Carnival of Retirement

Here’s the Carnival of Retirement, sign up at Blogger Carnivals if you want to be included next time.

Roger Wohlner @ The Chicago Financial Planner writes ETFs – 4 Considerations Before Buying – Just as with mutual funds or any other investment vehicle, investors need to do their homework before buying an ETF. Here are 4 factors to consider.

Michael Kitces @ Nerd’s Eye View writes Understanding Marginal Tax Rate Vs Effective Tax Rate And When To Use Each – Effective financial decision making requires accounting for both economic and tax consequences. Unfortunately, though, many people are confused about which tax rate to use… so this article lays out exactly which ones to use and when!

Jeff Rose @ Good Financial Cents writes Online Broker Comparison – Which Online Broker Should I Open an Account With? – Finding a great online brokerage firm to hold your Roth IRA, Traditional IRA, or just general trading account is a daunting task. Check out this comprehensive review of the most critical aspects to look at when selecting your online broker.

Lance @ Money Life and More writes Am I Crazy? Not Taking the Optimal Financial Path May Be the Right Decision – As a personal finance blogger I often pressure myself to make the best financial decisions possible so I can be a good role model to my readers. However, at times I feel like I need to do something I want rather than what makes the most sense financially. Read on to see what has been occupying my thoughts all week.

Dividend Growth Investor @ Dividend Growth Investor writes Should dividend investors hold on to Abbott (ABT) and Abbvie (ABBV) following the split? – On January 1, 2013, Abbott Laboratories split into two companies, one which retained its name Abbott Laboratories (ABT), and another named Abbvie (ABBV).Since both companies have not had a chance to operate for long periods of time, I would simply hold on to my position.

Super Saver @ My Wealth Builder writes Hedging for a Market Top or Market Breakout – I’m still not yet ready to commit our entire retirement savings to stocks again.

Mike @ Personal Finance Beat writes How to Invest in Dividend Stocks – How investing in blue chip, dividend paying stocks can provide consistent, passive income for your portfolio into your retirement years.

Jen @ PF Carny writes Steps to Determine If You Are Ready to Open Your Own Business – If you are working for “the man” at a 9 to 5 job, you may dream of nothing more than venturing out on your own and being your own boss. This is the true American dream, and in this age of the Internet, it has become a reality for many people.

Jen @ Master the Art of Saving writes Saving Up Money To Pay Cash For A Car – So how in the world am I going to be able to save that much money in such a short time? Well, I’m not certain that I will, but I’ll definitely give it a go. Here’s my plan:

harry campbell @ Your Personal Finance Pro writes An Argument for the Social Security Program to Continue – There are very few programs in the US which are understood less than the Social Security program. You’ll hear a lot of mis-information about Social Security. “You’ll never get what you put into it!” “I’ll be lucky to get anything.” So on and so forth. The mis-information you hear contributes to giving the Social Security (SS) program a bad rap. I contend, however, that there is not better bang for your buck than the SS program – especially after adjusting for risk.

Roger the Amateur Financier @ The Amateur Financier writes How You Can Tell If Your Boss Is Insane – Let’s be honest: if you work at most typical jobs, you probably think that your boss is a little…odd.

Chris @ BudgetWays.com writes How To Save Money With Cheap Car Insurance – Most people spend at least a thousand dollars on car insurance, and if you have kids or multiple cars, you’re probably spending at least twice that. Learning how to buy the right type and amount of coverage, while applying for discounts is essential to saving yourself a few hundred dollars a year with cheap car insurance.

Gary @ Gajizmo.com writes Advantages and Disadvantages of Mutual Funds – Mutual funds are among the most popular investment vehicles in the marketplace and represent a multi-trillion dollar industry, but do retail investors know the pros and cons when deciding if investing in a fund is best for them? In this article, we analyze and explain the advantages and disadvantages of mutual funds to help you determine if investing in one makes sense with your financial needs and goals.

Jason @ Work Save Live writes 5 More Easy Ways Everybody Can Save Money – Considering the difficulties in today’s economy, it’s certainly a time to cut expenses. Saving money by eliminating unnecessary purchases leaves you a nest egg for when you really need it. In addition, saving money helps you pay down existing credit card or other bills.

