Best Personal Financial Planning and Personal Investment Articles this Week from Personal Finance Blogs

Carnival of Financial Planning - Edition #153 - August 6, 2010

Welcome to the August 6, 2010 Edition #153 of the Carnival of Financial Planning.

The Carnival of Financial Planning takes a long-term view of personal financial planning for individuals and families. We focus on efficient and sustainable personal financial planning practices that can lead to lifetime financial security.

This edition is arranged by subject heading, so that you can browse efficiently.

Enjoy!

The Skilled Investor, Editor

Budgeting and Economics

MoneyNing presents How to Dress Well on a Budget posted at Money Ning, saying, “Looking awesome and expensive clothes really isn’t a synonym. Here are a bunch of ways you can save and still dress nice.”

Super Saver presents Living on a Cash Basis was a Good Experience posted at My Wealth Builder, saying, “Living on a cash basis quickly taught me financial responsibility.”

studenomist presents Students First Car Buyer Guide: What You Need To Know posted at studenomics.com.

The Skilled Investor presents Save More Money posted at Personal Finance Strategy, saying, “Budgeting and self-control in consumption is far more important than clever investing. Expenditure control and budgeting works, while “clever” investing usually is counter-productive.”

Roshawn Watson presents Why Is Debt Really Decreasing? posted at Watson Inc, saying, “In the first quarter of 2008, our debt to disposable income peaked at a staggering 131%. This means for every dollar we earned, we spent $1.31. As of March, our debt as a share of our annual income is presently 122%. If you think this change indicates that we have collectively been so scarred by the “Great Recession” that we are now behaving fiscally responsible, think again. There is a surprising and sad reason why our debt has gone down. Hint, it has nothing to do with frugality.”

Adam Williams presents Summer Utility Bills Got You Down? Find Another Way to Chill! posted at RabbitFunds.com, saying, “You probably already pay a lot for your utilities. However, there are a few simple tricks you can try to cut down on your utility bills through the hot summer months.”

Kara Sebbert presents States with Tax-free Shopping this Summer posted at Fashion Merchandising Degrees.

Mike @ Green Panda presents The $7.27 Mistake Plus Ways To Avoid It posted at Green Panda Treehouse, saying, “How to make the most out of your money when going out.”

Joe Plemon presents The Real Estate Bubble: What Happened and What Can We Learn From It? posted at Personal Finance By The Book, saying, “Understanding how the real estate bubble inflated and popped may help us spot other financial bubbles before they pop.”

Financial Planning

Roshawn Watson presents Hey Broke People, Stop Overpaying For College! posted at Watson Inc, saying, “The facts are undeniable: even in an uncertain economic climate, we’ve placed an inordinate value on getting into the “right” college. And if your child has any academic aptitude, then the “right” college invariably means an exorbitantly priced one.”

FMF presents Life Planning Part 1: Plenty of Money posted at Free Money Finance, saying, “Thoughts on how to start determining your goals so your financial plan can work to fulfill them.”

jim presents Review Your Credit Reports Every Year posted at Identity Theft Wall.

Sustainable Life Blog presents Prioritizing Goals? posted at Sustainable Life Blog, saying, “Wondering where to turn when starting to attack debt? Here’s a quick guide on how to help you prioritize your goals.”

Craig Ford presents How to Buy Cars With Cash posted at Money Help For Christians, saying, “Helpful tips for people who want to buy cars with cash.”

Dividend Tree presents Building Core Competency for Long Term Survival posted at Dividend Tree, saying, “whether it is running a business or individuals investment portfolio, it is important to build a core competency for long term sustainability. In my case, I focus on good quality companies that consistently pay or have potential to pay growing dividends over time.

Jim & Martha presents New Credit Card Applications Hurt Your Credit Score posted at Wanderlust Journey.

Larry Russell presents No Load Mutual Funds posted at Top Index Mutual Funds, saying, “Superior past performance has simply not been shown to be a reliable predictor of superior future performance. However, low costs can lead you to the best mutual funds.

Ryan @ MFN presents What to Do With an Enlistment Bonus posted at The Military Wallet, saying, “What should you use a large cash bonus for? Pay down debt, invest, spend?”

Frank Knight presents Roth IRAFinancial Software posted at Financial Freedom Plan, saying, “Whether to invest in a Roth IRA or Roth 401k versus their traditional retirement account alternatives is one of the most complex personal financial decisions. Roth accounts do not make sense financially for most people. They are a good deal, for a minority, but you need to do the analysis.”

Financing a Home

Jeff Rose, CFP presents How to Get The Best Deal on Mortgages posted at Consumer Boomer, saying, “Mortgage rates have been at all time lows and continue to fluctuate daily. In some cases, I’ve heard of some friends who had locked in a favorable 30 year mortgage rate in January of this year and they are already looking to refinance. Now that is finding a good deal on your mortgage rate! If you’re looking to refinance or just get a mortgage rate for the first time, here’s some to tips to help you out.”

Ryan @ CML presents Mortgage Prequalification vs. Preapproval posted at Cash Money Life, saying, “What is the difference between mortgage preauthorization, prequalification and preapproval?”

Financing Education

MoneyNing presents How to Use a 529 Plan to Improve College Savings posted at Money Ning, saying, “A 529 plan can help your college savings tremendously. Check out how the government can help contribute!”

Health Care

asithi presents How to Reduce Your Medical Bills posted at Small Steps to Health, saying, “This article is a discussion on how to reduce your medicals bill by negotiating before and after any major medical procedure.”

Income

Consumer Boomer presents Finding a High Interest Savings Account posted at Consumer Boomer.

Investing

The Financial Blogger presents Best 50 Canadian Dividend Stocks posted at The Financial Blogger, saying, “With the plethora of dividend stocks out there, here are the best 50 canadian dividend stock picks.”

Praveen presents Caveat Emptor: If An Investment or Opportunity Appears Too Good To Be True, Beware! posted at My Simple Trading System, saying, “Beware of investment opportunities that seem to be too good to be true.”

PT presents Mutual Fund Basics posted at Prime Time Money, saying, “There are many investment products, but likely none more used than the mutual fund. Here are some basics facts about these funds.”

Intelligent Speculator presents Of course Amazon (AMZN) results are terrible!! Blame Apple (AAPL) posted at Intelligent Speculator, saying, “Amazon isn’t doing so well with the iPad now out in the market.”

2 Cents presents Commodities and Real Estate: Pros and Cons posted at Balance Junkie, saying, “Here’s a look at the pros and cons of investing in commodities and real estate right now.”

Tushar Mathur presents Can’t Control the Markets? Try controlling the Costs posted at Everything Finance, saying, “The financial markets are prone to unpredictable periods of turbulence. That can make investing feel a bit like a roller-coaster ride. The disappointing results may have left you feeling concerned over your financial future. You’re not alone.”

