Press Archive 2009

2009

• Is it too Late to Improve Your Finances?

  Is it ever too late to improve your finances? I think the simple – yet unpopular – answer is yes. I feel unpatriotic just writing this because it seems to go against our collective “can do” attitude. This country was discovered and explored by folks who looked danger in the eye and laughed. Cross the Rockies on a horse? No problem!

  CBS MoneyWatch.com, December 16, 2009

• NFL players often prone to financial fumbles

  Danan Hughes endured a lot of crushing hits during six years in the NFL. The hardest blow of all, though, came at the end-when he went from mega-paycheck to no paycheck.

  Hughes grossed over $1 million as a wide receiver and special teams player for the Kansas City Chiefs, including close to $400,000 in each of his final two seasons. But when he retired in 1999, he took a three-month internship at a local bank that paid nothing.

  Yahoo! Sports, November 28, 2009

• Americans Falling Behind in Financial Literacy

  Despite a modest bound in the stock market and the United States economy easing out of its recent recession, U.S. workers may have become more apprehensive about their personal finances.

  The Epoch Times, November 25, 2009

• Inside the NFL | With labor troubles looming, NFLPA institutes new financial education program

  Sports fans often feel that the life of a pro athlete is glamorous. But behind the scenes, athletes are forced to deal with problems that arise from their money and fame.

  That is where a company like California-based Financial Finesse comes in. The financial education firm, founded in 1999, has recently partnered with the NFL Player’s Association (NFLPA) to offer players and their families financial guidance.

  The Tufts Daily, November 10, 2009

• Hardship withdrawals are hard for everyone

  An employee just got off a difficult phone call with their mortgage lender–they can’t afford their monthly payment for the third month in a row. They’re frustrated and more than likely, ready to do whatever it takes to keep their home. Their next call is to your client’s HR department.

  HR professionals are overwhelmed with calls like this; their employee wants to take a hardship withdrawal from their retirement plan and they could use some help communicating the consequences of pulling from one’s retirement plan, along with the backlash they get when employees eventually get their tax bill.

  Benefits Selling Magazine, November 4, 2009

• What your employees and pro football players have in common: lack of retirement readiness

  With all their money, houses, cars and jewels, I never imagined that professional athletes needed financial counseling. I just thought that since they could wallpaper their bathroom with $100 bills, they had it all figured out. It was only folks like me who needed help learning how to budget, plan, save and invest properly. Turns out, not so.

  Employee Benefit News, November 1, 2009

• Business Segment from Sports Biz Radio featuring Gary Smola, CFP

  Gary Smola talks to Mark Howard and Kevin Ingram behind the sports desk to discuss how pro football players are getting help with thier finances.

  The Sports Zone 104.5 FM, October 28, 2009

• Financial literacy site encourages people to get involved in their community

  The recession has exposed America’s dirty secret that many Americans are financially illiterate. And it would be difficult to find someone who doesn’t agree that Americans could use more financial education at the student and adult levels.

  There are a variety of Web sites aimed at improving financial literacy in America, but one new site hopes to go beyond offering the usual tools for learning to budget, paying off debt, boosting savings, etc. GetFinancialFinesse.org hopes to equip people with tools to clean up their own finances and get involved in efforts to improve financial literacy in their communities. The site is operated by Financial Finesse, a financial education company.

  AOL Wallet Pop, October 20, 2009

• Financial defense can benefit pro athletes

  Professional athletes need to learn how to play financial defense.

  While most of us can only dream of bringing in the millions of dollars paid to pro athletes, they still must play by the same rules of prudent money management as we mortals do.

  Dallas Morning News, October 10, 2009

• Financial Finesse Awarded the For Profit Organization of the Year 2009 EIFLE (Excellence In Financial Literacy Education) Award

  “The EIFLE Awards were created to acknowledge the dedicated effort of American financial literacy educators across all industries” said Leslie E. Linfield, Executive Director of the Institute for Financial Literacy. “Financial literacy is vital for individuals to navigate our increasingly uncertain economic climate, and has garnered the attention of policy makers, employers and the general public. The EIFLE Awards help raise the visibility of these wonderful efforts.”