Mary Rhodes @ Fine Tune Finances writes Is There Such Thing as Good Debt? – “Debt” is a word many of us have learned to fear. But having debt, to a certain degree, is not always a bad thing. There is such thing as good debt versus bad debt, and you may be in a position to put your mind at ease if your debt falls into the positive category.

MR @ Money Reasons writes Dark Side of an HSA – After particapting in an HSA for more than five years, I’m doing to reveal the dark side of an HSA account. This is something that affect the middle classes that nobody talks about.

Lazy Man @ Lazy Man and Money writes Ask the Readers: Is This Trading or Investing? – It’s been awhile since I’ve given an update on some stocks that I’ve been “travesting” in. I just made up travesting as a combination of trading and investing. Previously, I had mentioned how I had this crazy stock trading idea: buying because someone else paid a lot more for it.

Peter @ Bible Money Matters writes ReadyForZero Review: A Program to Help You Pay Down Your Debt – ReadyForZero is a valuable tool for those who want to get out of debt, and best of all, it is free! As long as your accounts link without trouble (unlike mine), and you want to pay off your debts based on the highest interest rate instead of the smallest debt, ReadyForZero is an excellent tool to use and may just help you get out of debt faster.

Alice @ Hurricanes, Panties & Dollars writes Saving on Inebriation & 10 Money Themed Drinks – I love to drink and have a great time, but if you’re drinking at bars—it can add up faster than a stripper can spot a $100 bill. That’s fast!

ETZ25 @ Entertainment Timez writes Is AIG The Perfect Stock? – Is AIG the perfect stock for 2013? Read why I think this stock has legs and we’re betting that 2013 will be a great year for us.

MMD @ IRA vs 401k Central writes How Inheriting a Roth IRA Can Be a Great Tax-Advantaged Gift – One little known benefits of inheriting a Roth IRA is that you can designate it to someone after you die with little to no tax consequences.

MMD @ My Money Design writes Is the Conventional System to Create Wealth Rigged? – Is following conventional financial advice a rigged game? There’s got to be a better way to create wealth beyond simply saving for the next 30 years!

Evan @ My Journey to Millions writes Updating My Dividend Champion Watch List for February 2013 – I would venture to guess that most people that follow their finances and investments closely have a favorite account or investment account. Mine would have to be my dividend investment account made up of companies that have raised their dividends every year for the past twenty-five years. As such, every few months I update the watch list using various statistics outlined below.

Jason @ Live Real Now writes I’m the Bad Guy – In a couple of years, I want to buy a $450,000 spread on about a dozen acres and let my wife’s dreams come true. Or, we could buy a couple of horses now and never have the money for a down payment.

Joshua Thompson @ Becoming Your Own Bank writes Bonds Outperform Stocks Over 30 Years – Bonds outperformed stocks over the last 30 years. What does that mean for your portfolio?

Wayne @ Young Family Finance writes The Different Types Of Popular Retirement Funds – Workers need to survive when their working days are over. They need a regular source of income to pay their bills when they can no longer work. Thus, every worker needs a retirement plan for the rainy days ahead. Workers can choose from the different types of retirement plans available.

Sean @ One Smart Dollar writes What is a Currency War? – Most people have never heard of a currency war or are not fully aware of what it really is. By understanding the concept you will be able to understand how it can affect your investments.

SBB @ Simple Budget Blog writes Simplify Budget: Ways to Lower Your Transportation Costs – In an effort to simplify our budget and make managing our finances easier, I’ve looked for new ways to reduce our household spending on transportation. The majority of our transportation costs comes from fuel and car maintenance, but I know everyone’s situation is different.

Ashley @ Money Talks Coaching writes The B Word: How To Create And Use A Budget That Will Change Your Life – I wrote an e-book! It’s called The B word: How to create and use a budget that will change your life. It’s on Amazon for a mere 2.9

Invest It Wisely @ Invest It Wisely writes What Does It Take to Emotionally Succeed as an Entrepreneur? Here’s What I’ve Learned, One Year After Quitting My Job and Taking the Leap of Faith – It’s been about one year since I took my leap of faith and entered the world of self employment, so what does it take emotionally to succeed?

Passive Income Earner @ The Passive Income Earner writes Dividend Stock Analysis: Tim Hortons (THI) – Is THI a worthy investment at this time? Did it saturate its Canadian market?