Dividends4Life presents 19 Stocks Using Real Cash To Pay Higher Dividends posted at Dividends Value, saying, “Are you looking for companies that can sustain and grow their dividend? In making that determination, a company’s Statement of Earnings is one of the last places you should look. Cash is king for the dividend investor and the Statement of Cash Flows is where astute investors begin when they want to understand the viability of a company.”

Dividend Tree presents Dividend Investing and Businesses with Moat posted at Dividend Tree, saying, “In general, companies with moats in their business are very good dividend growth providers. However, the opposite may not be true.”

Zach Scheidt presents Solar Selloff Close To Exhaustion? posted at ZachStocks, saying, “Solar stocks are off sharply due to Euro-Zone concerns. Trina Solar could end up being an exceptional value if earnings remain somewhat stable and management is able to calm investor fears.”

The Skilled Investor presents Market Timing posted at Investment Portfolio Management, saying, “Always stay invested to earn risk premiums. You must have your money invested and at risk to get risk premium returns. Jumping out and in or “timing the markets” doesn’t work.”

Silicon Valley Blogger presents Where To Invest Extra Cash and Savings Today posted at The Digerati Life

Frank Vertin presents Top Index Funds posted at Noload Mutual Fund, saying, “Top ten no load index funds that track the Standard and Poors 500 composite index in terms of lowest costs.

Tomas Escent presents Stock Trading Automation posted at Nerds on Wall Street

Frank Knight presents Municipal Bond Financial Software, posted at Personal Finance Software, saying, “Municipal bond investments and your state and federal marginal income tax rates: Some investors hold municipal bonds in an attempt to reduce their tax burden. This article discusses the relationships between tax-exempt municipal bonds, bond market returns, marginal tax rates, and investment asset tax location.”

Managing Debt

Jeff Rose, CFP presents Different Types of Bankruptcy-One Chapter at a Time posted at Jeff Rose, saying, “we are under the assumption that bankruptcy can eliminate debts and solve money problems (with the consequence of destroying one’s credit score). However, this is not the case. Bankruptcy will not necessarily clear all debts, and there are several types of bankruptcy. Indeed, bankruptcy law allows for a variety of situations, and you will need to consider which type of bankruptcy is most likely to be best for you.”

Ryan @ CML presents Fair Debt Collection Practices Act posted at Cash Money Life, saying, “Borrowers are protected by the FDCPA against unfair and illegal debt collection practices. Find out your rights and what you can do if a debt collector violates them.”

Jeff Rose, CFP presents How to Check Your Credit Score posted at Consumer Boomer, saying, “Consumers are often lead to believe there are ways to get free access to credit scores but nothing is technically free and it usually involves a fee-based membership to get a ‘free’ copy of a credit score”

Learn Save Invest presents 5 Steps To Debt Reduction posted at Learn Save Invest, saying, “Here are 5 tips you need to master in order to reduce your debts.”

Tim Chen presents Costco TrueEarnings: the Best Credit Card for Well-Rounded Spenders? posted at NerdWallet Blog - Credit Card Watch, saying, “What if you want to maximize credit card rewards, but don’t want to bother juggling multiple rewards programs and multiple monthly bills? You just want to find the one card that fits your spending habits the best and move on with your life. In that case, the Amex TrueEarnings Card from Costco might be exactly what you’re looking for.”

Sam presents Credit Card Debt. Get Out of Debt and Take Back Your Power $$$$ posted at Surfer Sam and Friends, saying, “You can get out of credit card debt. Thanks for including my article. Here’s an excerpt… ou CAN get out of credit card debt. If you feel like your credit card debt has you backed up against a wall, there are steps you can take to get out of credit card debt. Managing your credit card accounts is the key to escaping from debt. No matter how irregular your income is, or how broke you are, it is better to face your credit card troubles squarely than to deny the problem. Take heart. Fortunately, in this country, no one is sent to prison for not paying credit card debt.”

The Smarter Wallet presents Are Debt Counseling Services The Way To Debt Relief? posted at The Smarter Wallet, saying, “On debt counseling services.”

Big Cajun Man presents Found Money Trap posted at Canadian Personal Finance Blog, saying, “Found money should go on debt no matter what!”

Miscellaneous

Madison DuPaix presents 11 Ways the Government is Padding Your Wallet This Summer posted at My Dollar Plan, saying, “This is a great list of ways to utilize the government for free money.”

Joe Plemon presents This Family Paid Cash For Their Car; You Can Too! posted at Personal Finance By The Book, saying, “A story about some friends who are excited about paying cash for their car. Turns out they are doing lots of things right.”

Intelligent Speculator presents Why Facebook is succeeding where Myspace has failed posted at Intelligent Speculator, saying, “Facebook is now the leading social networking site. What did MySpace do wrong?”

Super Saver presents Disputed Price Increase on Phone Bill and Won posted at My Wealth Builder, saying, “Last month, our phone bill was up 12%, with no changes made on our part. We disputed the increase and the phone company agreed.”

nissim ziv presents Careers in Demand for the Future posted at Job Interview Guide, saying, “Though the prospect of some career fields may look promising, you’d have to consider other aspects related to each career. Read further..”

Pasadena Financial Planner presents Vanguard Investment Performance posted at Top Mutual Fund, saying, “Compares Vanguard’s actively managed mutual funds and Vanguard’s passively managed index mutual funds. Vanguard investors should read and understand this study.”

mike presents So You Think You Can Landlord? A Tenant From Hell Story posted at Mike, saying, “If you thing real estate investing is easy money, then you need to read this story.”

Retirement Planning

Jeff Rose, CFP presents How To Manage Retirement Savings posted at Jeff Rose, saying, “Retirement savings must be actively managed to ensure you have enough money to live comfortably for the remainder of your days”

FMF presents The 12 Most Important Decisions You Must Make Before You Retire posted at Free Money Finance, saying, “12 factors you must consider before you decide to retire.”

Mitch Archuleta presents How to Prioritize Multiple Retirement Accounts posted at RothIRA.com’s Retirement Planning Blog, saying, “How to determine what order to contribute to retirement investment accounts.”

Super Saver presents Retirement Finances - What worked and what did not posted at My Wealth Builder, saying, “Here’s my summary of what has worked and what didn’t in our first three years of retirement.”

Larry Russell presents Roth IRA Conversions posted at Best Financial Planning Software, saying, “Trying to decide about a traditional IRA to Roth IRA conversion without first having a comprehensive lifetime financial plan in place makes absolutely no sense. Without such a plan, you cannot figure out whether or not you are likely to achieve the tax savings in retirement that would warrant paying higher taxes now.”