  The Institute for Financial Literacy Press Release, October 8, 2009

• NFL Players to Get Financial Advice under New Partnership

  The NFL Players Association announced it has partnered with Financial Finesse, a provider of financial education programs, to launch a program which gives NFL players the financial guidance they need to prepare financially for a lockout.

  A joint press release said the partnership with Financial Finesse was created in an effort to ensure that every player has the information and tools they need to prepare financially for any potential obstacle and to establish lifelong financial security for themselves and their families.

  Plansponsor.com

• Tip of the Day: If millionaires need financial education, imagine how your employees feel

  With all their money, houses, cars and jewels, I never imagined that professional athletes needed financial counseling. I just thought that since they could wallpaper their bathroom with $100 bills, they had it all figured out. It was only folks like me who needed help learning how to budget, plan, save and invest properly. Turns out, not so.

  I got word this week that the National Football League Players Association has partnered with Financial Finesse, a financial education provider, to give NFL players financial guidance.

  Employee Benefit News, October 1, 2009

• Employers Target Women With Financial Education

  Every few months or so a new study is published that indicates how women need more help planning for retirement than men do.

  The reasons include the fact that on average women are expected to live longer than men (to age 80 versus 74), they work an average of 12 years less than men over the span of their lifetimes, their earnings are 77 percent less than men’s earnings on average, and rates of divorce have risen and are expected to further increase.

  Workforce Management, September 2009

• Three keys to a successful retirement plan

  From the beginning of time, all advisors have had one goal in mind: set up successful retirement plans for their clients. But we’ve all seen how the recent economic crisis has affected the picture significantly, and plan sponsors are cutting matches and losing traction. Over the past 10 years of working with Fortune 500′s, we’ve learned there are three fundamental factors in designing and managing a successful retirement plan, and if your client is struggling with participation, help them ensure they have these areas covered. If not, implementing these three key factors will help them dramatically increase their probability of success.

  Benefits Selling, September 30, 2009

• NFLPA Launches Financial Education Program for NFL Players

  The NFL Players Association today announced it has partnered with Financial Finesse, the nation’s leading provider of unbiased financial education programs, to launch a comprehensive program which gives NFL players the financial guidance they need to prepare financially for a lock out.

  “There’s been a long standing need for this kind of financial education for our members who have unique circumstances that make financial planning particularly difficult,” NFLPA Executive Director DeMaurice Smith said. “With no guarantees in NFL contracts and the potential for a 2011 lock out, we want to make sure our members are prepared for injury or anything that cripples their career. We’d also like them to transition from football to a lifetime of financial security and independence–something that is possible only with smart financial planning.”

  NFL Players Association/Financial Finesse Press Release, September 29, 2009

• Caution Rules

  AFTER SECOND-QUARTER MUTUAL-FUND PERFORMANCE turned positive — the first good showing since the economic crisis started — financial planner Nancy Anderson expected a flood of inquiries about buying stocks. None came. “I was surprised,” says Anderson, who works for Financial Finesse, which advises 401(k) clients like Aetna and General Motors. “I’m a certified financial planner. But calls about foreclosures and hardship withdrawals were up,” as well as questions about budgeting and debt payment. So much for animal spirits.

  Barron’s, September 21, 2009

• 5 Reasons to Convert to a Roth IRA

  After waiting nearly four years, a new group of American workers is about to have access to the Roth Individual Retirement Account (IRA).

  Beginning in January 2010, most individuals who have a modified adjusted gross income (MAGI) of more than $100,000 will be able to convert a portion of their retirement savings from their traditional IRA or 401(k) into a Roth IRA. The change was signed into law by President Bush in May 2006 as part of a $70 billion tax cut.

