sponsors. ~BillShrink.com Check out this site! For Boomer personal finance needs, this site will prove to be helpful in finding the best deals and cutting costs to our cell phone bills, cell phone plans, and credit cards...for free!
BillShrink.com analyzes every important detail of every option, and compares it to your current usage to deliver truly personalized recommendations. You tell them about your usage, an they offer personalized, unbiased and money-saving advice. This online magazine has a free selection of materials from the weekly print publication, plus daily news updates and other Web-only features. Coverage includes business, economic issues, global news, the stock market, personal finance, small business, business schools, and technology. There is a searchable archive of online material and some past articles from the print edition. More material from current and past issues is available with paid subscription. 
~Choose To Save Saving for life's unexpected financial pitfalls is a main focus for Boomer personal finance! Financial security is one of the most important issues for most Americans. Whether it's putting kids (or grandkids!)through college, saving for an emergency, buying a house, or saving for retirement - having enough money for life's demands is among our biggest concerns. And yet, many Americans have not taken even the first steps toward a secure financial future. ChooseToSave.org is a Web site completely devoted to financial education! As part of its mission, Choose to Save® develops user-friendly, multimedia materials to help individuals plan and save for their financial future. It have loads of free educational tools, and calculators for your savings needs!
~CNNMoney One of the best online websites for Boomer personal finance is CNNMoney.com. With up-to-date news around the U.S. and the world pertaining to money issues in general, and personal finance in particular, this site is hard to beat! Subjects covered include: Business News; Markets; Personal Finance; Retirement; Technology; Luxury; Small Business. Definitely keep this website in your arsenal of personal finance favorites! ~Crown Financial Ministries As a Christian and an infopreneur, I seek tools that will enrich the lives of as many people as possible towards true financial freedom. When I discovered this site by listening to their incredible daily half-hour radio program, Money Matters, I knew that Crown was -and is- an indispensible, Bible-centered resource for everyone! Founded in 1976, is an interdenominational ministry dedicated to equipping people around the world to learn, apply, and teach biblical financial principles. They've taught or equipped more than 50 million people in over 40 nations with the life-changing message of faithfully living by God's financial principles in every area of their lives. ~DaveRamsey.com Dave Ramsey is the Host of a nationally syndicated radio program and television program discussing personal finance topics. He strongly emphasizes reducing, avoiding, and eliminating debt, subjects prevalent in resources for boomer personal finance. Dave's company, The Lampo Group, Inc., provides a Biblically based, COMMON SENSE education and empowerment which gives HOPE to everyone from the financially secure to the financially distressed. He is the author of several best-selling books on the subject.
Boomer personal finance should certainly be built on the cornerstone of debt-free living. Debt-Proof Living (formerly, Cheapskate Monthly) is a wonderful, Christian-based website that addresses living well AND debt-free! At Debt-Proof Living, you'll learn how to get out of debt and stay out -- all on the money you earn right now. Mary Hunt, creator and editor of "Debt-Proof Living", a monthly newsletter formerly called the "Cheapskate Monthly", had been there herself - $100,000 in unsecured credit card debt back in the 1980's. Mary states on her website that, "Even if you are living paycheck to paycheck, buried under a pile of horrible debt or just spinning your financial wheels, there is so much hope and help right here at Debt-Proof Living. You can improve the quality of your life. You are going to be amazed!" Mary's definition of a cheapskate (which, by the way, is an honorable term!) is: Does not spend more money that he/she earns, no matter how desperate or tempting the situation might appear. Has a spirit of generosity, regularly sharing money, time, and other resources with people in need. Lives honestly and ethically, regardless of the temptation to do otherwise in order to get a better deal. Saves at least 10 percent of all income. Does not buy compulsively but makes intelligent and well-thought-out choices. Lives within a financial plan that includes a margin to allow for fun and spontaneity. That's it! Nothing negative or shameful. Being a cheapskate is honorable. This is a great site for, not only Boomer personal finance, but everyone's personal finance issues! Sign up for Mary's blog and website updates...you'll be blessed you did! ~DinkyTown: The Internet's Best Financial Calculators It's a funny name for a site, but it's a powerful site for almost all of your financial calculator needs! DinkyTown offers you a plethora of calculators for personal finance issues like mortgages, credit cards and debt, auto, investments, retirement, taxes, savings and general personal finance. What's more, they offer calculators in the languages of Spanish and French Canadian. There are also calculators specifically geared to Canadian, and Australian loans and savings! ~FinancialStability.gov Boomer personal finance thrives on the news and information we get from reliable sources. The Obama administration started a great site that holds true to our President's mantra of accountability to the public. FinancialStability.gov is the U.S. federal government's site that provides a day-by-day summary of the decisions and legislation that address the economic changes addressing our country's economic recession. It provides not only text, but also video of key speeches and announcements. ~GiveMe20.com One important aspect of Boomer personal finance is the education of your children-or grandchildren- about the importance of handling money. In my humble opinion, children should learn as early as possible, with age-appropriate tools, the importance of saving and spending money. I found a fantastic website for you to use-and definitely to pass on- that will empower you to start the learning process for the youngsters! Giveme20.com has age-appropriate resources for ages 12 through 15, 16 through 18, and 19 through 22. Here's their description of their site: "If your child treats money like it grows on trees, or magically falls from the sky, let GiveMe20.com be your resource for teaching them the true meaning of money. Whether he's age 12, or she's 22 and off at college, with a little help from you they can develop the self-confidence and personal skills needed to successfully manage their money (and yours)".
