If you’re worried that your retirement investment plan is adrift, these rules can help steer you in the right direction.
Rule 1: Pay yourself first.
Many investment professionals start their preretirement pep talk with the same three words: “Pay yourself first.” This includes contributing the maximum amount possible to your 401(k) plan and investing additional amounts in IRAs and mutual funds through automatic payroll deductions.
With so many new studies, it has become exceedingly difficult to make informed decisions. This guide to common health myths will help.
Myth: You need to get a Pap smear and mammogram every year.
Fact: While the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists recommends that you see your gynecologist every year, it doesn’t recommend that you have a Pap smear during every visit.
Dear DW,
I sometimes check personal e-mail, update my Facebook page, and browse online at work. My sense is that a lot of people do. But how OK is this, really?
Signed,
Secret User
The vast, golden deserts of Arizona provide more than a breathtaking backdrop to the thriving metropolis of Phoenix. The mountains are within easy reach for hiking, ballooning, and cultural activities, and every corner of the sprawling city, the fifth largest in the United States, has an abundance of options for off-the-clock enjoyment.
For a true taste of the region’s roots, the Heard Museum of Native Culture and Arts offers exhibits that feature the artifacts of Native American tribes, particularly those of the Southwest, as well as contemporary artwork inspired by this heritage.
“I have trouble winding down at night,” says Debi, 50. “Music helps, but the noise disturbs my husband.” She wakes easily when he leaves for work at 5:00 a.m.; then ironically, can’t nod off again. Peggy-Sue, 46, finds her mind working overtime, too. “I close my eyes, but nothing stops my brain from thinking,” she says.
Whether you’re navigating on city streets or through the woods, you donít have to go it alone. A GPS unit can help you find your way—and more. Today’s devices will keep you connected to the internet, take photos, and even serve as a personal trainer.
How do we live and work in today’s 24/7, high-tech, global reality? The answer requires new language, beliefs, and skills for taking the lead and finding your unique work+life “fit.”
That’s right, work+life “fit” not balance. If you do only one thing, eliminate balance from your vocabulary. Why? Because it doesn’t exist.
We’d like to think that our parents are invincible. After all, they are part of a generation that continues to push longevity expectations higher. More likely to see their 80th birthday than their parents, they approach turning 65 as just another milestone (65 is the new 50, right?).
Despite the trend toward longevity, you and your siblings should talk with your parents about their financial future, even if they are only in their sixties. These discussions should cover, at minimum, long-range housing options, long-term care insurance, and wills and living wills. “Frequently, the first conversation happens when there’s a crisis,” says Elinor Ginzler, author of Caring for Your Parents: The Complete Family Guide. “By then, people are tired, physically and emotionally—and possibly financially,” she emphasizes.
Never give out personal information over the phone, on the Internet, or in the mail unless you originated the contact.
Would you buy a criminal an HDTV or a house? My guess is no. Unfortunately, last year 8.4 million people like you and me became victims of identity theft, unknowingly funding a con’s appetite for gadgetry, exotic trips, and even a high-priced home. In some cases, the delinquency stretched beyond what victims might find on a credit report: some are shocked to discover that, in addition to the financial fraud, criminal charges are posted under their names. What’s more, undoing all this takes a huge amount of time. So what can you do?
After a long, stressful day at work, sometimes you just need to zombie out in front of the TV or chill with some tunes. Make the most of that time by equipping your den with the newest, coolest home-entertainment gear. Here are some suggestions:
TiVo HD DVR
If you’ve got a high-definition television, then you’ll want to record Grey’s Anatomy, 30 Rock, and your other favorite shows in HD as well. TiVo’s latest digital video recorder lets you stock up to 20 hours of high-def (or 180 hours of standard) content, as well as pause, rewind, and fast-forward through grating commercials. You can even record two shows at once, something you couldn’t do on older TiVos.
Price: $299.99 ($12.95 per month for TiVo subscription)
www.tivo.com
Yamaha YSP-900 Digital Sound Projector
Get amazing surround sound without having to look at unsightly wires snaking around baseboards and under the rug. Yamaha’s YSP-900 Digital Sound Projector is a single component that houses a multitude of tiny speakers, each one focused in such a way to create the illusion of surround sound in your room. Sit it under your flat-panel TV, and you’ll have killer sound without a killer mess.
Price: $899.95
www.yamaha.com/yec
Polk Audio I-Sonic ES2 Music System
Love the radio but hate the same tired station playlists? Polk’s I-Sonic ES2 receives HD radio—digital broadcasts of regular AM and FM stations. Digital radio produces better quality sound and more channels of programming than you get with standard radio. The ES2 also includes an iPod dock for more personalized listening, along with a cool iTunes tagging feature, which lets you mark songs you hear on the radio, then buy them once you hook your player to your computer.
Price: $499
www.polkaudio.com
Apple TV
Forget trips to the video store. Apple TV connects to your television set and lets you rent flicks or buy TV shows directly over your home Internet connection. Videos come from Apple’s iTunes Store and cost $3.99 for new releases or $2.99 for older titles (HD movies go for an extra dollar). Rentals are available for 30 days, though once you start watching, you’ve only got 24 hours before the film or show is automatically deleted. Still, it’s a small price to pay for never having to leave the couch.
Price: $229 (40GB), $329 (160GB)
www.apple.com