  SmartMoney.com, September 15, 2009

• An Assist with Financial Decisions

  When Liz Davidson worked in the hedge fund industry, she found that many people did not have the knowledge they needed to manage their finances, invest their money, or prepare for retirement.

  For this reason, she started Financial Finesse, an unbiased financial education company that offers full-service programs to more than 400 organizations across the country. Davidson’s sole mission has been to provide people with enough knowledge to make better financial decisions now and in the future. For the past 10 years, Davidson and her team at Financial Finesse have developed and continue to develop innovative and customizable educational platforms.

  EmployersWeb.com

• Crises harder for her

  Marty Kopplin of Omaha said his wife, Melissa, does the budgeting in their household. But he does most of the worrying.

  “I don’t know if there are gender differences” in how men and women react to economic stressors, Marty Kopplin said.

  “When things are in flux and changing, and there are concerns in the general economy, I probably tend to react to that more. I’m more nervous about it and fear the unknown. She just doesn’t get as nervous.”

  Omaha World-Herald, September 13, 2009

• Women searching for path through financial maze

  Faye Singleton said she didn’t know anything about the stock market until she retired a couple of years ago and the money from her 401(k) had to be transferred to a broker.

  It became even more relevant to her when the economy took a nosedive and she lost about half her savings.

  The Post and Courier, September 11, 2009

• Fearing lockout, NFL union steps up financial education for players

  Move builds on existing programs and adviser referral service.

  To help its players prepare for a potential lockout in 2011, the National Football League Players Association is stepping up financial education for members this year with a new web-based planning tool.

  Investment News, September 4, 2009

• Leaner, more frugal America emerges

  Just as September 2001 shook our faith in national security, September 2008 dealt a body blow to our financial security.

  The country was already mired in a housing bust and sluggish recession when the Great Collapse of ’08 struck: the demise of Lehman Brothers; an $85 billion federal rescue of AIG; nascent steps toward federal bank and auto bailouts as huge chunks of Wall Street wealth evaporated.

  St. Petersburg Times, September 4, 2009

• Wall Street recovery still not reaching Main Street

  National financial education group, Financial Finesse recently conducted a research study indicating an alarming disconnect between market recovery and Americans’ perceptions of their personal economic problems.

  “There’s that recovery on Wall Street, but we weren’t seeing it on Main Street,” said Nancy L. Anderson, research director for Financial Finesse.

  The Blue Banner, September 3, 2009

• Consumers stressed about finances

  Despite recent gains in the stock market and some improvement in the economy, consumers remained very worried about their finances, according to Financial Finesse, which provides financial data to employees of large companies.

  The Business, September 2, 2009

• KGAB Radio Interview with Nancy Anderson

  Nancy Anderson, Certified Financial Planner talks with KGAB radio host about consumer financial stress and how to lessen the stress load with financial education

  KGAB Radio, August 2009

• Help Employees Steer Clear of Retirement Crisis

  “How could we not see this coming?” is what most people want to know when they think about the current mortgage crisis and lingering economic struggles. Looking back, easy credit, overuse of leverage by both consumers and financial institutions, and an overheated real estate market provided all the makings of a crisis.

  CDHC Solutions, August 2009

• Better to Buy or Rent?

  With housing prices down significantly in many parts of the country and interest rates low, it may be an affordable time for twentysomethings to buy that first home.

  In some instances, the price of owning can be comparable to renting in the long run. But a lot of uncertainty still remains about the housing market and the economy — making the decision to buy more complicated.

  The Wall Street Journal Online, August 30, 2009

• Quick financial fix can be a long-term nightmare

  Why borrowing from the future doesn’t really help in the here and now.

  Wall Street is cautiously peeking its head out from under the rubble.

  But economic revival is not yet translating to recovery on Main Street.

  Concerned about rising debt, some employees are withdrawing money from their retirement accounts, and many have stopped contributing.

  The Colorado Springs Business Journal, August 28, 2009

• Examining the Link Between Gender and Finance

  Crystal and Harry Gettings have spent months hunting for an investment property in their native Orlando, where foreclosures abound. Harry, 26, works in his family’s production company and recording studio. Crystal, 24, is a public relations executive. They shun debt, stash their savings and discuss their goals and progress every other Saturday over breakfast.

