Ken & Daria Dolan’s Smart Money Moves
Weekender

image

Citigroup’s “Slasher” Fest

To hear the news reports this week, you’d think we were watching a horror film! Actually, it is a horror movie, of sorts. We heard terms like “slashed” and “cut” – and they were referring to the dividend paid by Citigroup. Since Citi reduced its dividend by a painful 41%, those words were certainly appropriate.

We told you to expect horrible news from financial companies… but it also raises a question. Those of you who know us know that we believe in a steady diet of dividends when investing in stocks – has that now changed? We’ll tell you what you should know about these payouts and give you some techniques to get the most out of them.

Ken and Daria
Seen and Heard on Dolans.com
Dolans Video

Pros and Cons of a 401(k) Loan

We know the current credit crisis has a lot of people searching for money from new sources. One option is to borrow from your 401(k). You get some much-needed cash and then you pay yourself back. What’s not to like? Plenty! This is a drastic action and you need to be extremely careful. We put together a video so you’ll know exactly what’s involved and be able to carefully weigh your options. Watch it here and let us help you make the best decision for your money.

Recommended Videos and Audio Alerts:

    
Fed Survey

Do you use your bank’s ATM to make deposits? Or, do you ever sign your checks at home and then go to the bank to deposit them? I know we do. If you do, too, there are three important words you should know … For Deposit Only.

If a check is lost or stolen after you’ve signed it, there’s a chance someone else can cash or deposit it. When you sign a check you intend to deposit, write “For Deposit Only” and your bank account number above your signature. This way, even if your check ends up in the wrong hands, it can only be deposited in your account. It can’t be cashed and it can’t be deposited in anyone else’s account.

Check out the Banking section of Dolans.com for more tips on how to bank smarter, including our latest video on the safety of Internet-only banks.
Most Popular
  1. Our Predictions for 2008
  2. Our Simple Credit Card Cancellation Letter
  3. Where is Your Money Going?
  4. Life Insurance Sales Tactics
  5. Jump-Start Your Portfolio
Just for fun
Just For Fun

Are You a Cheesehead Investor?

I (Ken here) am a die-hard New England Patriots fan and can’t wait to watch them fight for a Super Bowl berth this weekend. In another cold-weather city, Green Bay Packer fans will be hoping for the same for their team – with some more invested in the game than others. You see, while most sports teams are privately owned, the publicly owned Packers have more than 112,000 stockholders. Talk about a team belonging to the fans!

While I don't recommend you rush out to buy Packers’ stock (it does not pay dividends, never appreciates in value and isn't traded on the stock exchanges), we can still learn something from these “cheesehead” investors: Have fun and invest in what you understand!


image Energy Fuels High Inflation:
4 Steps to Take Now
We all knew many things were costing us more, but now we have proof. Inflation increased 6.3% in 2007, the largest in 26 years! We probably don't need to tell you that rising energy costs was one of the main reasons. Although oil prices dropped this week, don’t let that keep you from making your home as energy efficient as possible. Taking these four simple steps now can help you save for years to come. Click here to see how simple it is to save BIG.




image 10 Tax Changes You Need
to Know About
With the new year come new changes to the tax code -- as if our taxes weren't complicated enough already, right? (We won't get started on that.) Luckily, some of these changes could actually save you money!
Here are the 10 most important tax changes you should be aware of.




Picture Why We’re NOT Celebrating Gold’s Record High
Gold had a record-setting week, passing $900 for the first time in history. We actually predicted this would happen, but that doesn't mean we’re happy about it. In fact, just the opposite. We’ll tell you why and give you 3 smart money moves to make now as the economy continues its roller-coaster ride.




image 4 Places to Find Money for College
If you’re considering a loan to help pay for college, the subprime crisis may put a serious crimp in your plans. Unfortunately, the mortgage mess is now seeping into educational financial aid and causing lenders to require stricter standards. We have you covered with our top four alternative sources to tackle those tuition bills.




image Credit Alert for Women
Listen up, ladies! It is very important for us (Daria here) to have a credit history of our own, separate from husband's or significant other's, and starting one isn’t nearly as hard as you may think. Click here to learn how to take action with our crucial tip.