~How To Do an Annual Financial Checkup This article outlines ideas for a year-end personal finance review, covering goals, asset protection, will updates, investment performance evaluation, debt control, income tax reduction, and retirement plan review. It includes links to related articles. Written for About.com by an accountant and author of books on personal finance. ~InsureUOnline.org Being savvy about Boomer personal finance includes a good working knowledge of having the right types of insurance. InsureUonline.org provides just that! The National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) presents Insure U — Get Smart About Insurance. This site provides consumer insurance information for those considering or buying insurance. As a Boomer, you may be planning to sell your home and retire to a new area, considering long-term care coverage, or evaluating annuities. In addition, you may be entitled to discounts on home or auto insurance. Now is a good time to re-evaluate your insurance needs and coverage. So, bone up on your insurance knowledge through this free resource on insurance education! What a great site for Boomer personal finance! Investopedia.com is not just an online investment encyclopedia, but it also provides: investment articles, tutorials, free tools, calculators, test preps. to become a CFA, stock quotes, "Ask the Professional" section, and so much more! ~IRA Help.com What a great boomer personal finance find! This site is by Ed Slott, a nationally recognized retirement account tax expert and professional speaker. What's great about this site, is that Slott lists financial planners and asset managers in the U.S. who have gone through his Master Elite IRA Advisor Group. This means that they have the tools and training materials they need to stay up-to-date on the fine pointsof the "second half" of the savings and investment game: retirement plan distribution, protection, and preservation. 
~J.K. Lasser: Your 365-Day-A-Year Tax Resource What an excellent site for everything to do with Boomer personal finance and taxes! J.K. Lasser's Your Income Tax is America's bestselling tax guide. Celebrating its 70th year, it was first written by Jacob Kay Lasser and was so successful that it led to the establishment of The J.K. Lasser Institute, publisher of a wide range of tax, financial, and business books and newsletters. You’ll find this site to be SO helpful not only during tax season, but through the year! ~Kiplinger.com: Your RetirementFor boomer personal finance issues dealing with retirement, this site is great. It has a collection of articles and columns on topics related to retirement savings, such as individual retirement accounts (IRAs), 401(k) and pension plans, annuities, and retirement planning for children and young adults. It includes retirement calculators for your convenience. Another excellent resource found on the website for Kiplinger's Personal Finance magazine! ~MarketWatch MarketWatch contains business and personal finance news, commentary, and articles; daily market listings; information on stocks, mutual funds, and IPOs; and so much more! Registration (free!) required for some parts of site. Well worth bookmarking! ~Mint.com: Free Personal Finance Software, Online Money Management, Budget Planner and Financial Planning Mint.com has been named the best online personal finance tool by Money Magazine, PC Magazine, and is PC World’s Editor’s Choice. This is almost like on-stop shopping for Boomer personal finance needs! More than 600,000 people already use their online money management and budgeting software today, and they’re adding over 2,000 users every day. Mint.com is tracking $50 billion in transactions, $15 billion in assets and has identified more than $100 million in potential savings for its users. This site is great...check it out! ~MoneyCentralComprehensive personal finance site. Offers real-time stock quotes, lists of top mutual funds, as well as a wealth of information on topics including retirement planning, saving for college, insurance, and buying or selling a home. For boomer pesonal finance issues, this page is a MUST! ~MoneySmarts.com Baby boomer personal finance, in particular, is rift with "$1.50" words and jargon! We're bombarded with all kinds of financial decisions to make - and the LAST thing we need is language that reads like the Rosetta Stone! AARP Financial has developed a website that your tool for deciphering financial terms! MoneySmarts.com has tools and more to help us understand financial terms that are broken down into laymen's terms! This will help us to make even wiser financial decisions during one of the most inmportant financial stages of our lives. Worth bookmarking! ~Morningstar For Boomer finance, Morningstar is almost synonymous with mutual funds research! Morningstar.com is one of the most useful sites for mutual fund (and bond fund) information, with free fund screening and profiles. Detailed reports require a subscription, but you can sign up for a free 14-day trial. ~The Motley Fool.com For Boomer personal finance, the Motley Fool.com is as fun to read (as its name implicates)as