  “He’s interested in investing and stocks and learning more about the strategies that go along with that, whereas I’m interested in saving money on a day-to-day basis and taking care of the bills,” says Crystal. “Harry’s more of a risk-taker, and I’m a little more reluctant. I want to make sure it’s the right thing.”

  Yahoo! Personal Finance, August 26, 2009

• Consumers Still Financially Stressed Despite Signs Of Economic Recovery

  Though there are signs of recovery on Wall Street, recent research from Financial Finesse indicates that consumers are still financially stressed-and that economic conditions may actually be getting worse for many Americans.

  Looking Fit, August 19, 2009

• American Workers’ Financial Fears Remain High

  “Above all right now, American workers are financially stressed,” says Liz Davidson, founder and CEO of Financial Finesse, a financial education provider. “We’re seeing employees’ financial stress reaching serious levels that we need to be concerned about.”

  A new report by the firm indicates that recent signs of recovery on Wall Street haven’t reduced the financial fears of American workers. An overwhelming 98 percent of employees who used the company’s online financial planning platform in the second quarter of 2009 reported they are stressed about their finances, with 35 percent indicating their stress level is either high or overwhelming.

  SHRM: Society for Human Resource Management, August 17, 2009

• Gender gap alive, but not well, in financial literacy, planning

  Despite advances in gender equality in the work force and in education, the gender gap in financial literacy and planning remains.

  Women lag men in saving, investing and retirement planning.

  Nearly one-third of women, surveyed last year by Transamerica Center for Retirement Studies, did not start saving for retirement until age 40 or later. And while 34 percent said their retirement savings are invested in a relatively equal mix of stocks and bonds, an additional 31 percent were not aware of how their savings are invested.

  Colorado Springs Business Journal, August 14, 2009

• Time to take money seriously, gals

  Let me tell you a story.

  Once upon a time, there was a world-famous photographer. She earned a seven-figure salary from a top magazine in addition to the tens of thousands her photographs and books commanded.

  Now, according to a lawsuit filed in New York last month, she is being sued for $24 million she had borrowed and, evidently, cannot repay. She is in jeopardy of losing her homes and even the rights to her own art, decades of work.

  MSN Money, August 12, 2009

• Recession Continues to Change Financial Landscape

  Signs of recovery on Wall Street suggest this economic hurricane has almost passed Main Street, but recent research from a financial education firm, Financial Finesse based in California, suggests Main Street isn’t exactly buying it.

  The report provides primary data on consumer financial issues by tracking calls into the firm’s financial helpline as well as online use of its financial planning program. The study shows that counter to recent signs of recovery on Wall Street, economic conditions are actually worsening for many Americans.

  BusinessNH Magazine, August 5, 2009

• RGUV-Nancy Anderson Interview

  Financial Finesse’s Think Tank Director Nancy Anderson talks with RGUV radio host about the differences in how men and women handle their finances and answers some questions about the gender gap in financial literacy.

  wgvu.org (MP3 file), August 4, 2009

• Charlotte Talks Radio Interview on the Gender Gap in Financial Literacy

  Liz Davidson, CEO and Founder of Financial Finesse and Greg Ward, Senior CFP visit Charlotte, NC to discuss why women handle their finances differently than men and what to do about the gender gap in financial literacy.

  WFAE-Charlotte Talks Radio Show

• Q&A with Jeff Wendt

  What if telephone access to a HELP desk staffed by certified financial planners were an employee benefit? Fortune 500 companies are already there.

  Today’s Campus (formerly The Greentree Gazette), August 2009

• Becoming Financially Literate: CEO Davidson on fixing your money habits

  Liz Davidson, CEO of Financial Finesse, talks with BW’s David Bogoslaw about how consumers can better balance short-term money needs with long-term financial goals.