JC @ Passive-Income-Pursuit @ Passive Income Pursuit writes Net Worth Update – January 2013 – It was a perfect storm of events that led to my personal best for a monthly net worth increase and a great start to my 2013 goals.

Amanda L Grossman @ Frugal Confessions writes How to Host a Biggest Loser Competition at Work – While cleaning out the top drawer of my filing cabinet at work last week—I shamefully could no longer open the drawer nor close it—I came across several

Joe @ Midlife Finance writes 5 Ominous Signs That Your Elderly Parents May Need Help – When your parents live further away, it’s easy to forget that they’re changing, too. Eventually, they may need more help than you’re aware of right now. How can you tell?

Crystal @ Budgeting in the Fun Stuff writes I Don’t Believe in “Good Debt” – I simply don’t think of any debt as good debt. This doesn’t mean that I treat all debt the same, but I don’t see any of it as a good thing.

Miss T. @ Prairie Eco Thrifter writes Money & Marriage: How to Get and Stay on the Same Track – Here are some of my tips on how to get and stay on the same money track as your spouse.

Don @ MoneySmartGuides writes 3 Ways to Save Money (A Lot of Money!) – I’m sure you are familiar with the “latte-factor”, which was popularized by David Bach in his Automatic Millionaire book series.

krantcents @ KrantCents writes Budgets and Diets Are a Waste of Time! – Budgets and diets are a waste of time! Most, if not all personal finance (PF) bloggers are probably surprised I would say that. A budget or diet is not the answer for overspending or overeating. If these things worked for everyone, there would be no debt or overweight people.

Cash Flow Mantra @ Cash Flow Mantra writes Net Worth TV Reviews How Investing Strategies Change at Various Employment Stages – Net Worth TV with Terry Bradshaw reviews how different people look at money at different stages in their lives. This is important, because the money situations at each stage really are different, and you can’t just put a single template over someone’s entire financial life. Here are some key things to consider at each stage when it comes to investing.

Tushar @ Start Investing Money writes Editions TV Show Looks at 4 Reasons to Buy a Second Home – Editions TV with Terry Bradshaw looked at a few reasons to avoid buying a second home. Now Editions takes a look a four reasons you should consider buying one.

Little House @ Little House in the Valley writes Net Worth TV Presents 5 Ways the HOA is Becoming State of the Art – Here are some common ways that homeowners associations are being more state of the art by investing in their neighborhoods to drive up property values or maintain them at a high level.

TDB @ Tax Deduction Blog writes The New 411 on Job Search Tax Deductions – What expenses are deductible for your new job search? Here is a handy list of 7 guidelines that makes your job search expenses tax deductible

Corey @ Steadfast Finances writes 9 Things Every New Graduate Must Buy – Graduating college and adjusting to real life requires a few common accessories. Find out what they are and how you can be prepared.

Investor Junkie @ Investor Junkie writes Should You Invest Your Emergency Fund? – Investing your emergency fund can seem like an exercise in insanity, and sometimes it truly is. But there are compelling reasons why you might consider it.

Daniel @ Sweating the Big Stuff writes How Much Did We Spend On Our Honeymoon? – We were planning on spending $3,500 on our honeymoon. We missed by…a bit.

Girl Meets Debt @ Girl Meets Debt writes Making My Cash-Back Credit Card Work for Me – Now I know what you are all thinking…I must be crazy to want to start using my credit card again after being so irresponsible with it in the first place but you know what? I am finally at a place in my life where I feel confident that I can and will use credit sensibly.

Aloysa @ My Broken Coin writes What No One Ever Tells You About Costa Rica – Get my personal inside scoop on my vacation to Costa Rica, and things to watch out for and beware of!

Jester @ The Ultimate Juggle writes Will Our Kids Have Wealth Building Opportunities Like We Had? – Are there less wealth building opportunities for kids in the future? I think this is a possibility and explain why I think so.

Tushar @ Earn More and Save writes The Lowdown on Frugal Living – Discover the real deal behind frugal living – what the trend is all about, why you should try it, and how the lifestyle can help you save a boatload of money.

Maria @ The Money Principle writes Take charge of your finances: focus on ‘wants’ rather than ‘needs’ – Making decisions about finances by satisfying needs is a long standing mantra in personal finance. Here I argue that mastering wants is the way to go.