Jules Wells presents Retirement Calculator-Retirement Savings Software, posted at Retirement Financial Planning, saying, “This article helps you understand the trade-offs between traditional and Roth tax-advantaged retirement plan contributions, including Roth 401k and IRA retirement plans. It helps with the 2010 Roth conversion decision.”

Risk Management and Insurance

Mike Piper presents Guaranteed Annuity Income: Is it Really Safe? posted at The Oblivious Investor, saying, “How safe is the income from an annuity? And what can you do to minimize any risks involved?”

Big Cajun Man presents Self Insured Company Disability Plans posted at Canadian Personal Finance Blog, saying, “Sometimes insurance is not as safe as you might think (in Canada at least)”

Savings

Paul Williams presents Where to Keep Your Money While Saving Up a Down Payment for a Home posted at Provident Planning, saying, “Ever wonder where you should keep your savings while you’re working on your down payment for a home? This article gives you a handy guide that can help you determine the appropriate place to keep your money.”

Jim & Martha presents Passport Fees Increase July 13th posted at Wanderlust Journey.

Jeri Ford presents Smart Ways To Save Money On Airline Tickets posted at Help Me Travel Cheap, saying, “Tips for saving money on an upcoming flight.”

KCLau presents Are You Rich in Internal Assets? posted at KCLau’s Money Tips, saying, “pay attention to the internal assets”

Taxes

Jeff Rose, CFP presents Tax Hike 2011-What Should You Expect? posted at Jeff Rose, saying, “Generally, higher taxes mean less of an incentive for individuals to work, invest, take risks to create value and become entrepreneurs. It can also mean less disposable income to spend on goods and services.”

Mike @ Green Panda presents Some Green Energy Tax Credits and Breaks to Consider for 2010 posted at Green Panda Treehouse, saying, “Go green and be eligible to get tax credits.”

Financial Freedom Plan presents Roth IRA ConversionFinancial Software, posted at My Financial Freedom, saying, “The Roth tax optimization puzzle for asset conversions, as well as for annual Roth contributions during working years, is one of the most complex decisions that the ridiculously complex US taxation and retirement planning system forces upon individuals.”

David de Souza presents The Inland Revenue posted at UK Tax Blog, saying, “An interesting article outlining the history of the Inland Revenue and taxation in the UK, dating back to the Roman invasion.”

Ryan @ MFN presents Homebuyer Tax Credit Extension for Military and Overseas Federal Employees posted at The Military Wallet, saying, “There is an extension to the homebuyer tax credit, which is available to military members and federal employees who live overseas.”

That concludes this edition. Submit your blog article to the next edition of Carnival of Financial Planning using our carnival submission form. Past posts and future hosts can be found on our blog carnival index page.

Technorati tags: carnival of financial planning, blog carnival.

Best Personal Financial Planning and Personal Investment Articles this Week from Personal Finance Blogs

Carnival of Financial Planning - Edition #151 - July 23, 2010

Welcome to the July 23, 2010 Edition #151 of the Carnival of Financial Planning.

The Carnival of Financial Planning takes a long-term view of personal financial planning for individuals and families. We focus on efficient and sustainable personal financial planning practices that can lead to lifetime financial security.

This edition is arranged by subject heading, so that you can browse efficiently.

Enjoy!

The Skilled Investor, Editor

Budgeting and Economics

One Family presents A Peek Into Our Roadmap to Financial Independence posted at One Family’s Blog.

KCLau presents Global Spending: How People Spend their Money posted at KCLau’s Money Tips, saying, “Results from a World Bank study entitled Global Purchasing Power Parities and Real Expenditures 2005 International Comparison Program spanning 2003 to 2008.”

Learn Save Invest presents The Best Financial Advice posted at Learn Save Invest.

Super Saver presents Living on a Cash Basis was a Good Experience posted at My Wealth Builder, saying, “Living on a cash basis quickly taught me financial responsibility.”

The Financial Blogger presents Why The Loonie Is As Strong as a Bear? posted at The Financial Blogger, saying, “It has been more than a year that our Canadian Loonie has been beating on the greenback and we have now reached the moment when most economists predictions will become reality: the elusive state of parity between the Canadian and US dollar.”

Roshawn Watson presents Will the Economy Collapse In 2011? posted at Watson Inc, saying, “With the steep increases in federal, state, and local taxes scheduled for next year, will economic activity be stifled to the point of economic collapse in 2011?”

Sustainable Life Blog presents June 2010 Month Review posted at Sustainable Life Blog, saying, “How did your finances do in June? Mine did good, and I was able to pay off my credit card debt!”

The Skilled Investor presents Save More Money posted at Personal Finance Strategy, saying, “Budgeting and self-control in consumption is far more important than clever investing. Expenditure control and budgeting works, while “clever” investing usually is counter-productive.”

Roshawn Watson presents Why Is Debt Really Decreasing? posted at Watson Inc, saying, “In the first quarter of 2008, our debt to disposable income peaked at a staggering 131%. This means for every dollar we earned, we spent $1.31. As of March, our debt as a share of our annual income is presently 122%. If you think this change indicates that we have collectively been so scarred by the “Great Recession” that we are now behaving fiscally responsible, think again. There is a surprising and sad reason why our debt has gone down. Hint, it has nothing to do with frugality.”

Jeff Rose, CFP presents What are the Leading Economic Indicators? posted at Jeff Rose, saying, “There are new economic findings, reports and information coming out on a daily basis. Between work, life, and everything in between there’s often zero to little time to pay attention to any of what the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis and the U.S. Census Bureau have to say. We all know that the economy is going through a rough patch, and sometimes it can be a little taxing to attempt to understand exactly what the markets are doing. In case you want to dive deep into the financial foundation, here’s a quick, simple synopsis of some of the economic indicators that you might want to pay more attention to.”

Estate Planning

FMF presents Trusts and Wills Defined, Part 2: What is a Trust? posted at Free Money Finance, saying, “Just what is a trust — and why should you consider having one?”

Financial Planning

Ryan @ MFN presents What to Do With an Enlistment Bonus posted at The Military Wallet, saying, “What should you use a large cash bonus for? Pay down debt, invest, spend?”

BIFS presents Money and Marriage Problems «Budgeting In the Fun Stuff posted at Budgeting In the Fun Stuff, saying, “Money is the center of many marriage arguments. This is a list of a few of those arguments and my personal take on it.”

Mike @ Green Panda presents Prioritizing Financial Goals posted at Green Panda Treehouse.

Dividend Tree presents Building Core Competency for Long Term Survival posted at Dividend Tree, saying, “whether it is running a business or individuals investment portfolio, it is important to build a core competency for long term sustainability. In my case, I focus on good quality companies that consistently pay or have potential to pay growing dividends over time.

