May 2011

2012 Tax Brackets and Federal IRS Rates, Standard Deduction and Personal Exemptions

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2012 and 2011 tax rates stayed the same as 2010 levels thanks to an extension of the Bush-era tax cuts. This has been confirmed by the IRS with the release of 2012 tax tables. There was also good news in that the 2012 standard deduction and tax brackets will increase due to higher inflation, which [...]

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Happiness in Life and Work. Hint : It Ain’t The Dollars

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This website is focused on covering financial topics and the like where making money, saving money and spending money are key themes.  As I research the topics I write about I often come across various articles that talk about the important things in life, and in the vast majority of these articles money is nowhere [...]

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How Does Your 401K Compare with Plans Hitting 10 Year Highs

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With stock markets back up, it is little surprise that 401K retirement plans have recovered most of their losses since the crash of 2008.  In a recent study covering 11 million participants across nearly 17,000 corporate plans, the nations largest retirement plan administrator Fidelity Investments, found that the average 401(k) account balance was $71,500 last [...]

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How Much Do People Drink vs Abstain – 2011 Global Alcohol Report

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I must say I do enjoy an occasional social drink and was quite interested to see how I compare to the average drinker in a recent report that came out from the World Health Organization.  The report reaffirms some well known facts but also highlighted some worrying trends related to drinking, whether you are rich [...]

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2011 and 2012 Capital Gains Tax Rates – Short and Long Term

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When you sell a capital asset like a stock or a home you own, the difference between the amount you sell it for and what you paid for it (cost basis) is classified as a capital gain or a capital loss. Capital gains and losses are further classified as long-term or short-term, depending on how [...]

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Is Another Home Buyer Credit or More Foreclosure Relief In The Works as Housing Market Faces Double-Dip

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With home values continuing to drop to record lows across the nation many home buyers are reluctant to make a purchase this year; which places even more pressure on home owners looking to sell. Recent data from online realty site Zillow suggest that home prices will continue to fall until late 2012. This is not [...]

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Comparing and Signing Up For the Most Cost Effective Private Health Insurance Plan

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The rising cost of health care coupled with many employers cutting back on benefits has led to a large number of people having to go out into the market place and find their own private health insurance plans to meet their coverage needs. In addition to being more costly than standard employer sponsored plans, the [...]

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