Jennifer Lynn @ Broke-Ass Mommy writes Time to establish financial and savings goals for 2013. – Yep, now is the time to establish financial and savings goals!

SFB @ Simple Finance Blog writes 5 Deadly Finance Mistakes New Graduates MUST Avoid – Here are the five deadly finance mistakes that new graduates should avoid, and what they should do instead to set themselves up for financial success.

Suba @ Broke Professionals writes Planning My European Vacation: Getting A Passport – After revisiting my financial priorities to put traveling at the top, I’m ready to plan my European vacation. Step #1? Getting a passport!

Ted Jenkin @ Your Smart Money Moves writes Three Money Lessons I Learned From My Parents – I don’t think we can often appreciate everything that happens to us growing up as a child.

PPlan @ Provident Plan writes Increasing the value of your home – The economy has probably tanked the value of our house, but there are things we can do to increase its value.

Jules Wilson @ Fat Guy,Skinny Wallet writes Would You Believe More Car Trouble? – If you’re new here, you may want to subscribe to my RSS feed. Thanks for vi!siting I’m sitting here at my mechanic’s shop once again.

Jules Wilson @ Faithful With a Few writes Would You Be Willing To Move To Another Country – My wife and I would watch this show sometimes and think about whether we could really pick up and move to another country. I couldn’t imagine going about my life in the U.S. and then waking up one day and trying to find a home and establish a new life in a new place.

Luke @ Learn Bonds writes Rolling Down the Yield Curve: How to Make Money by Waiting – One of the easiest and time tested strategies for making money investing in bonds is called rolling down the yield curve. Here’s what you need to know.

Alan Webster @ 401kcalculator.org writes The 401k Limit Is More Generous Than Ever – Your 401K limit is as high as it’s ever been. This post looks at how the 401k limit has changed compared to the rate of inflation

Liana @ Card Hub Blog writes Consumer Fraud Liability Study – 2013 – This study strives to provide consumers with a valuable source of information regarding their vulnerability to financial losses as a result of card-related fraud, allaying concerns and clearing up common fallacies in the process.

Lynn @ Wallet Blog writes Punting your Cable TV Bill – You can cancel your cable and fill the void with alternative TV-entertainment options While this is not an exhaustive list, it might meet your entertainment and budgetary requirements.

Michelle @ The Shop My Closet Project writes I’m using my SH$T January-a no more buying product manifesto – read my no more buying product manifesto!

Gen Y @ Gen Y Finance Journey writes Can You Reach Early Financial Independence if You’re Not an Entrepreneur? – Can’t wait to leave the 9-5 job and live on your own terms? Starting a business may put you on the fast track to financial independence, but is it necessary?

Will @ Card Guys Blog writes Don’t sunburn your credit card – This is the time when many people in northern areas start planning to head south for the winter. The problem many people face is that they have still not paid off all the Christmas expenses. But a mid-winter or late winter getaway does not have to break the bank.

BARBARA FRIEDBERG @ Barbara Friedberg Personal Finance writes LIVE A WEALTHY LIFE; MY DAY AT HABITAT FOR HUMANITY – Wealthy living through service to others; more money too.

Avrex @ Avrex Money writes Can I achieve early retirement? – Are you doing all that you can in order to exit the rat-race and cross the “finish line” of early retirement? Here are 4 items to think about, if you want to achieve financial independence sooner. (Note to Carnival host: This URL is scheduled to be published at Feb 10, 2013 @ 08:30 am)

John S @ Frugal Rules writes How to Take the Emotion Out of Investing – The stock market is driven largely by emotion, some say upwards of 90%. If you have a solid investment plan though you can easily separate the emotions from the day to day activity of your investments.

John @ Married (with Debt) writes An Exciting New Life for Married (with Debt) – If you are reading this, you may be wondering where the heck I’ve been. No, this post isn’t an apology for a lack of activity. Instead, it is an announcement about the future of this site, and I’m happy to say, it’s looking bright.

Jon @ Novel Investor writes The Role Of Cash In Your Portfolio – One of the least covered aspects of investing is how cash plays a role in your portfolio. Yet it can be an important tool to help manage risks.

Mike @ Personal Finance Journey writes Overseas Investment – Australian Real Estate Market – Easy ideas on investing in Australian Real Estate. Is this right for you and how it can benefit your financial plan.