The Financial Blogger presents My Financial Goals Reviewed posted at The Financial Blogger, saying, “In order to achieve my financial goals, I keep an update every 6 months so I can make sure to make adjustments to my original plan if necessary.”

Frank Knight presents Roth IRAFinancial Software posted at Financial Freedom Plan, saying, “Whether to invest in a Roth IRA or Roth 401k versus their traditional retirement account alternatives is one of the most complex personal financial decisions. Roth accounts do not make sense financially for most people. They are a good deal, for a minority, but you need to do the analysis.”

Joe Plemon presents Which Comes First: Earning or Saving? posted at Personal Finance By The Book, saying, “The number one financial principle is to live on less than you earn. Right? Or do you need to get those earnings up first? This post helps the reader think it through.”

Mike @ Green Panda presents Financial Guru Review: Jean Chatzky posted at Green Panda Treehouse, saying, “Jean Chatzky helped families create systems to get out of debt and in control of their finances. She even moved into one family’s home to jump start the process.

Sustainable Life Blog presents Prioritizing Goals? posted at Sustainable Life Blog, saying, “Wondering where to turn when starting to attack debt? Here’s a quick guide on how to help you prioritize your goals.”

Larry Russell presents No Load Mutual Funds posted at Top Index Mutual Funds, saying, “Superior past performance has simply not been shown to be a reliable predictor of superior future performance. However, low costs can lead you to the best mutual funds.

Financing a Home

Ryan @ CML presents Mortgage Prequalification vs. Preapproval posted at Cash Money Life, saying, “What is the difference between mortgage preauthorization, prequalification and preapproval?”

Financing Education

MoneyNing presents How to Use a 529 Plan to Improve College Savings posted at Money Ning, saying, “A 529 plan can help your college savings tremendously. Check out how the government can help contribute!”

Health Care

Mike Piper presents HSA Contribution Limits: Health Savings Account Rules posted at The Oblivious Investor, saying, “An explanation of Health Savings Account rules, including the current contribution limits and eligibility requirements.”

casey presents 20 Facts and Myths About the Gates Foundation Global Public Health Programs posted at MPH Degree, saying, “If you are interested in public health, you need to know about the Global Health Program from the Gates Foundation. Here are 10 myths, and 10 facts, providing you with 20 facts and myths about the Gates Foundation.”

Income

FMF presents Five Tips When Starting a New Job posted at Free Money Finance, saying, “Five things to do to start off a new job on the right foot.”

Ryan @ CML presents How to Open a Business Savings Account posted at Cash Money Life, saying, “Opening a business bank account is different than opening a personal bank account. Find out which documents you need to open a business savings or checking account.”

Consumer Boomer presents Finding a High Interest Savings Account posted at Consumer Boomer.

Money Beagle presents Five Steps For Entrepreneurial Success posted at Money Beagle, saying, “Maximize your income by following these steps. As pointed out to me by a reader, most if not all of these steps apply to any job you do, whether you’re an entrepreneur or an employee.”

Investing

FMF presents Just Say ”No” to TIPS posted at Free Money Finance, saying, “Is gold even a worthwhile investment? Lots of debate on this one…”

Alexander presents What are Dividend Aristocrats? posted at Dividend Stocks, saying, “Dividend Aristocrats are dividend stocks listed in the S&P that have increased their dividend for 25 years or more. They make great investments.”

Zach Scheidt presents Solar Selloff Close To Exhaustion? posted at ZachStocks, saying, “Solar stocks are off sharply due to Euro-Zone concerns. Trina Solar could end up being an exceptional value if earnings remain somewhat stable and management is able to calm investor fears.”

Dividend Tree presents Dividend Investing and Businesses with Moat posted at Dividend Tree, saying, “In general, companies with moats in their business are very good dividend growth providers. However, the opposite may not be true.”

PT presents OptionsHouse Review | Online Discount Broker posted at Prime Time Money, saying, “When it’s time to do some taxable investing, people often turn to a discount broker. Don’t overlook this options-based broker.”

Praveen presents Caveat Emptor: If An Investment or Opportunity Appears Too Good To Be True, Beware! posted at My Simple Trading System, saying, “Beware of investment opportunities that seem to be too good to be true.”

Silicon Valley Blogger presents Investing Tips For The Beginning Stock Picker posted at The Digerati Life, saying, “Tips for new investors.”

Dan presents Actively Managed ETF Wins in Both Up and Down Markets posted at ETF Base, saying, “A review of an actively managed ETF that beats the S&P500 in both up and down markets. Beating the street is rare but this ETF has the demonstrated history making it worth a look.”

Frank Vertin presents Top Index Funds posted at Noload Mutual Fund, saying, “Top ten no load index funds that track the Standard and Poors 500 composite index in terms of lowest costs.

Tom @ Canadian Finance Blog presents GICs - Guaranteed Investment Certificates Explained posted at The Canadian Finance Blog, saying, “Guaranteed Investment Certificates (GIC) are a low risk investment were the interest rate is based on the length of time you lend the money and the current rates.”

The Skilled Investor presents Market Timing posted at Investment Portfolio Management, saying, “Always stay invested to earn risk premiums. You must have your money invested and at risk to get risk premium returns. Jumping out and in or “timing the markets” doesn’t work.”

Jacob A. Irwin presents Index ETFs vs. Index Mutual Funds - Which Are Better? posted at My Money Blog - Personal Finance and Investing, saying, “An analysis of the benefits, similarities, and differences of both ETFs and index mutual funds. Also detailed is a look at where investors can fit these tools in for the retirement planning.”

Tomas Escent presents Stock Trading Automation posted at Nerds on Wall Street

Mike Piper presents Student IRA: Can a Student Open a Roth IRA? posted at The Oblivious Investor, saying, “Are students eligible for a Roth IRA, even if they’re claimed as dependents on their parents tax returns?”

Tushar Mathur presents Can’t Control the Markets? Try controlling the Costs posted at Everything Finance, saying, “The financial markets are prone to unpredictable periods of turbulence. That can make investing feel a bit like a roller-coaster ride. The disappointing results may have left you feeling concerned over your financial future. You’re not alone.”

Frank Knight presents Municipal Bond Financial Software, posted at Personal Finance Software, saying, “Municipal bond investments and your state and federal marginal income tax rates: Some investors hold municipal bonds in an attempt to reduce their tax burden. This article discusses the relationships between tax-exempt municipal bonds, bond market returns, marginal tax rates, and investment asset tax location.”

Steve Alexander presents Using Magic Formula Investing to Find Good Investment Sectors - MagicDiligence posted at MagicDiligence - Optimizing Joel Greenblatts Value Stock Strategy, saying, “Magic Formula Investing is a great way to find good investment sectors along with attractively priced stocks of high-quality companies.”

