Swiss bank accounts offered people, including U.S. tax cheats, a safe place to hide money. But, for the first time in history, the largest bank in Switzerland has released formerly sacrosanct data on its U.S. customers because of tips provided by whistleblower Bradley Birkenfeld, who tells 60 Minutes’ Steve Kroft some of the secrets Swiss bankers never tell.
Watch it this Sunday, Aug. 15, 7 p.m. ET/PT.
The markets reacted to the recent FOMC statement by Ben Bernanke by dropping 2.5-3% across the board, both nationally and internationally.
Source: Cartoons by Harley Schwadron
The cost of a child’s education is becoming astronomical, and many wise parents have already started saving into a 529-plan in order to cover the costs of a college education. But the efforts required to save enough money can sometimes cause unintended consequences.
So, how many of you have also contributed to a 530 therapy savings plan?
Have you forgotten about a checking or savings account, an old uncashed check, stock, safe deposit box, utility refund, etc.? Well, here’s good news.
Arizona is considered a “custodial state” and holds such property on behalf of the owners of lost or abandoned property. Unclaimed property is reported to Arizona when the owner’s last known address is located in the state. The Arizona Department of Revenue is responsible for finding owners of unclaimed intangible personal property turned over to the state.
The Arizona Department of Revenue handles the state’s unclaimed property, which includes such items as money, uncashed checks, drafts, state warrants, uncashed payroll checks, interest dividends or income, savings and checking accounts, safe deposit box contents, credit balances, customer overpayments, unidentified remittances, and securities.
It doesn’t take but a few minutes to see if you have any unclaimed property. What are you waiting for? Visit Arizona’s Unclaimed Property website now.
If you do not have health insurance and are in need of low-cost healthcare, you can join the Nurse Practitioner (NP) Care program. Everyone is eligible.
ASU College of Nursing and Health Innovation offers the NP Care program on the Downtown Phoenix campus and other locations for a nominal fee.
As a member of the program you would pay a fixed fee of $45.00 per office visit for services such as: school, work, or sport physicals, illness care, travel health, diabetes and blood pressure management, and counseling (Lab tests have a different discounted rates).
Health care is provided by their qualified staff of nurse practitioners, counselors and other health care professionals. The NP Care program is a discount health fee program, it is not health insurance.
Visit their website for locations, contacts, and for further information.
I’m Being Water
It’s been a roller coaster stock market this past few months. Just when you think it’s going to zig, it zags, and vice-versa.
It takes a lot of intestinal fortitude to be a long-term investor and not to react to these short-term market movements, often times instigated by those seeking to capitalize on our fears and uncertainty. So, sometimes I turn to my friends from the past for a little support and help in recognizing the big picture, or to provide some short-term guidance.
This week I asked a wise old Chinese friend from the 70s to kick this question around – “What would be the best way to approach the uncertainty with our economy, and the recent volatility in the stock market?”
After some thought, this is what he told me -
My friend always tended to be a little dramatic, so I’m not sure what to make of his advice. However, what I think he means is -
Since my mind is already empty, I’m going to heed his advice and continue “being water” with my retirement portfolio. I’m looking forward to seeing the water flowing again and dismissing any concept of water crashing.