Kyle @ The Penny Hoarder writes How to Get a Free $54/Month for the Rest of Your Life…. – I’ve made a living over the past few years coming up with ways to make money that range from the genius, like my idea to make money buying beer, to those that border on the ridiculous, like my idea to start a cricket farm.

NoTrustFund @ Where’s My Trust Fund writes Creating A Budget – Create a budget using the balance money formula

Dividend Growth Investor @ Dividend Growth Investor writes Four Consumer Stocks for a 2013 Economic Expansion – With the continuing rebound of the global economy for a fourth consecutive year, corporate revenues and profits are at record highs. US multinational corporations, which have substantial operations abroad, are very well positioned for the expansion in the number of middle class consumers in the developing markets.I expect the following companies to benefit from the rise of the middle class in emerging markets due to their strong brand names and because of their status.

Bryan @ BryanMaltier.com writes What Is Whole Life Insurance? Pros and Cons – Considering life insurance? By now, you must know what term life insurance is, but what about whole policies? Written by a former life insurance agent and broker, this article details the cash value component, how much coverage to buy, how it compares as an investment, payment options, and a brief comparison of different types of life insurance protection.

KK @ Student Debt Survivor writes Chained to Your Work? – Do you ever feel like you’re chained to your work? Can you be chained to your work if you’re not a, “big earner?”. I think so.

JP @ My Family Finances writes It’s a Buyers Market out there! Top tips for finding a bargain – In a market where home loans come at a premium and even the slightest oversight on your paperwork or research can force you to walk away from a home – and maybe your earnest money – knowing everything you can about the industry, the process, and the market before house shopping is more vital than ever before.

Jon the Saver @ Free Money Wisdom writes The Simplicity of Living Beneath Your Means – Living below your means is truly an amazing feeling. Gone are the days of spending too much, start investing and living smart!

Matt @ Dividend Monk writes The Comprehensive Guide to Index Funds – A detailed overview of the simplest long-term investing method.

Hank @ Money Q&A writes Where To Invest $1,000 In Today’s Market – Here are ten excellent places where to invest $1000 today. While you’ll see some of these ideas are using the term investing loosely, it is investing in the broader sense of the word.

Daisy @ Add Vodka writes Spring Cleaning For Your Finances – It’s not quite spring yet in the great white North, but it was 8 degrees (46.4 F) in my region today and sunny, so that counts for something. Whenever it starts getting spring-like out, I get excited to start spring!

CAPI @ Creating a Passive Income writes Become a Hobbyist: It’s a Passive Income Dream Come True! – Can you turn your hobby into a source of income? Find out how to start making money off of the thing that you love.

Corey @ 20s Finances writes The Hidden Costs of Renting – It’s important to understand that while homeownership has many costs (perhaps more costs than you are aware of), renting has its own unique costs that are worth considering before becoming a renter for life.

Edgar @ Degrees and Debt writes Saving Money on Gas via Shopping Programs – How to use shopping programs to save money on gas

Jason Hull @ Hull Financial Planning writes The Transition from Mass Advice to Personal Advice – Personal finance “gurus” all have their place; there is value in the Dave Ramseys and Suze Ormans who are out there providing advice to the masses. At what point, though, should you look for more personalized advice rather than relying on the two minute snippets that the gurus offer up?

Marie at FamilyMoneyValues @ Family Money Values writes Family Culture Factors Affecting Long Term Wealth – Now that you have retired and have spent a lifetime building your fortune, how do you help ensure future generations will benefit from it? Family culture can be a big culprit in generating spendthrift heirs. Find out which family culture factors to avoid.

Jacob @ My Personal Finance Journey @ My Personal Finance Journey writes The Perks of Being a Saver – This post illustrates some of the benefits of being a saver and why it is a good financial decision to save more instead of recklessly spend, in order to live a more secure financial life in both your younger years and in retirement.

Michael @ Financial Ramblings writes http://www.financialramblings.com/archives/required-minimum-distribution-rmd-who-what-when-how-much/ – This past year, my parents almost forgot to take their Required Minimum Distributions. Fortunately, they remembered before it was too late and avoided any penalties, but it was a close call. In this post I provide an overview of the RMD as well as the penalties associated with skipping it.