• The Untold Impact of the Fed Cut
• Is Online Banking Right for You?
• Are You Saving Enough
for Retirement?
• A New Scam to Worry About

If you're moving out of state, you typically take great care in changing bank accounts, medical records, licenses, mailing addresses and all kinds of items from your daily life.

But while all this is being done, one thing seems to go unchanged for all too many people – their cell phone.

Most of us are taxed at twice the rate on our cell phones, more than about every other good or service. If you've lived in a state with a high cell phone tax and move to a state with a cheaper tax, your cell phone should change too.

Taxes on cell phones are highest in Nebraska, Washington state, New York, Florida and Texas. Some rates run as high as 18%, which is crazy.

So when you move, move your cell phone too. You might well save $$$ on your taxes!

We hope you're visiting us often at Dolans.com! We're constantly adding new information to help you with all of your money matters.

If you're wondering what your fellow Dolans.com members are reading, check out the box at the bottom of our pages telling you which features are Most Popular, Most Emailed and Most Searched.

One of the most popular features last week was Daria's special video called What to Do When Disaster Strikes. It's an important one, so we want to be sure you know about it.

The recent fires in California were a tragic reminder for all of us that sometimes we need to pack up on short notice and get out of harm's way. The time to figure out how you're going to do that is now, not when you need to move fast.

If you missed the video, click here for some crucial tips so you'll be prepared when disaster strikes.

When lowering your health care costs, don't forget about vitamins and over-the-counter medicines.

You can save on both through Drugstore.com.

For discounts on vitamins, try WorldHealthDepot.com.

Invest Wisely
The Untold Impact of the Fed Cut

Allow us to introduce you to the newest sport in the world of finance: Fed watching. Every time the Federal Reserve announces a decision about interest rates, the market goes nuts!

Actually, this has been going on for several years, but it's much more front and center now that the Fed is cutting rates again. Remember in September when they cut interest rates by one-half percent? The Dow shot up 335 points. Last week, we saw another quarter of a point reduction and the market was up 132 points.

As you can see, most people's immediate reaction is that lower interest rates are good. Well, it depends.

The untold impact is that lower interest rates are a mixed blessing. You don't hear that in the media.

But…you'll hear it from us! That's our job here in Smart Money Moves and at Dolans.com.

The Fed's interest rate decisions affect much more than the stock market. They also directly affect our wallets and pocketbooks. Let us explain it to you in plain English. Click here for the full scoop, and you'll also discover 4 Smart Money Moves to make now with lower interest rates.

PlaneBanking
Is Online Banking Right for You?

I (Ken here) don't mind admitting it: Most of the time, I'm an old-fashioned kind of guy. I actually wear my Boston Red Sox hat with the bill facing outward instead of behind my head. Imagine that. THAT’S old-fashioned…not hip!

On the other hand, I absolutely love technology. Just try taking my BlackBerry away from me and see if you don't have a fight on your hands because I would be lost without the Internet and e-mail.

You might find it strange, then, that I've been a little wary of doing our banking online. It's true. I'm used to the old-fashioned pen and paper form of banking.

My son-in-law got me thinking, though. He does his banking ONLY online and he's a pretty smart guy. I knew that I had to look into this growing trend.

That's exactly what I did, and I admit I like a lot of what I discovered -- with a few lingering concerns. I've put together a new video to tell you exactly what I found. I also have some tips to help you take advantage of the convenience online banking can offer without sacrificing security. (You know us, we're fanatical when it comes to protecting your money and your identity!)

Click here to watch the video now.

Retirement CenterRetirement Center
Are You Saving Enough
for Retirement?

We'll never forget one caller we had to our radio show. He was from Wisconsin, and he joked that he had enough money for retirement as long as he didn't eat from Wednesday till Saturday each week!

Funny, until you realize the sad truth behind that statement.

No matter how old you are, you need to think about this most basic of questions: Are you saving enough for retirement?

You're first question to us is probably, "Hey Dolans! How the heck am I supposed to figure that out?"

Actually, it's not nearly as difficult as you might think, and it really is something you need to know. You have to have a destination in mind (a secure retirement), and we’re here to help you figure out how to get there.

We've put together a worksheet just for you. Don't worry. Our worksheet is 10 times simpler than others we’ve seen, and you'll get your bottom line number in just six easy steps.

Aren't you pretty curious what you're going to find? Of course you are! So let's get started. Click here to go right to our special worksheet.

PlaneDon't Mess with My Money
A New Scam to Worry About
 

Tragedy brings out the best in people, and the worst. Last week we talked about all of the heroes that helped fight the California fires and the volunteers that assisted those who had to evacuate or lost their homes.

Now, we get word of a new scam. We probably shouldn't be surprised, but it still makes us sick.

There's an e-mail going around that looks like it's from the IRS asking for donations to help the wildfire victims. Instead, it's a trick to try to get you to reveal your personal and financial information. It's a technique called "phishing."

Dolan Smart Money Move: Never click on a link in an email and assume you're going to a secure website. If you want to conduct any financial transactions online, make sure you go to the web site yourself by typing in the actual address in your browser. These scammers build sites that look identical to the legitimate ones, so the only way to be sure you're at the right site is to go there yourself…even if you have to call the company to verify their website’s address before you type it in.

If you'd like to learn more about identity theft, we recommend you start with Daria's video: A Great New Way to Fight ID Theft. And if you think you may be a victim, click here to read our advice on what you should do right away.

Sincerely,

Dolans
Ken & Daria Dolan

P.S. Watch for something new from us in just a few days! We've got a great new way to help keep you up to date with all the goings-on at Dolans.com, so keep an eye on your inbox. Also, beginning next week, we'll send your Smart Money Moves to you on Tuesdays. As always, each issue will be chock full of our advice and tips for you on all things money. Stay tuned for more details in the coming days!

DolansAbout The Dolans

For more than 20 years, Ken and Daria Dolan have been the trusted source for real money solutions for people just like you.

Ken and Daria give you the Straight Talk you need to hear to live money-smart, debt-free and cash-rich.

Here is a small sampling of where you may have seen them on TV:

  • Hosts of Dolans Unscripted, a weekly national television show on CNN that aired
    to nearly 85 million homes across America
  • Money contributors on CBS This Morning
  • Money contributors on CBS News Saturday Morning
  • Hosts of their own daily television show on CNBC for four years
  • Guests on The Today Show, NBC Nightly News, LIVE with Regis and Kelly,
    Wall Street Week and many more.

They continue to host their nationally syndicated radio program, The Dolans, which is carried on nearly 100 stations around the country every Saturday.

It's no wonder Ken and Daria have been awarded the only four-star rating for financial broadcasting excellence by Newsweek magazine and named to the Vanity Fair magazine Radio Hall of Fame.

Now, you can have unprecedented access to this wisdom and the Dolans through their new website, Dolans.com. They tell it like it is, and their message is clear: You have to take control of your money, and you don't have to be afraid. You can do it, and Ken and Daria are here to help.

At Dolans.com you’ll be able to explore hundreds of free articles and reports—whenever you want, 24/7. Anytime you have a question about money…anytime you have a concern…anytime you have a problem, just visit Dolans.com, and we’ll help you sort it all out.
 
Visit Dolans.Com today!

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