Managing Debt

Learn Save Invest presents 5 Steps To Debt Reduction posted at Learn Save Invest, saying, “Here are 5 tips you need to master in order to reduce your debts.”

Ryan @ CML presents Fair Debt Collection Practices Act posted at Cash Money Life, saying, “Borrowers are protected by the FDCPA against unfair and illegal debt collection practices. Find out your rights and what you can do if a debt collector violates them.”

The Smarter Wallet presents Are Debt Counseling Services The Way To Debt Relief? posted at The Smarter Wallet, saying, “On debt counseling services.”

Silicon Valley Blogger presents New Credit Card Rules, Opting Out of Interest Rate Increases posted at The Digerati Life, saying, “How you can opt out of credit card interest rate increases.”

Big Cajun Man presents Found Money Trap posted at Canadian Personal Finance Blog, saying, “Found money should go on debt no matter what!”

Craig Ford presents Can You Afford Your Car Payments? Can You Afford the House? posted at Money Help For Christians, saying, “A helpful guide for people dealing with high car and house payments.”

Jim & Martha presents Chase Sapphire Review posted at Wanderlust Journey.

Tom Tessin presents Collection Agency Harassment and What you Can Do posted at FSC Blog, saying, “If you’re in debt, you may find yourself getting a handful of collection agency calls. Find out what you can legally do about them.”

Miscellaneous

Jeff Rose, CFP presents How To Save Money Buying A Car posted at Consumer Boomer, saying, “Whether you are considering a new or used car for your next vehicle purchase, this costly investment is one that should last you for years to come. Cars however are also one of the few investments that are guaranteed to lose value over time, with the biggest depreciation occurring within the first few years after purchase. For this reason it is very important to get the most value for your dollar by knowing how to save money during the car purchasing process. Here we look at several tips that can save you hundreds perhaps thousands of dollars when buying a car.”

Super Saver presents Disputed Price Increase on Phone Bill and Won posted at My Wealth Builder, saying, “Last month, our phone bill was up 12%, with no changes made on our part. We disputed the increase and the phone company agreed.”

Joe Plemon presents Do We Spend More With Credit Cards? A Study Proves … Maybe posted at Personal Finance By The Book, saying, “Do you spend more money using credit cards or using cash? This post tells of a very intriguing study on how people make spending decisions…but is inconclusive about the credit card / cash debate.”

Michael Pruser presents What is a Good Credit Score? posted at The Dough Roller, saying, “Breaking down the variety in credit scores among Americans”

Pasadena Financial Planner presents Vanguard Investment Performance posted at Top Mutual Fund, saying, “Compares Vanguard’s actively managed mutual funds and Vanguard’s passively managed index mutual funds. Vanguard investors should read and understand this study.”

nissim ziv presents What Makes a Good Team Leader? How to Be a Good Team Leader? posted at Job Interview Guide, saying, “Needless to say, the onus of success lies on the shoulders of the entire team, but the team leader bears most of the burden.”

Retirement Planning

Larry Russell presents Roth IRA Conversions posted at Best Financial Planning Software, saying, “Trying to decide about a traditional IRA to Roth IRA conversion without first having a comprehensive lifetime financial plan in place makes absolutely no sense. Without such a plan, you cannot figure out whether or not you are likely to achieve the tax savings in retirement that would warrant paying higher taxes now.”

Simon presents Dollar-Cost Averaging: Go Discount Shopping in the Stock Market posted at Realm of Prosperity.

Jules Wells presents Retirement Calculator-Retirement Savings Software, posted at Retirement Financial Planning, saying, “This article helps you understand the trade-offs between traditional and Roth tax-advantaged retirement plan contributions, including Roth 401k and IRA retirement plans. It helps with the 2010 Roth conversion decision.”

Susan Howe presents Pricey Funerals: 8 Incredibly Expensive Ways to Rest in Peace posted at The Budget Life Blog, saying, “History is full of expensive funerals and burial customs. Here are 8 of the most expensive ways to move into the afterlife.”

Realm of Prosperity presents The Road to Retirement Includes More Than Just Yourself posted at Realm of Prosperity

Risk Management and Insurance

Big Cajun Man presents Self Insured Company Disability Plans posted at Canadian Personal Finance Blog, saying, “Sometimes insurance is not as safe as you might think (in Canada at least)”

Savings

Jeff Rose, CFP presents Shopping For the Best Savings Account Interest Rate posted at Jeff Rose, saying, “With the stock market in upheaval, many are turning to other places to keep their money. Cash is becoming somewhat popular again as investors look for safety. The main drawback to the safety that comes with cash, though, is that the rate of return is rather low. In order to make sure that you are getting the most for your money, it is important to shop around for the best savings account interest rate. Just as you shop around for the lowest interest rates on car loans and mortgage loans, it is important to shop around for the best rate on savings account. What you are able to earn in interest is just as important as what you save when you pay interest on a loan.”

KCLau presents Are You Rich in Internal Assets? posted at KCLau’s Money Tips, saying, “pay attention to the internal assets”

MoneyNing presents These 7 Simple Money Tips Can Make All Your Dreams Come True posted at Money Ning, saying, “Here are some simple, yet important money tips anyone can use to make their dreams come true.”

Jim & Martha presents Passport Fees Increase July 13th posted at Wanderlust Journey.

Taxes

Super Saver presents Taxes are Going Up - No Surprise posted at My Wealth Builder, saying, “And it won’t be just for the “wealthy.”

Ryan @ MFN presents Homebuyer Tax Credit Extension for Military and Overseas Federal Employees posted at The Military Wallet, saying, “There is an extension to the homebuyer tax credit, which is available to military members and federal employees who live overseas.”

pfstock presents Frontier Communications (FTR): A New Stock? posted at PFStock.com, saying, “This post attempts to explain how to calculate the tax basis of an investment after a spin-off, such as the recent spin off of Frontier Communications from Verizon.”

Financial Freedom Plan presents Roth IRA ConversionFinancial Software, posted at My Financial Freedom, saying, “The Roth tax optimization puzzle for asset conversions, as well as for annual Roth contributions during working years, is one of the most complex decisions that the ridiculously complex US taxation and retirement planning system forces upon individuals.”

That concludes this edition. Submit your blog article to the next edition of Carnival of Financial Planning using our carnival submission form. Past posts and future hosts can be found on our blog carnival index page.

Technorati tags: carnival of financial planning, blog carnival.

Best Personal Financial Planning and Personal Investment Articles this Week from Personal Finance Blogs

Carnival of Financial Planning - Edition #149 - July 9, 2010

Welcome to the July 9, 2010 Edition #149 of the Carnival of Financial Planning.