  BusinessWeek, July 2009

• Rebuilding Your Nest Egg: Worried Boomers Mull Ways to Replenish Retirement Savings

  Each day 8,000 Americans turn 60 years old, and for 90 percent of them, dreams of retirement have been overshadowed by concerns about the recent economic downturn that depleted their retirement savings.

  According to Financial Finesse, Inc., a financial-education company in Los Angeles, most baby boomers-that age 45 to 65-saw the worth of their assets decline some 20 percent over the last two years.

  Boomers Quarterly, Summer, 2009

• Good ol’ American spending likely to return

  Discreet is the new chic.

  American consumers were gleefully snapping up HDTVs, designer shoes and sport sedans—then the recession hit.

  Economists and consumers for the doom-and-gloom team have called it the next Great Depression. Optimists see the 19-month recession, the longest since World War II, as something the nation can and will recover from.

  The Colorado Springs Business Journal, July 31, 2009

• Shoppers stop shy of the drop

  Discreet is the new chic.

  After the stock market shocks of last year, consumers and investors were desperate to curb spending. Americans started hoarding money, foregoing what were once considered necessities.

  However, as the stock market shows signs of recovery, people are investing again, and even buying things other than bare necessities, such as new cars and sporting goods.

  The Colorado Springs Business Journal, July 30, 2009

• Hard times forcing people to put out financial fires

  No one wants to lose their job, but when Mary Armstrong’s husband was laid off two years ago, her family actually benefited in the long run.

  Fearing the worst, it led the Armstrongs to sell some real estate when the market was still hot, to get into the habit of paying off credit-card balances each month and to more diligently plan for the future.

  GoUpstate.com, July 27, 2009

• Women vs. men: Two different perspectives on money

  A study by Financial Finesse shows stark differences in the ways men and women feel about money. The firm analyzed more than 3,000 responses to an online financial planning questionnaire, revealing trends regarding spending, saving and investing.

  TheFinancialBrand.com, July 23, 2009

• Low-Tech Money Tools

  I have never balanced a checkbook or paid a credit-card bill via snail mail. All of my banking, bill paying and statement viewing is done online.

  Many other twentysomethings are in the same boat, as we’ve come of age financially with a wide range of technological tools at our disposal, from mobile banking on smartphones to budgeting on computers using software or Web sites. While the benefits of technology are considerable, the digital world may make it hard for some to get a tangible, firm grasp on their finances.

  The Wall Street Journal Online, July 19, 2009

• Study: Men are more careful with money

  Men and women handle their personal finances much differently, research shows, with men more likely to keep a close eye on their spending and investments and to pay their bills on time.

  Hey, don’t get mad at me, ladies. You’re the ones who said so! The gender gap emerged in the results of financial planning questionnaires filled out by some 3,500 U.S. workers nationwide for Financial Finesse Inc., an employee benefits company.

  Lucas Oil Presents MavTV’s the Works, July 18, 2009

• Maybe Women Just Are More Willing To Ask for Help

  Ladies, I hate to tell you this, but there is some research out there suggesting that you are not as good with money as men are.

  The Washington Post, July 18, 2009

• Men better at paying bills: study

  Men and women handle their personal finances much differently, research shows, with men more likely to keep a close eye on their spending and investments and to pay their bills on time.

  The gender gap emerged in the results of financial planning questionnaires filled out by some 3,500 U.S. workers nationwide for Financial Finesse Inc., an employee benefits company.

  Reuters, July 17, 2009

• Women More Reactive Regarding Finances

  More than twice as many women as men made calls to a financial helpline during the first quarter, and 43% of the calls were regarding debt with half those regarding strategies to reduce debt, according to Financial Finesse, a financial education company.

  MediaPost News: Marketing Daily, July 15, 2009

• Not so fast! Skimping on that retirement account today is like picking your own pocket tomorrow, advisers say.

  With the economy on the edge and a constant flow of reports about job losses, layoffs, pay cuts and mandatory furlough programs, it’s not surprising that a lot of Americans are more concerned with making ends meet day-to-day than with retirement.

