Ken & Daria Dolan’s Smart Money Moves
Weekender

image

And the Winner Is…

OK, so there's not really a winner here, but this is a special edition of Smart Money Moves Weekender!

The big news this week was, of course, the Fed’s surprise “emergency” interest rate cut (read our special alert on what it means to you.) But we know the economy is just one of many money concerns for you and your fellow Dolans.com members, and our mission is to give you answers to your most pressing questions.

So, at Dolans.com, we've been asking you, “What are your biggest current money worries?” – and the responses poured in! Addressing them is so important to us that we are devoting this entire letter to your top concerns and giving you our advice for tackling them head on. Let's get started!


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

Here's Where It All Starts

We believe one of the biggest keys to money success is organization – and that includes getting all of your financial papers under control and “find-able.” We know this doesn’t sound like a lot of fun but, trust us, it doesn’t have to be as painful as it sounds! Some documents are important to file away, but many of them can be thrown out. Here's our guide to simplify the process for you. Check out our steps to clear out the clutter and lay the foundation for great things to come!

Recommended Videos and Audio Alerts:

    
Fed Survey

We never want to stop hearing from you, so, in case you missed our earlier survey, here’s your chance to tell us which personal financial topics you'd like help with:

Check Box
 Getting out of debt
Check Box
 Investing wisely
Check Box
 Planning and saving for retirement
Check Box
 Estate planning
Check Box
 Paying for college
Check Box
 Taxes
Check Box
 Insurance
Check Box
 Other
Most Popular
  1. Fed Slashes Rates: Your Action Plan
  2. Pay Off Credit Cards in One Year
  3. Fight Back Against Bank Fees
  4. Investing in a Volatile Market
  5. Investor Alert
Just for fun
Just For Fun

Hi everyone, Ken here. As Daria mentioned in the last Smart Money Moves, my birthday was this week, and I wanted to thank everyone who sent me well wishes!

Daria’s mom took all of us (me, Daria, our daughter Meredith and her husband) out to a wonderful dinner. Daria gave me a couple of my favorite type of golf shirts, and my daughter and son-in-law gave me a beautiful golf shirt embroidered with a “Red Sox – World Champions 2007” logo, which I loved!

Check out the Red Sox shirt in my video on birthdays and money coming soon to Dolans.com.


image Your #1 Concern
Most Americans are drowning in debt, so it’s no big surprise that debt management and debt reduction were the biggest concerns for many of you. The good news is you can get your finances under control in just a few steps. Our 2-part Debt Clinic contains simple but effective strategies to solve even your biggest credit problems. If you're to the point of considering bankruptcy, our guide tells you what you need to know about making this important decision.




image Investing Wisely
We knew this one would be high on the list, too. The market may be crazy right now, but there are still tried and true investing strategies that pay off for you in the long run. It all starts with picking solid stocks. We show you exactly what to look for in How to Choose a Successful Stock. With the market and economy in turmoil so early in the new year, be sure to check out our Road Map to a Profitable Year.




Picture Retirement Planning
We were thrilled to see so many of you are thinking about your retirement – especially since an estimated 75 million working Americans have not saved enough to comfortably retire! To get your savings on track, our Plan for a Rich Retirement will help you determine how much you need to save in six easy steps. And, if you dream of truly retiring in style, our handy calculator will tell you when your nest egg will hit seven figures. You may be surprised how quickly you can retire a millionaire!




image Estate Planning
This is another one we were glad to see on your list because too many people avoid even simple estate planning. Here’s the truth: Early estate planning is the only way to make sure loved ones are protected after you’re gone. The first step? Everyone should have a will. Check out our easy strategies for drafting one here. If you're concerned about those high estate taxes (and who isn't?), here are some of our suggestions to avoid taking a big hit from the IRS.