The Carnival of Financial Planning takes a long-term view of personal financial planning for individuals and families. We focus on efficient and sustainable personal financial planning practices that can lead to lifetime financial security.

This edition is arranged by subject heading, so that you can browse efficiently.

Enjoy!

The Skilled Investor, Editor

Budgeting and Economics

Super Saver presents Living on a Cash Basis was a Good Experience posted at My Wealth Builder, saying, “Living on a cash basis quickly taught me financial responsibility.”

Learn Save Invest presents The Best Financial Advice posted at Learn Save Invest.

KCLau presents Global Spending: How People Spend their Money posted at KCLau’s Money Tips, saying, “Results from a World Bank study entitled Global Purchasing Power Parities and Real Expenditures 2005 International Comparison Program spanning 2003 to 2008.”

Andrew Syrios presents A Second Mortgage Meltdown? - The Ticking Time Bomb of Shadow Inventory | SwiftEconomics.com posted at SwiftEconomics.com.

The Skilled Investor presents Save More Money posted at Personal Finance Strategy, saying, “Budgeting and self-control in consumption is far more important than clever investing. Expenditure control and budgeting works, while “clever” investing usually is counter-productive.”

Roshawn Watson presents Will the Economy Collapse In 2011? posted at Watson Inc, saying, “With the steep increases in federal, state, and local taxes scheduled for next year, will economic activity be stifled to the point of economic collapse in 2011?”

Craig Ford presents YNAB Review (You Need A Budget 3) | Finance Software Review posted at Money Help For Christians, saying, “A review of my experience with You Need A Budget software.”

Sustainable Life Blog presents Cash Flow posted at Sustainable Life Blog, saying, “Tips on how to manage cashflow.”

The Financial Blogger presents Why The Loonie Is As Strong as a Bear? posted at The Financial Blogger, saying, “It has been more than a year that our Canadian Loonie has been beating on the greenback and we have now reached the moment when most economists predictions will become reality: the elusive state of parity between the Canadian and US dollar.”

Estate Planning

Jeff Rose, CFP presents Should You Do a Will or a Living Trust? posted at Jeff Rose.

Jeff Rose, CFP presents Understanding Inheritance Taxes posted at Jeff Rose, saying, “In the event you are in direct line to inherit an estate, you need to be tax conscious of what inheriting the estate can mean to you. How much federal tax you pay on inheriting estate has much to do with the amount of the estate and your relationship to the recently deceased.”

Financial Planning

Intelligent Speculator presents Dream lifestyle thanks to passive income? « Intelligent Speculator posted at Intelligent Speculator, saying, “the ultimate feeling of liberty when you do what you love, make decent money out of it, can go on vacations or take a break for a day or a week without asking for permission.”

jim presents How Long Should I Keep Financial Documents? posted at Blueprint for Financial Prosperity

Joe Plemon presents Which Comes First: Earning or Saving? posted at Personal Finance By The Book, saying, “The number one financial principle is to live on less than you earn. Right? Or do you need to get those earnings up first? This post helps the reader think it through.”

Dividend Tree presents Building Core Competency for Long Term Survival posted at Dividend Tree, saying, “whether it is running a business or individuals investment portfolio, it is important to build a core competency for long term sustainability. In my case, I focus on good quality companies that consistently pay or have potential to pay growing dividends over time.

Mike @ Green Panda presents Prioritizing Financial Goals posted at Green Panda Treehouse.

Hussein Sumar presents Three Reasons Why You Should Sell a Dividend Stock posted at Dividend Stocks, saying, “Sometimes a dividend paying stock that you own may be taken over with hostility by another company and current management is replaced with new management, whom you do not really know very well. Or, the company may be making mergers & acquisitions thus increasing their long term debt beyond levels you do not like. Another reason could be the industry the company operates in is undergoing major change or extinction, for instance Verizon at one point in time was considered a doomed company because of its landline business.”

Frank Knight presents Roth IRAFinancial Software posted at Financial Freedom Plan, saying, “Whether to invest in a Roth IRA or Roth 401k versus their traditional retirement account alternatives is one of the most complex personal financial decisions. Roth accounts do not make sense financially for most people. They are a good deal, for a minority, but you need to do the analysis.”

Susan Howe presents 10 Steps Everyone Should Take to Prepare for Their Own Demise posted at The Budget Life Blog, saying, “No one likes to think about dying, but it’s something that we all experience, and ignoring it won’t make it any easier. And, while it probably won’t be any walk in the park for you, remember that your loved ones will be also profoundly affected by your passing. Here are 10 things you can do to prepare for when you finally cash in your chips.”

Larry Russell presents No Load Mutual Funds posted at Top Index Mutual Funds, saying, “Superior past performance has simply not been shown to be a reliable predictor of superior future performance. However, low costs can lead you to the best mutual funds.

Financing a Home

Ryan @ CML presents Mortgage Prequalification vs. Preapproval posted at Cash Money Life, saying, “What is the difference between mortgage preauthorization, prequalification and preapproval?”

mike presents Primary Residence as Your “Best Investment” posted at Mike, saying, “Is your house a good investment?”

Financing Education

MoneyNing presents How to Use a 529 Plan to Improve College Savings posted at Money Ning, saying, “A 529 plan can help your college savings tremendously. Check out how the government can help contribute!”

Jena Ellis presents 10 Ways to Pay for College posted at Online Certificate Programs.

Health Care

Madison DuPaix presents Flexible Spending Account Changes on the Way posted at My Dollar Plan, saying, “This is a great article on the changes coming to Flexible Spending Accounts as a result of the new health care bill.”

Income

Mike @ Green Panda presents 10 Promising Sectors for the Next Decade posted at Green Panda Treehouse, saying, “Choosing your career at the age of 20 is not an easy thing.Which jobs will be paid well by employers for the next 10 years? Here are my top ten picks (in no particular order) of the best sectors”

Susan Howe presents Warren Buffett on the Lottery of Birth posted at Get Rich Slowly, saying, “Before you enter the world, you will pick one ball from a barrel of 6.8 billion (the number of people on the planet). That ball will determine your gender, race, nationality, natural abilities, and health. This is what Buffett calls the ovarian lottery. “You’re going to get one ball out of there, and that is the most important thing that’s ever going to happen to you in your life.””

Consumer Boomer presents Finding a High Interest Savings Account posted at Consumer Boomer.

Investing

BWL presents A Few Different Ways of Investing Money posted at Christian Personal Finance, saying, “If you have a few extra dollars lying around in your budget after you pay all your bills and do some basic saving, you may be wondering what to do next. You may even hear your friends or colleagues talking about investing…”

Mike Piper presents Morningstar Stars: Are Mutual Fund Star Ratings Any Use? posted at The Oblivious Investor, saying, “Find out what Morningstar says about the purpose of their famous star ratings. Are they useful for predicting future performance?”