  Arkansas Democrat Gazette, July 15, 2009

• Workers send SOS about money worries

  Angst over their debt load caused more employees to call a financial planning help center in the first quarter than in the comparable period last year.

  Fully 44% of calls concerned their credit situations, according to Financial Finesse Inc., which provides employees of large corporations with the opportunity to call certified financial planners with questions.

  InvestmentNews, July 12, 2009

• It ain’t easy, but you can still retire well

  The expensive approach to retirement is to pile up so much money that you’ll be safe no matter how long you live or what goes wrong with your health or the markets. But for many families, the amount required seems ridiculously out of reach, especially after the twin crashes of Wall Street and Main Street. “There’s a big sense of futility and hopelessness,” says Liz Davidson, founder and chief executive of Financial Finesse, a Manhattan Beach (Calif.) educational firm.

  BusinessWeek via MSNBC, July 7, 2009

• Retirement: The ultimate stress test

  Ever notice when it comes to stress, we feel it more than we think about it? By the time we do think about our stress, its effects can already be influencing our mood, our behavior and our decisions.

  benefitssellingmag.com, July 7, 2009

• KTAR News with Marilyn Hyder on Retirement Planning (part 2 of 2)

  Nancy L. Anderson, CFP, resident financial planner with Financial Finesse talks about retirement planning with KTAR News host Marilyn Hyder.

  KTAR News, July 6, 2009

• KTAR News with Marilyn Hyder on Retirement Planning (part 1 of 2)

  Nancy L. Anderson, CFP, resident financial planner with Financial Finesse talks about retirement planning with KTAR News host Marilyn Hyder.

  KTAR News, July 6, 2009

• Save now to stay in black in golden years

  Financial experts offer these tips to getting workers back on track to retire.

  Use a retirement calculator to determine where you stand.

  “There are many people who may find out they are better off than they thought, and there are people who will find out they have more work to do,” said Nancy L. Anderson of Financial Finesse. Contact your 401(k) provider or a financial planner or find a retirement calculator online.

  BostonHerald.com, July 5, 2009

• Plan for retirement, even during recession

  American workers trying to keep their heads above water in the recession are pushing retirement planning to the back burner – or putting it off completely – which could be setting workers up for another economic crisis down the road, experts warn.

  BostonHerald.com, July 5, 2009

• Companies Step Up Benefits Communication to Combat Unions

  As discussions around the Employee Free Choice Act heat up in Congress, employers are stepping up their communications to employees about the benefits they offer as a way of combating unionization efforts.

  Workforce.com, July 2009

• 7 Ways to Avoid Tapping Retirement Cash

  As the economy slumps and unemployment rises, cash-strapped borrowers are looking for funds anywhere they can find them. However, don’t tap your 401(k) or other retirement plan when looking for cash.

  … Families in need of larger cash sums can tap home equity, says Greg Ward, senior resident financial planner with Financial Finesse, a financial education firm in Manhattan Beach, Calif.

  Bankrate.com, July 2009

• 5 Factors That Determine Your Credit Score

  Since September, more credit-card companies have been cracking down on card holders they consider risky — and even lowering the boom on those good standing — by reducing their credit lines or increasing their interest rates.

  … In some cases a credit line reduction is unavoidable, says Linda Robertson, a certified financial planner with Financial Finesse, a financial education company. In the past year, many retailers like Fortunoff and Linens ‘n Things shut down or went into bankruptcy and canceled their credit cards. When their credit-card holders lost those lines, their scores may have suffered, she says.

