A survey by New York-based mutual-fund company Scudder, Stevens & Clark confirms that baby-boomers are pessimistic about their ability to achieve a secure retirement. And most agree they don’t know what they’re doing when it comes to saving and investing money.

The mutual-fund company concludes that their industry has done a thorough job of scaring Americans to death…and instead of taking action…a large portion of this generation is just putting up their hands and saying they can’t do (more…)

Cicero was one of the most versatile minds of Roman culture. He was an impressive orator and successful lawyer and felt his political career his most important achievement. Today he is appreciated primarily for his humanism and philosophical and political writings.

I found these words (habits to avoid) from Cicero—over 2000 Years ago most applicable even now, twenty centuries (more…)

If you’ve had the misfortune of going to the hospital regularly in the last several years you have experienced the aggrevation of filing out basic health information forms, repeatedly, every time you checked in. And I’m sure you thought, “Why isn’t this information computerized and available online?” Well, those days will be here, maybe sooner than we think. Because Google is on the move…

Google today unveiled a pilot program that enables people to store and share information about their medical conditions online.

The initiative, available to up to (more…)

The top issue in the 2008 election, based on a poll of women gathered last week at the “How She Will Decide” forum hosted by AARP and iVillage…is the economy.

In addition to the economy, other top issues identified by the approximately 200 audience members included the (more…)

In the summer Martha’s Vineyard population is five times what it is in the winter. And the residents take on a different lifestyle in the off-season too.

Everyone on the island embraces a looser, island-grown style of bartering. To (more…)

Dan Danner, executive vice president of the National Federation of Independent Business, the nation’s leading small business advocacy organization, issued the following statement in reaction to the economic stimulus package deal reached today:

“Over the past several weeks, NFIB has worked with Members of Congress and the White House to ensure that small businesses would be a primary focus as Congress moves forward with an economic stimulus plan. We are very pleased that the deal announced (more…)

As a collector when you find you have duplications within your collection, use them to your advantage–as a trading vehicle.They are a form of currency. Barter them with other collectors to get other desired items you don’t have. Check with your local trade exchange, too. Collectors of all sorts are members and will often have displays at exchange functions. Spending trade dollars for desired items is another way to expand your collection.

You not only add value to (more…)

Did you give someone a gift card over the holidays, instead of just handling them cash? You’re certainly not alone. The use of gift cards is more complex than we think. Gift givers are looking to transmit an emotional value that is more than just the economic value of cash.

Research from the Tower Group, as noted in a recent issue of the Sunday New York Times magazine, illuminates the huge gift card economy where consumers purchased $97 billion worth of gift cards in 2007. And nearly (more…)

Contractors, subcontractors and workers must pay taxes on income received for all work which includes work done in exchange for goods & services in a barter exchange, even if a Form 1099 or W-2 is (more…)

It’s no secret, networking and face-to-face socializing is crucial to our success in life, i.e. it’s not what you know, but who you know. So having the right contacts can make all the difference when it comes to not only finding a better job, but also in finding the funding for a new business venture, or getting a JV partner or even to accomplish the more mundane chores in life.

So, it makes sense to get comfortable in your networking endeavors. You should make a point to (more…)