US Real GDP By State and Per Capita Income Comparison

The US Bureau of Economic Analysis has released the 2010 Gross Domestic Product (GDP) figures which showed a 2.6% average increase across the nation. As the graphic below shows 48 states and Washington DC experienced real GDP growth, led by the eastern seaboard states. Texas, North Dakota and Oregon were …

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Financial Reform Bill Summary – What it Means to Your Future. Free Credit Score, Bank Stocks and Consumer Protection Measures

[Updated] Approved! Congress and the President have approved the financial reform bill (detailed below) that would revamp the nation’s financial regulatory system. It will allow for the creation of a consumer financial protection bureau at the Federal Reserve, give regulators new powers to liquidate failing financial firms whose collapse would threaten the economy and create a council of financial regulators to monitor systemic risk. It is aimed at curbing risk-taking by Wall Street firms and lessening the impact of any future financial crisis.

Financial reform will continue to be clarified by the regulating bodies over the next couple of months and will post these updates when available. I encourage you to subscribe (free) via Email or RSS to get the latest news.


Congressional negotiators approved a sweeping overhaul of U.S. financial regulation reshaping oversight of Wall Street banks, brokers and investment firms. It contains new laws covering how derivatives will be traded, credit agencies regulated, investor rights and more credit card company reforms. Consumers and business will be significantly affected over the next few years by the financial reforms.

Obama today praised lawmakers for agreeing on what he called the “toughest” consumer reforms in history. “Credit card companies will no longer be able to mislead you, The new rules in the U.S. will be a model for safeguards that “can protect all nations.”

Here’s how some of the main provisions will impact your financial and investing future:

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2010 HIRE Act – Small Business Health Care Tax Credit, Payroll Tax Incentive and Business Credit For Employers Hiring and Retaining Unemployed Workers

[Updated with New IRS provisions] The IRS has released more details on tax-saving opportunities included in recently enacted HIRE act federal legislation (see details in previous update below). A variety of business tax deductions and credits were created, extended and expanded by the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 …

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