  Smart Money, June 30, 2009

• Employees Are Stressed Over Debt

  Calls for help with debt are growing. Consumers are considering drastic measures to deal with their debt, including bankruptcy, foreclosure, dramatically downsizing their lifestyles, or taking second jobs to make ends meet. That’s according to a recent report by Financial Finesse, a provider of unbiased financial education programs to corporations and municipalities.

  creditbloggers, June 22, 2009

• Women hit harder by recession; mental health suffers

  Women are having a tougher time with the financial crisis and are more likely to struggle to stay on top of their finances, according to a new report. Twice as many women (68%) as men (32%) sought help with their finances between January 1 and April 30, says Financial Finesse, a financial education company. Financial Finesse reviewed calls to its financial helpline service that is available to over 500,000 employees at more than 300 organizations, as well as usage of its online learning center.

  Wallet Pop, June 15, 2009

• Emerging Risk: Employee Debt

  Does your workforce’s financial stress qualify as an emerging risk?

  A company that operates a financial help line for corporate clients has published a report with some troubling data and an ominous warning: “… we are entering a ‘perfect storm’ for retirement planning which will have a huge impact on our society. The credit crisis was the first financial crisis to hit us. The retirement crisis will be next.”

  Big Fat Finance Blog, June 8, 2009

• Women, men and money

  When it comes to managing money, women worry a lot more than men do—and women are more likely to ask for help with their money problems.

  That’s the gender gap described in a recent report by Financial Finesse, a firm that operates a financial planning helpline as an employee benefit for large companies.

  CNNMoney.com, June 5, 2009

  Watch a CNN Report on Research on the Gender Gap in Financial Literacy

• More Workers Are Ignoring Retirement Planning

  Employees are spending so much time worrying about cutting their debt and expenses that they are neglecting retirement planning, according to a newly released study by Financial Finesse’s Financial Helpline Service and Financial Learning Center.

  Investment Advisor, June 1, 2009

• Women More Reactive During Financial Crisis

  A new report from Financial Finesse has found that women are having a much tougher time navigating the financial crisis than men.

  From January 1 through April 30, Financial Finesse’s Financial Helpline Services-which is staffed by salaried CFPs-received more than twice as many calls from women (68%) than from men (32%). The study tracking calls to the Helpline found that women were more “reactive than proactive about their finances than men,” the study states.

  Investment Advisor website, May 26, 2009

• Keeping clients on track for retirement

  For millions of Americans and their advisers, the shrinking value of retirement accounts is the $4 trillion elephant in the room.

  InvestmentNews, May 4, 2009

• Don’t Let Recession Slow Your Savings

  Right now you should be cranking up your retirement savings contributions, not scaling back.

  You may have just lost your job, your company no longer matches your 401(k) or you’re just plain broke. In our stressed economy, the last thing many of you are thinking about is saving for retirement.

  Financial Finesse, a financial education service based in Manhattan Beach, Calif., whose clients include General Mills and Caterpillar Corp., track how their client’s employees use their services. They’ve discovered while most of their clients are concerned with debt (debt questions represent almost half of all calls) 86% of them don’t know if they’re on track to retire.

  Forbes.com (online version), May 4, 2009

• Pay credit card bill early and save

  Credit cardholders who carry a balance from month to month do not have a grace period; the credit card company charges interest every day of the month until the bill is paid. The cardholder loses a little money every time he or she makes a monthly payment around the same time as the statement due date.

  BankRate.com, April 21, 2009

• 3 Tips for Working With Your Financial Advisers

  With the sad state of financial affairs many investors find themselves in these days, some
  people are rethinking the way they make investment decisions.

  Nu Wire Investor, March 12, 2009

• Retire the Retirement Handbook: HR’s Need to Adapt in a New Economy

  Human Resources never had a chance in this economy. With the market’s quick and dramatic
  crumble, many companies found they weren’t prepared to handle the unnerving issues that would be raised to
  their HR departments.

  Financial Finesse, March 9, 2009

• Laid Off? No New Job? How Bad Can It Get?

  Yes, times are tough. The big banks are on life support. Home prices are in the pits. The stock market’s tanked. Unemployment’s way, way up.

  And … uh-oh. How are you doing? What about your home? Your investments? Your job?

  How safe is it? What’s the worst that can happen to you?

  Wall Street Journal, February 22, 2009