Praveen presents CBOE Just Had Its IPO: Why I Bought The Stock posted at My Simple Trading System, saying, “An investing system for IPOs.”

jim presents Goldline Scam posted at Blueprint for Financial Prosperity, saying, “Goldline has been in the news alot as gold prices continue to soar and legislators, specifically Anthony Weiner of NY, taking a look at their business practices. This begs, the question, is investing in gold through Goldline a scam?”

Zach Scheidt presents Express IPO Looks Good for a Bounce posted at ZachStocks, saying, “Express Inc. (EXPR) has traded down since its IPO earlier this month. The company is still primarily owned by a private equity firm who has a vested interest in making sure the stock price is stabilized.

Silicon Valley Blogger presents Lending Club Investment Performance, Loan Returns: Should You Invest Via Direct Lending? posted at The Digerati Life, saying, “On lending club investments and loan returns.”

Tushar Mathur presents Can’t Control the Markets? Try controlling the Costs posted at Everything Finance, saying, “The financial markets are prone to unpredictable periods of turbulence. That can make investing feel a bit like a roller-coaster ride. The disappointing results may have left you feeling concerned over your financial future. You’re not alone.”

Marc Ryan presents Manifesto for a new approach to investing by Paul Woolley - IndependentInvestor.info posted at IndependentInvestor.info, saying, “On May 25th, 2010, respected academic and ex-financier Paul Woolley gave a seminal lecture at the London School of Economics. He laid out policies designed to dramatically increase investment returns of the world’s biggest public pension and charitable funds combined with such social gains as more financial system stability, faster economic growth, and a less bloated and less exploitive banking and financial system .Although targeted at giant funds, you should become familiar with the manifesto since, in our opinion, several aspects could also help individual investors in managing their own portfolios.”

Barb presents MBA Course: Investing & Portfolio Management-Class 4 -Get Rich by being Passive posted at Barbara Friedberg Personal Finance, saying, “Lean about investing from an MBA professor. Save time - get rich through passive investing”

Carlos Sera presents A Competitive Tale; Financial Tales posted at Financial Tales, saying, “In every new client relationship the conversation always turns to how will the advisor be compensated? Periodically I am asked why I or others don’t charge clients based on the profits that we generate. When they ask me this question I always ask them to choose between two colors. I ask them which is their favorite black or red. When they look at me quizzically”

Praveen presents Lichello’s AIM System posted at My Simple Trading System, saying, “A look at Robert Lichello’s AIM stock investing system, which was popular in the 1970’s and then went out of style.”

June Tree presents ShareBuilder Review: Discount Broker For Buy and Hold Investors posted at The Digerati Life, saying, “Review of a top online broker that’s great for small investors.”

Tomas Escent presents Stock Trading Automation posted at Nerds on Wall Street

Zach Scheidt presents Solar Selloff Close To Exhaustion? posted at ZachStocks, saying, “Solar stocks are off sharply due to Euro-Zone concerns. Trina Solar could end up being an exceptional value if earnings remain somewhat stable and management is able to calm investor fears.”

mike presents Low Cost Ways To Buy Dividend Stocks posted at Mike, saying, “How to save money on stock purchases.”

Frank Knight presents Municipal Bond Financial Software, posted at Personal Finance Software, saying, “Municipal bond investments and your state and federal marginal income tax rates: Some investors hold municipal bonds in an attempt to reduce their tax burden. This article discusses the relationships between tax-exempt municipal bonds, bond market returns, marginal tax rates, and investment asset tax location.”

Patty Pedersen presents Sector Funds: Best, Worst, and Mid-Year 2010 Stock Market Outlook posted at AlphaProfit MoneyMatters - Investing Blog, saying, “As we cross the year’s midpoint, investor’s are focused on flat or worsening employment situation in the U. S., strained fiscal situation in Europe, and slowing growth in emerging markets. Yet, some sectors have been able to provide gains even in this crummy market. This article provides insights on whether momentum plays from the first half can continue to be top performers in the second or whether it is time for laggards to take charge.”

Dividend Tree presents Dividend Investing and Businesses with Moat posted at Dividend Tree, saying, “In general, companies with moats in their business are very good dividend growth providers. However, the opposite may not be true.”

Frank Vertin presents Top Index Funds posted at Noload Mutual Fund, saying, “Top ten no load index funds that track the Standard and Poors 500 composite index in terms of lowest costs.”

The Skilled Investor presents Market Timing posted at Investment Portfolio Management, saying, “Always stay invested to earn risk premiums. You must have your money invested and at risk to get risk premium returns. Jumping out and in or “timing the markets” doesn’t work.”

Dividends4Life presents 4 Dividend Stocks Increasing Shareholder Wealth With Higher Dividends posted at Dividends Value, saying, “Dividend growth investing is a long-term strategy. A growing dividend is a sign that the company is becoming more valuable. Companies that consistently increase dividends tend to have steadily rising share prices and the best way to benefit from this is to buy and hold the stocks. Diversification and a focus on blue-chip stocks provides insurance for the few companies that don’t pan out.”

Managing Debt

FMF presents The Cruel World of Payday Loans posted at Free Money Finance, saying, “Payday loans are the worst-of-the-worst types of debt anyone can have.”

Jeff Rose, CFP presents Walk Through Debt Relief Negotiation posted at Jeff Rose, saying, “Many of the credit card lenders refuse to negotiate with debt relief representatives, beyond slight reductions of Annual Percentage Rate interest, but the number of corporations insisting upon recovering the original debt sum seemingly lessens by the day.”

Roshawn Watson presents Why Is Debt Really Decreasing? posted at Watson Inc, saying, “In the first quarter of 2008, our debt to disposable income peaked at a staggering 131%. This means for every dollar we earned, we spent $1.31. As of March, our debt as a share of our annual income is presently 122%. If you think this change indicates that we have collectively been so scarred by the “Great Recession” that we are now behaving fiscally responsible, think again. There is a surprising and sad reason why our debt has gone down. Hint, it has nothing to do with frugality.”

The Smarter Wallet presents Are Debt Counseling Services The Way To Debt Relief? posted at The Smarter Wallet, saying, “On debt counseling services.”

Big Cajun Man presents Found Money Trap posted at Canadian Personal Finance Blog, saying, “Found money should go on debt no matter what!”

Ryan @ MFN presents Improve Your Credit Score Quickly posted at The Military Wallet, saying, “These tips will show you how your credit score is determined and give you methods for improving your credit score quickly.”

