Live Richly
Beware Holiday Charity Scams

This is the time of year that many of us open our wallets to those less fortunate. If you’re like us,  you often find yourself “too busy” to do the charity work that is always on our list of New Year’s resolutions.

Well, this year we stepped up to the plate. We cleared our schedule and agreed to be celebrity hosts for Adopt-a-Family of Palm Beach County’s annual auction last week.

We auctioned off some wonderful items to benefit the needy families in Palm Beach County (not everyone here drives a Rolls-Royce!) and even got wrapped up in the excitement and donated a new computer for a family in need. The parents will use it to qualify online for their high school GEDs, and their kids to get better grades in school.

Every year, we criss-cross America for speaking engagements, public appearances, etc. trying to help people make smarter, more confident decisions with their money. But no appearance we’ll make could ever match the wonderful feeling we had when some of the kids whom we helped at the auction came to thank us and wish us a Merry Christmas! Thanks to those amazing kids, it’s a very special Christmas for the Dolans, indeed!

We have a number of friends who work as volunteers for Adopt-a-Family, so we felt very comfortable donating to their organization.  It’s important that you do your homework, too, before sending money to any organization…at the holidays or any time of the year. Be generous, but be smart!

To help ensure that your hard-earned dollars go to a worthy organization, click here to watch our tips on charitable giving.

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Invest Wisely
How to Choose
a Successful Stock

The stock market roller coaster is alive and well and as unpredictable as ever…with 100-point daily swings not unusual!

Finding good stocks in which to invest while the market turmoil rages on is not an easy task, but it’s not impossible. It is still possible to make a long-term profit.

One of our main goals at Dolans.com is to help you make smart decisions with your money, especially when the economy is on shaky ground – and choosing solid stocks is a big part of that. You want to put your money in quality companies that will continue to grow over time so that your money does the same. So, how do you find these companies?

Don’t worry, we’re going to give you an inside edge and let you in on the same criteria the Wall Street pros use for selecting a successful stock.

Let’s start with my (Ken here) Boston College classmate’s mantra.

Our friend Peter Lynch, one of America’s most successful portfolio managers, said, when considering a stock to purchase, you should, “Buy stock in a company that can be run by an idiot, because sooner or later an idiot will run it!” 

With Peter’s caution in mind, want to learn more?

Click here to find out what you should look for in a stock and how to evaluate the company’s value to your portfolio.

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Answers to Your Top 5
Long-Term Care Questions

The holidays are an occasion for us to get together with family and appreciate the special people in our lives. This year we are especially thankful for the health of our loved ones. For many of us, there comes a time when we or someone we love isn’t in good health and needs ongoing, long-term care.

Some time ago, this very situation hit our family when Daria’s dad, the patriarch of our family, died after a bout with Alzheimer’s. We all now agree that we wish that we had been more prepared for the incredible expense of health care for this catastrophic disease.

It’s no wonder that one of the questions we’re asked most is whether or not we recommend long-term care insurance.

Today, let’s go beyond that question and answer the top five long-term questions we get most often. You’ll learn how to choose the right policy for your situation, key tips for getting the most from your coverage without over-spending, and much more.

Click here now to read our answers to the most common and most important questions.

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Dear Santa…
 

So, what exactly do the visions of sugarplums that dance in your head look like this year?  For an awful lot of people, iPods, flat-screen TVs and all sorts of electronic gadgets take center stage when it comes to what’s on their holiday wish list.

Now it’s your turn to weigh in. What special goody are you hoping to unwrap this year?  Just click here to shoot us an email with your #1 wish. (I’m hoping--this is Ken--for a few killer gift ideas from you, so make them good!)

I don’t know what will be under the tree, but I am very much looking forward to a family tradition. I’m a wonderful eater (Daria is a spectacular chef), but not much of a cook….EXCEPT on one day a year: Christmas morning.

For more than 30 years, I have cooked a once-a-year holiday breakfast for my family that includes the works – scrambled eggs, sausage, English muffins, coffee and fresh juice.

Although I have burned a sausage or two and served a few “crispy” English muffins over the years, nobody complains (or at least they haven’t admitted it to me!) because the food isn’t really the point.

That’s my little Christmas gift that kicks off our special day together.

We’ll be back in touch in a few days. In the meantime, visit Dolans.com throughout the week for more money-making and money-saving tips, our latest video and our take on the money news that affects you!

Sincerely,

Ken & Daria Dolan

P.S. The future of Social Security is a hot-button issue, both in Washington and on Dolans.com! We asked you and your fellow members to weigh in on whether or not Social Security should be privatized. It’s not too late to make your vote count—but voting closes in 24 hours, so click here to vote now.

This issue is a hot topic in the Dolan household for sure! If you missed it, you can see Daria and me duke it out over this very same subject in our He Said She Said debate video. Watch our arguments and tell us who you think is right!