it is LOADED with with sage, up-to-the-minute personal finance and investment advice! In 1993, brothers David and Tom Gardner started The Motley Fool. It started out as their newsletter with a simple stated goal: to educate, amuse, and enrich their readers and help them make better financial decisions. Headquartered in Alexandria, Virginia, the privately-held multi-media company today has hundreds of employees in the United States and UK and is a top provider of investment advice and financial information. ~MSNMoney.com MSNMoney.com is probably THE best online tool for portfolio tracking and stock charting. The stock information is well organized. ~MyFICO.com: Find Out Your FICO Score When it comes to Boomer personal finance issues, one of the most important acronyms is FICO. Knowing and (if necessary) improving your FICO score may mean the difference between getting a loan, a line of credit, or even a job! For those who aren't familiar with this mysterious score, "FICO" stands for Fair Isaac & Company, who invented the formula and parameters that provides this score (usually ranging from 500 to 850. Financial institutions and many (but not all) employers have the legal right to look up these scores to see if you're potentially a "good risk" (e.g. responsible)for loans or employment. Let's face it; money, and how responsible we are when handling it, is a major indicator of how we may handle lots of things in our lives. It's important also to check your credit record to see if there's been anytghing erroneously applied to you. For a fee, MyFICO.com can provide your FICO score, and credit reports from the three major credit record agencies: Experian, TransUnion, and Equifax. The site also provides educational resources to help you with improving your financial score. ~MyMoney.gov As stated in our home page...knowledge is powerful, and boomer personal finance literacy is both powerful and crucial for our economic future! A great site that's provided by the U.S. National Literacy and Education Commission, this resource on money matters ranges from retirement planning and savings to investing and life events. Well worth bookmarking! ~RetirementThink This site is also mentioned on our "Retirement Planning" page. I repeated it here to make sure that folks looking for general financial won't miss this great site for Boomer personal finance! Designed "for all people of all ages who need to map out a retirement plan and expand their knowledge", RetirementThink" has weekly, up-to-the-minute coverage of relevant retirement planning subjects. Its parent site,
Financial Web , is also a rich site for additional information. With an emphasis on the financial aspects of retirement planning and investing, their "Weekly Retirement" articles/blog and archives is a wealth of information. ~Smart Money.com One of the best magazines around for boomer personal finance issues is Smart Money. Suffice it to say, as savvy boomers, online financial resources play a large role in keeping up with up-to-the-minute news and tools. SmartMoney.com is definitely a site to bookmark, and add to your financial news online repertoire! Packed with stories, articles, news and tools for all things financial, it's a great resource! ~Practical Money Skills ~SocialFunds.com For socially-responsible Boomer personal finance, SocialFunds.com claims to be the largest personal finance site devoted to socially responsible investing.It covers: mutual funds; community investing; news;
shareholder actions, and more!
~TreasuryDirect.gov TreasuryDirect.gov is a mainstay for Boomer personal finance! It's the first and only financial services website that lets you buy and redeem securities directly from the U.S. Department of the Treasury in paperless electronic form. You enjoy the flexibility of managing your savings porfolio online as your needs and financial circumstances change - all the time knowing your money is backed by the full faith of the U.S. government. They offer product information and research across the entire line of Treasury Securities, from Series EE Savings Bonds to Treasury Notes. Their new TreasuryDirect accounts offer Treasury Bills, Notes, Bonds, Inflation-Protected Securities (TIPS), and Series I and EE Savings Bonds in electronic form in one convenient account. You can also purchase Treasury Bills, Notes, Bonds and Inflation-Protected Securities (TIPS) in Legacy Treasury Direct. ~Wall Street Journal THE authoritative resource of business news and commentary, bar none! ~Yahoo! Finance This is, undoubtably, one of the BEST finance-oriented websites around - especially for boomer personal finance! Yahoo! Finance provides U.S. and international stock quotes with minimal delay when markets are open, as well as historical stock quotes and other market information. Additional investment topics include general financial news, industry news, annual reports, and mutual fund, bond, and option information.Also includes links to more than 20 international sites. Personal finance subjects include loans, insurance, and taxes. ~For additional Personal Finance Resources, check out our Retirement Planning page!
|
