Does my Fund Manager Doing A Good Job?

In order to justify the extra cost, multiply your fund's expense ratio by 10.  The result is the % by which it needs to outperform a low-cost index.  For example, a fund with an expense ratio of 1.5% needs to do 15% better than the index, which averaged 6% in 2007.

New Car vs. Saving

Ever wonder what you are giving up in retirement savings when you spend money today?  Well add a zero to the price tag, and that's what you'd have in 30 years if you invested the money and earned 8% per year.  So a $40,000 car today trims your nest egg by $400,000.

How Many Years Will It Take to Double My Money?

Simply divide the number 72 by your annual investment return.  Therefore, if your making 8%, you'll double your money in nine (9) years.

What am I Worth by the Hour?

Divide your annual pay in half, and drop the last three (3) zeros.  For example, if you make $100,000 a year, you would make $50 an hour (based on a 40-hour week.)

Should I Collect Social Security at 62 or 67?

In a nutshell: If your healthy and don't absolutely need the cash, wait.

Accoring to the SSA, the typical 62-year-old man should live until 81, while the life expectancy for a 62-year-old woman is 84. Collecting social security at age 62 cuts your annual benefit by about 25% compared with what you'd get if you waited. The best stragetgy for many couples is for the wife to take social security at 62 and the husband to wait. This is because she can inherit her husband's larger check later.

To get a more precise handle on your benefits, visit the Social security Administration's Quick Benefits calculator at ssa.gov/OACT/quickcalc.

Lost Federal Savings Bonds

If you have misplaced afederal saving bond, you can go to the U.S. Treasury's website at treasurydirect.gov to search for missing bonds all the way back to 1935. You will most likely have to fill out Form 1048, and the cost is free.

No More Lines at the Airport?

For $100 a year, the Registered Traveler Program promises travelers that they can get through security in less than four minutes. The cactch is that there are only 14 U.S. airports (12/31/2007) that participate in the program. Although the program is expanding, it's probably best for business travelers or those who constantly run late to appointments.

For more information aout the program, including a list of cities or how to apply forthe background check, visit flyclear.com.