savings

As fall weather drives us indoors, many people put away their frothy summer paperbacks and start turning to meatier reading matter. If you’re looking to add something informative to the To Read stack on your nightstand, here are some recommendations for the best books on economics and finance topics.

As families return home from vacation and children go back to school, many popular travel spots get less crowded in autumn. Peak season rates at hotels and resorts come to an end, and off-season packages and deals abound. At the same time, winter weather hasn’t hit yet and you can enjoy crisp fall days and colorful autumn leaves in much of the Northern hemisphere.

The term beneficiary crops up every now and again. Usually you’ll see it on an insurance form or hear about it in relation to a will, but despite the nonchalance we toss the term around with, beneficiaries are incredibly important. Let’s break down the details on how and why beneficiaries matter.

Who can be a beneficiary?

Like many people whose personal financial picture includes work income, home ownership, bank accounts, credit cards, investment accounts, kids, travel, hobbies, retirement savings, and more, you might find it hard to keep track of every cent that comes in and goes out on daily basis.

In a recent survey by JumpStart Coalition for Financial Literacy, only 26 percent of those between the ages of 13-21 said that they had been taught how to manage money. Yet, when they turn 18, kids are signing contracts for student loans, opening credit card accounts, and in many instances, living away from home with little financial guidance available.

You can legally contribute to a Roth IRA until age 70½, and maybe even older if new legislation passes Congress. But should you?

Most consumers typically have both a credit card and a debit card. Of course, the biggest difference between the two is that a debit card will immediately take money out of your bank account when used, unlike a credit card, which will pay for the purchase and later add the amount of the transaction to your monthly statement.

But are there any other differences between the two?

As summer draws to a close, are you getting ready to send a kid off to college? They’ll surely be getting a good education in the classroom, but you want to make sure they pick up some life skills as well. Here are some of the best tips for college students to develop their financial savvy:

Are you thinking you’d like to Age in Place? Downsize into a cozy retirement community? What if you need to transition to assisted living or long-term care? There are many options for retirement housing, and it can be hard to decide what’s the best place for you and your spouse as you face the future.

You think back fondly on those halcyon collegiate days--studying in the quad, late-night pizza, tailgating for the big game, dorm living, tossing your graduation cap in the air...beyond the lifelong friends and the parties and fun, college helped you get to where you are today.