Posted by Richard on May 4, 2017
Many of us first signed up for Amazon Prime years ago to take advantage of free two-day shipping, and stayed with it as the giant online retailer edged the annual fee toward the triple-digit mark. But what are you really getting with your $99-a-year Amazon Prime membership? A lot more than you’re probably using. […]
Read More →Posted by Richard on
Home Depot is probably the first retailer to come to mind when you’re thinking “ubiquitous big-box hardware store.” The rise of these orange-hued home-improvement centers was a revelation to those who grew up with small, neighborhood hardware stores in the 20th century and who became adult homeowners and DIYers in the 21st. Imagine. Every tool […]
Read More →Posted by Richard on April 11, 2017
Trader Joe’s is well-known to its fans for low prices on unique food items, ranging from cookie butter to turkey corn dogs. The chain is also known for its quirky culture. Employees, easy to spot in their Hawaiian shirts, go out of their way to be helpful, and plastic lobsters are used to decorate stores. […]
Read More →Posted by Richard on
Ever wonder why some tax returns are eyeballed by the Internal Revenue Service while most are ignored? Short on personnel and funding, the IRS audited only 0.70% of all individual tax returns in 2016. So the odds are pretty low that your return will be singled out for review. And, of course, the only reason […]
Read More →Posted by Richard on
As a home seller, you don’t want to let the small stuff sabotage your sale. These eight problems are among the biggest buyer turn-offs, and most of them are easy to fix without spending a ton of money. Take a look. Haunted-House Landscapping If your yard looks like the Addams family owns it, you […]
Read More →Posted by Richard on March 8, 2017
Want to improve your credit score? Take a page from the best. People with excellent scores know that following a few basic rules is the key to success. Adopting their habits could boost your score into the stratosphere, opening the door to the best interest rates and terms on loans. And capturing the lowest loan […]
Read More →Posted by Richard on
Data is as of February 13, 2017, unless otherwise indicated. Stocks are listed alphabetically. Analysts’ estimates and ratings are from Zacks Investment Research and Thomson Reuters. Berkshire’s stake in each company is based on the latest 13-F filing with the SEC and represents the number of shares owned as of December 31, 2016. There are […]
Read More →Posted by Richard on
Data is as of February 16, 2017, unless otherwise indicated. Companies are listed in order of market cap—share price times total shares outstanding—starting with the highest. Analysts’ ratings provided by Zacks Investment Research. The list of 50 Dividend Aristocrats is maintained by S&P Dow Jones Indices. The 30 companies that make up the Dow Jones […]
Read More →Posted by Richard on February 14, 2017
High-quality dividend stocks never go out of style for long-term investors, and there is no shortage of stocks with high yields and bright prospects for 2017, from telecommunications companies embracing the digital future to pharmaceutical companies riding the success of new drugs. That’s not to say that these stocks won’t fall if the market slumps […]
Read More →Posted by Richard on
Although President-elect Donald Trump has pledged to cut federal taxes, state taxes are rising across the U.S. as financially strapped states search for funds to repair deteriorating infrastructure and close widening budget shortfalls. In their search for revenue, states have targeted everything from e-cigarettes to lottery winnings. Even Alaska, long a low-tax haven and one […]
Read More →