ArtBistro

We all know that before bringing you on board, a potential employer will do some vetting. They'll scour the internet searching for digital dirt, or any discrepancies from your resume. They'll try to get a glimpse into your personality. They want to know as much as they can about you. After all, they’re about to let you – an unknown quantity ...

A BW senior correspondent details his quest to repair his retirement portfolio and get his family's finances in order It could have been worse. At the end of February—a year and change since my wife and I had shifted our money to professional wealth management advisers—our equity holdings were down 48% for the 16 months they had managed it. But our ...

DES MOINES (AP) — With economic pressures mounting, you may think reducing your 401(k) contribution is an easy way to add money to your paycheck. But before you do, consider how it will increase your tax bill. Many people have become so focused on the recent losses of 30% or more in their account balances that they've forgotten a primary benefit ...

We all have our little fears: The frayed wire on the coffee maker. That knocking noise from the left-rear tire. The zombies staggering around in the backyard. For investors, one of the biggest fears today is inflation — a period of rising prices. Inflation erodes the buying power of your money at home and abroad. In a worst-case scenario, it can ...

Today's managers are charged with getting the most out of workers no matter what. But the reality is that many managers must coax top performances from their employees while working with a minimal budget that may require salary freezes; cuts in benefits, bonuses or perks; reductions in hours; or even layoffs. If you're faced with a less-than-optimal budget situation, follow these ...

When we asked Monster readers what they’d be most likely to splurge on if they got a big salary bump - a new car, wardrobe or home entertainment technology - the car topped the list with 51 percent of the votes, followed by the wardrobe with 30 percent and the home entertainment center at 18 percent. But quite a few readers ...

To help lighten the blow of Tax Day across the nation, various dining establishments and retailers are offering consumers freebies, deals and discounts — just for today!Here are a few we dug up, but be on the look out for local deals in your area! • Chick-fil-A is offering a “Tax Relief Day Special” that, according to a SmartMoney.com article, ...

Taxes are overwhelming and complicated. There is form after form and it gets tough to keep them all straight. The most painful part, however, is seeing the toll it takes on you wallet. TurboTax, Military.com and ArtBistro have brought you expert financial advice to make your taxes and painless as possible and hopefully save a lot of money in the process. ...

Did you spend substantial amounts of money looking for a new position last year? You may be able to succeed where Nelson Rockefeller failed and take a tax deduction for many of your job search-related costs. When New York Governor Rockefeller was appointed vice president in the '70s, he deducted expenses incurred in connection with his congressional confirmation hearings. Years later, ...

The battle for a secure retirement is about to get even tougher. Several new surveys of company executives show that they plan to reduce or suspend their company's retirement-plan contributions this year. Dozens of employers in the past year have already slashed such costs. The trend means one important thing for workers: smaller nest eggs, unless they save enough to make ...

Once you have been laid off, one of the first things you are likely to think about is how you are going to replace your income. Unemployment Insurance (UI) was established by the government to provide unemployment benefits to workers when become unemployed due to factors outside their control to financially assist them while they are looking for employment. UI is ...

When you are laid off from your job, one of your hopes is that you receive a good severance package, equipped with both severance pay and continued benefits. Most often, severance is based on how long an employee has been employed by the employer, but benefits often vary depending on the employer. In addition, employers are not required to provide severance ...

If you're like a lot of folks, you may have just received a "Dear Valued Customer" letter in the mail from your credit card company. No, you aren't being fired, but it might feel like it. If you have an affiliate card issued through one of the big banks, it starts like this: "This challenging business climate has led Citibank, the ...

1: Medicare doesn't cover nursing home care. Nearly 60% of Americans think Medicare pays for nursing care, and 52% assume that it covers assisted living, according to a 2006 survey by AARP. Not so. Medicare's coverage of long-term care is extremely limited. It'll cover part of the cost of a skilled nursing facility while you recover from an injury or illness. ...

h4. 1. Interest Backdating Most card issuers charge interest from the day a charge is posted to your account if you don't pay in full monthly. But, some charge interest from the date of purchase, days before they have even paid the store on your behalf! Remedy: Find another card issuer, or always pay your bill in full by the due ...

h4. 1. Interest Backdating Most card issuers charge interest from the day a charge is posted to your account if you don't pay in full monthly. But, some charge interest from the date of purchase, days before they have even paid the store on your behalf! Remedy: Find another card issuer, or always pay your bill in full by the due ...

Does the economic downturn terrify you? Or are you plotting a new strategy for life with less money? Your reaction offers a peek into your psyche, say researchers who study how personality shapes people's reactions to uncertain times. "People think about themselves and others in terms of typology — you're this type," says researcher Peter Jason Rentfrow of the University of ...

The average American home will spend $990 on heating this year, according to the Energy Information Administration (EIA). Add that to the rising costs of food, clothing, and travel, and almost every individual and family will feel the pinch. Fortunately, you can make your utility bills more manageable. Many steps to reducing your bills apply to everyone, even those living in ...

Misinformation and myths plague the insurance industry. Many times consumers aren't sure how much insurance to purchase or if they have purchased the right kind to begin with. If you're one of the thousands of Americans that don't understand insurance and what it offers read this list of the top 5 insurance myths and the facts behind them." h4. 1.) Auto ...

Every week you introduce more paper into your home, in the form of newspapers, magazines, flyers, coupons, schoolwork, correspondence, bills, and other documents. It may or may not be difficult for you to ensure that reading material and advertising is discarded when you are finished with it, but when it comes to financial documents, it can be much more challenging to ...