Tim Chen presents 5 Reasons To Avoid Amex Blue Cash posted at NerdWallet Blog - Credit Card Watch, saying, “The Amex Blue Cash is a card that everyone loves to love, with it’s enticing promise of 5% cash back. But there is a catch! So make sure you understand the fine print before you sign on the dotted line.”

Learn Save Invest presents 5 Steps To Debt Reduction posted at Learn Save Invest, saying, “Here are 5 tips you need to master in order to reduce your debts.”

Jessica Bosari presents Avoid Strategic Default Penalties: What You Need to do Now | billeater.com posted at Billeater, saying, “New strategic default penalties: protect yourself.”

Miscellaneous

Tom @ Canadian Finance Blog presents Privacy Benefits of Using a Prepaid Card to Shop Online posted at The Canadian Finance Blog, saying, “Using a prepaid card to shop online increases your privacy and protects your banking info compared to using a regular credit card.”

nissim ziv presents Why do you want to work for this Company? posted at Job Interview Guide, saying, “The answer to the question “why do you want to work for our company?” is a key factor (make or break) in the company’s decision as to whether one would fit the position or not.”

Joel Ohman presents What is an assigned risk auto insurance policy? posted at Car Insurance Comparison, saying, “What happens when you are considered a “high risk” driver? Can you still find car insurance? What exactly is an assigned risk auto insurance policy?”

Sustainable Life Blog presents When To Go It Alone posted at Sustainable Life Blog, saying, “When should you go it alone in personal finance? Sometimes, your friends may not always want whats in your best interest. When do you need to say “sorry guys, not this time” to spending money”

Super Saver presents Disputed Price Increase on Phone Bill and Won posted at My Wealth Builder, saying, “Last month, our phone bill was up 12%, with no changes made on our part. We disputed the increase and the phone company agreed.”

Pasadena Financial Planner presents Vanguard Investment Performance posted at Top Mutual Fund, saying, “Compares Vanguard’s actively managed mutual funds and Vanguard’s passively managed index mutual funds. Vanguard investors should read and understand this study.”

Retirement Planning

Consumer Boomer presents Roth IRA vs. 401k How to Decide posted at Consumer Boomer, saying, “Deciding whether a Roth IRA or a 401k is the better retirement account depends on your own unique situation. There is no one-size-fits-all solution for which type of retirement account is more advantageous to every person”

The Financial Blogger presents At 55 – Is it Too Late For Retirement Planning? posted at The Financial Blogger, saying, “It is never too late to start, but here are a few pointers.”

Joe Plemon presents Should You Roll Your 401(k) to an IRA? posted at Personal Finance By The Book, saying, “The accepted wisdom is that when leaving a 401(k) employer, one should roll the 401(k) to an IRA. Good advice, but not always valid.”

Super Saver presents Is $1 Million enough for Retirement? posted at My Wealth Builder, saying, “Maybe yes, and maybe no. However, it’s a good start.”

Larry Russell presents Roth IRA Conversions posted at Best Financial Planning Software, saying, “Trying to decide about a traditional IRA to Roth IRA conversion without first having a comprehensive lifetime financial plan in place makes absolutely no sense. Without such a plan, you cannot figure out whether or not you are likely to achieve the tax savings in retirement that would warrant paying higher taxes now.”

Super Saver presents Choosing a Retirement Plan posted at My Wealth Builder, saying, “I selected the defined contribution plan since there is a 140% employer match and I’m 100% vested after 5 years”

Sam presents New !! Is an Annuity Insurance Retirement Plan Best for You? Five Essential Points posted at Surfer Sam and Friends, saying, “Thanks for including my article. Here’s an excerpt… Are you afraid that you will outlive your money? Are you worried that you might lose your savings in the stock market and face retirement broke? The past few years in the stock markets have upset the retirement plans of many investors. Today, people are living longer than ever. Seniors and baby boomers are concerned that they have enough money to support them during a long life. Annuities are an investment option for these people. Annuities guarantee that you won’t outlive your income, no matter if you live 100 years or longer. Furthermore, with an annuity you do not risk losing the nest egg you have accumulated.”

Jules Wells presents Retirement Calculator-Retirement Savings Software, posted at Retirement Financial Planning, saying, “This article helps you understand the trade-offs between traditional and Roth tax-advantaged retirement plan contributions, including Roth 401k and IRA retirement plans. It helps with the 2010 Roth conversion decision.”

PT presents 5 Things to Know About Roth IRA Withdrawals posted at Prime Time Money.

Risk Management and Insurance

Consumer Boomer presents How to Get Cheap Medical Health Insurance posted at Consumer Boomer, saying, “When searching for medical health insurance, it can be an overwhelming task because there is so much information from competing insurance companies. You can not sign up for insurance without carefully reviewing what the coverage entails which can take a lot of time. Health insurance is only as good as what is covered under the insurance plan. If you are looking for insurance based solely on price, you can be wasting serious money when coverage doesn’t meet your medical needs.”

Big Cajun Man presents Self Insured Company Disability Plans posted at Canadian Personal Finance Blog, saying, “Sometimes insurance is not as safe as you might think (in Canada at least)”

Ryan @ CML presents $250 Medicare Part D Donut Hole Check posted at Cash Money Life, saying, “The $250 Medicare Part D Donut Hole Check will be reaching senior very soon Find out what it is and whether or not it will benefit you or someone you know.”

Savings

MoneyNing presents Three Frugal Recipes Everyone Can Enjoy posted at Money Ning, saying, “You can really save so much money with food by being just a little bit frugal. Here are a few recipes that you can start with.”

KCLau presents Are You Rich in Internal Assets? posted at KCLau’s Money Tips, saying, “pay attention to the internal assets”

Taxes

FMF presents Dorothy in Taxland: Tax Credits posted at Free Money Finance, saying, “Some interesting thoughts on the pros and cons of tax credits.”

Ryan @ MFN presents Homebuyer Tax Credit Extension for Military and Overseas Federal Employees posted at The Military Wallet, saying, “There is an extension to the homebuyer tax credit, which is available to military members and federal employees who live overseas.”

Financial Freedom Plan presents Roth IRA ConversionFinancial Software, posted at My Financial Freedom, saying, “The Roth tax optimization puzzle for asset conversions, as well as for annual Roth contributions during working years, is one of the most complex decisions that the ridiculously complex US taxation and retirement planning system forces upon individuals.”

Jeff Rose, CFP presents How Does Consumer Debt Affect Your Taxes posted at Jeff Rose, saying, “How does consumer debt affect your taxes.”

That concludes this edition. Submit your blog article to the next edition of Carnival of Financial Planning using our carnival submission form. Past posts and future hosts can be found on our blog carnival index page.

Technorati tags: carnival of financial planning, blog carnival.