http://www.beacon-advisor.com fee only, hourly financial planning Sat, 06 Sep 2008 19:51:23 +0000 http://backend.userland.com/rss092 en On July 30, 2008, President Bush signed H.R. 3221, the Housing and Economic Recovery Act of 2008 (the "Act”). The Housing Act is intended to revamp the housing finance industry, encourage home ownership and help prevent foreclosures. Below is a summary of some of the tax provisions in the bill that ... http://www.beacon-advisor.com/2008/09/housing-act-2008/ Introducing a new consulting service: Jump Start Your Finances Are you: Overwhelmed by your company’s 401K choices? Confused about investment products? Living from paycheck to paycheck? Saving enough to meet your financial goals? Getting all the tax deductions you are entitled to? Jump Start Your Finances is a consultation session for younger individuals and couples, who have ... http://www.beacon-advisor.com/2008/09/jump-start-your-finances/ While I was on vacation this week, some thief was busy emptying out my checking account. I have always loved the convenience of debit cards, but this recent experience has me re-thinking the cost of that convenience. First, your liability if you are a victim of debit card fraud is greater than ... http://www.beacon-advisor.com/2008/08/debit-card-fraud/ Summer is when we hope to get time off to relax. But with regular gasoline prices nearing $4 and energy prices pushing tourism expenses higher on everything from plane fare to meals out, paying for this year's summer vacation might be a significant source of financial stress. A recent GfK Roper ... http://www.beacon-advisor.com/2008/06/traveling-smart-during-the-hot-pricey-summer-of-08/ Garrett Planning Network Provides Thirteen Smart Ideas (Lee's Summit, MO) February 24, 2008 - After concluding their tax preparation activities, many people will see that they are entitled to a refund from Uncle Sam. "Whether you refund is large or small, you are wise to determine now what you will ... http://www.beacon-advisor.com/2008/02/what-to-do-with-your-tax-refund-or-other-found-money/ As you read the headlines and hear the news, it's almost impossible to avoid feeling a bit squeamish in today's volatile market. You're probably wondering what's in store for 2008 after such a bumpy first few weeks. Unfortunately, it's impossible for even the most brilliant economists to accurately predict ... http://www.beacon-advisor.com/2008/01/does-the-market-have-you-feeling-squeamish/ Unfortunately the holiday season usually brings an increase in credit card fraud and identity theft, so right after the holidays is a great time to check your credit report. Following is why, when and how to check your credit report... Why you should check your credit report to check for errors to ... http://www.beacon-advisor.com/2007/12/how-to-get-your-free-credit-report/ I had the pleasure to work on a Money Makeover for the Kansas City Star recently. Here's the article that appeared in the KC Star this morning... Money Makeover: Couple frets over saving at the same time for their retirement, kids’ college expenses by Gene Meyer The Kansas City Star Steven and Angie Cortez ... http://www.beacon-advisor.com/2007/10/money-makeover/ According to MarketWatch.com, President Bush plans on signing legislation that would increase college financial aid by about $20 billion over the next five years. The new bill would reduce the interest rate on need-based student loans to 3.4% (currently 6.8%) over the next four years. It would also increase the Pell grant ... http://www.beacon-advisor.com/2007/09/more-financial-aid-for-college-students-on-the-way/ With the stock market doing so well, you might be wondering... 1.  Why aren't my bond funds performing well?  or2.  Why do I need bond funds in my portfolio? The main purpose of bond funds (or bonds) is to provide diversification for your portfolio.  Diversification reduces the risk that your portfolio will ... http://www.beacon-advisor.com/2007/07/why-you-need-bond-funds-in-your-portfolio/