August 2009

List of the Best Online Discount Brokers

August 26, 2009

I‘m looking at online discount brokers to determine where to open an IRA account later this year. And in the process I’ve learned three important things about online brokerage firms. First, there are a lot of them. You’ve probably heard of many discount sites that allow you to trade stocks online (e.g., Zecco, Scottrade), but [...]

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Sogotrade Offers Online Stock Trading for $3 Per Trade

August 21, 2009

As I search for online stock trading sites for my SEP IRA, it’s been intresting to watch the discount brokers compete on price. Zecco was one of the first deep discount brokers, offering free stock trades. They’ve since scaled that offer back, but still offer low cost trading. But Sogotrade.com recently caught my attention because [...]

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11 Simple Ways to Improve Your Credit Score Today

August 19, 2009

Improving your FICO credit score has never been more important than it is today. Your credit score affects whether you are approved for a loan, the interest rate your pay, and even the cost of insurance. Credit card companies now use credit scores and credit history (called risk-based pricing) to determine not only the interest [...]

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Zecco Offers $75 Refer a Friend Program

August 14, 2009

Zecco, an online discount stock brokerage firm, is offering up to $75 for each friend you refer to Zecco. And the program is really easy to use. If you currently are signed up with Zecco, just follow these steps: Visit http://hello.zecco.com/raf/index.html Fill in your name and the same e-mail address associated with your Zecco Trading [...]

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11 Things We All Buy, But Don’t Need

August 13, 2009

Particularly in financially difficult times, the last thing we should do is spend money on stuff we don’t need or even want. Yet that’s exactly what many of us do. I’m guilty of it, even though avoiding these expenses is really easy to do. So I thought it would be a good time to put [...]

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Are Student Credit Cards Evil?

August 9, 2009

A few days ago we wrote about two Citi student credit cards that are offering double rewards for three months. In response, a reader calling herself “Wilt’s Mom” wrote the following comment: Awesome! Providing credit cards to people who don’t even have an education yet – never mind a job – is one of my [...]

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Free Prepaid Cards With No Fees

August 7, 2009

It is estimated that about 40 million Americans do not have a bank account. The reasons for this vary. For many, they are unable to qualify for a bank account because of past bounced checks. Bounce too many checks, and you’ll find yourself in the Chexsystems, which many banks use to evaluate potential new banking [...]

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Citi Private Pass Offering $5 Concert Tickets

August 6, 2009

I’ve been a banking customer with Citi for nearly 20 years. I use a Citi debit card and the Citi Platinum Select MasterCard. I chose Citi after graduating from law school for one reason and one reason only—it was across the street from my office. While that’s not how I’d recommend choosing a bank today, [...]

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How to Plan a Funeral that Doesn’t Cost an Arm and a Leg

August 6, 2009

The memorial for Michael Jackson cost the city of Los Angeles $1.4 million, according to the Associated Press. While most of us won’t be remembered at the Staples Center in front of 11,000 people, funerals are expensive. According to the Federal Trade Commission, a traditional funeral costs about $6,000, and many funerals run well over [...]

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