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What really pays for Medicare?Many Americans believe that Medicare is financed like Social Security – mostly through payroll taxes – but that's not the case. Payroll taxes only cover a third of Medicare's cost, with other revenues and borrowing accounting for the rest.
'House Hunters' TV show is fake. Does it matter?'House Hunters,' the popular HGTV program about the search for a new home, is mostly staged, featuring buyers who have already decided on houses. Is 'House Hunters' giving aspiring homeowners unrealistic expectations by overly simplifying what is usually long, messy buying process?
Tech stock dividends: It's a thing, nowIt used to be that investors were wary of tech stocks that initiated dividends, wondering why the capital wasn't being used for capital growth. Now, this mentality is changing, with Microsoft yielding 2.7 percent and Intel paying over 3 percent.
Hybrid Mad Men: New ad campaign may spark interest in Chevy VoltAfter struggling for two years to create an effective ad campaign for the plug-in sedan, GM seems to have taken a leaf out of the Apple school of advertising, launching ads which focus on real-life owners, or, "the happiest car owners on the planet."
Stocks surge on expectations of central bank helpGreece's upcoming elections had investors around the world on edge today, but a report that major central banks were readying to pump money into the troubled country gave the Dow Jones average a late surge, closing up 155 points.
Extra rooms lying empty? Close them off and save moneyClosing off a room is pretty simple. If you have forced air heating and cooling, just close the vent in that room and keep the door closed. You can also stuff a towel underneath the door to stop the air flow even more, saving money on your energy bill.
Looking for two cents? This fund manager finds bonds concerningThe Reformed Broker shares one of his favorite fund managers with The Monitor. Dennis Stattman is not a household name, but Brown thinks he is one of the greatest asset allocators in the history of the industry.
Allen Stanford gets 110 years in prison for $7B Ponzi schemeAllen Stanford was sentenced Thursday to 110 years in prison for bilking investors out of more than $7 billion over 20 years in one of the largest Ponzi schemes in US history. A Texas tycoon and former billionaire, Allen Stanford used to be one of the richest men in the country.
Another day, another jobless reportToday’s jobless claims report showed an increase to initial unemployment claims and a decrease to continued unemployment claims. There are also 2.69 million additional people receiving "extended" federal unemployment through a special program.
JetBlue fliers sue over pilot meltdownJetBlue fliers sue over a New York to Las Vegas flight where the pilot had to be physically restrained, claiming they feared for their lives. Ten JetBlue fliers sued the airline, citing 'gross negligence' in letting Capt. Clayton Osborn fly.
Cybergeddon: Did US help develop dangerous new computer virus?Bonner takes on "zombies" in the social security system, health care and now the Department of Defense. A new computer virus, allegedly developed by the US and Israel, has him worried about what might happen if it falls into the wrong hands.
Nokia planning to cut 10,000 jobs, close plantsNokia Corp. will lay off 10,000 workers globally and shutter some of its facilities, the company said Thursday. The world's top cellphone maker last year, Nokia has struggled with competition from Apple and Google.
Obamacare: a compromise on the individual mandateMost experts think that the Supreme Court will strike down the individual mandate portion of Obamacare, leaving the rest of the law intact. But if that happens, insurance companies will claim they can't insure pre-existing conditions. Is there a compromise?
Father’s Day gifts: 5 things to do with Dad for under $150 Father's Day gifts are around the corner, and we're spending the most Father's Day bucks this year on experiences. This suggests we want to spend time with Dad, more than anything. With that in mind, here are 5 suggestions for Father's Day outings that won't break the bank.
No credit history? You can still get a credit score, Experian says.Experian announces new credit score system for those with little or no credit history. 'Extended View' credit score looks at rental data and public records to establish a credit score.
Fund managers show trend toward the risk-averseThe June Survey of Fund Managers has been released by Bank of America Merrill Lynch, and it shows some classic late-stage downtrend behavior, as well as a new emphasis toward strongly risk-averse behavior.
US stocks end lower as Europe teetersThe Dow average shed 77 points to end at 12,496 after another day of volatile trading around the globe. The Dow had been down as much as 120 points and up as much as 24 points. This follows triple-digit gains on Tuesday and losses on Monday.
Q: How is college like owner-occupied housing?In light of the rising costs of college tuition around the country, coupled with the staggering amount of debt students have accumulated, studies are being done to examine a possible causal connection between expanding federal aid programs and tuition hikes.
Bears do it! Hibernation mode convenient, efficientDon't let your laziness get the better of you. For every hour your computer stays on, doing nothing, you pay. Instead, switch your computer to hibernation mode when not in use. Your work will be saved, and your energy bill trimmed.
Say what? Reports claim Saab not dead, sale agreement reachedFans of the Swedish car company, which filed for bankruptcy protection last fall after being crippled by production stoppages, withheld salary payments and mounting debt, may have reason to rejoice. News reports now claim the company has been sold.
