Terry Savage’s Archives
Below you will find the columns terry has written by date.
Below you will find the columns terry has written by date.
Financial savvy at age 12
Charlie Tiseo is one money-smart kid. The 12-year-old sixth-grader at Still Middle School in Aurora won the essay competition with a piece titled "The Curious Case of Benjamin Budget." In the essay, a take-off on the movie, he follows some wise advice: "Mind your budget, boy" - and grows wealthy as he ages. Charles, who..
Warren Buffett is bullish on America’s future
Warren Buffett is bullish on America — and bullish on the stock market. And he's putting his money where his mouth is — buying stocks and companies! http://youtu.be/L9uco3L1dYU I interviewed Buffett at a benefit that raised more than $1 million for Junior Achievement of Chicago. The audience of Chicago executives included several from Marmon Group,..
CollegeIllinois’ promise of tuition benefits looks iffy
The recent revelations about the State of Illinois' prepaid tuition program, CollegeIllinois, are troubling - but not totally unexpected. Every "defined benefit" investment program has shown losses over the past few years. But most plans have a longer time horizon than this program, which is supposed to pay out tuition benefits within 18 years or..
Battered investors tired of hearing recession over
The American public is starting to get more than mildly annoyed at those who tell them the economy is bouncing back. For every economist or politician who tells you the recession is over, there are a dozen people who think we're in the midst of a depression. For every administration official who points to the..
No closing your eyes during this bumpy market ride
All of the financial markets are on a roller coaster. The strategy for roller coasters is to fasten your seat belt, close your eyes, and scream. That won't work for the stock market. The markets don't know how to price securities for more than an instant because the facts and possibilities change every moment. The..
TurboTax feature warns of audits
Who doesn't dread opening a letter from the IRS? If you know it's not a refund check, it probably means an AUDIT! Even if you're the most honest taxpayer in the country, you don't want to be in a disagreement with the IRS. And the IRS is getting tougher. In 2007, the number of individual..
Online financial pace Quickens
Quick: What's the balance in your checking account? And how much more could you charge on your credit card before getting hit with an over-limit fee? And by the way, how much did you spend on clothing or entertainment last year? And what bills should you pay in the next few days to avoid late..
Getting college money in order
If there's a high school senior in your family, your first task of the New Year is to get ready to file the FAFSA form - the Free Application for Federal Student Aid. You can file starting Jan. 1, and the early bird gets the aid! All college seniors, who want to get financial aid..
$1M grant targets delinquent borrowers
HSBC-North America, the Prospect Heights-based financial services firm, today will announce a $1 million grant to Money Management International, Inc., a non-profit consumer debt counseling agency affiliated with Consumer Credit Counseling Services. The program, called PHASES -- Preserving Homeownership and Savings Education Strategy -- was designed to work with leading organizations to provide funding and..
Our two cents: Answers to your questions
Q. I am 64 and have been retired for four years. My wife, 63, is still working. We have managed to put aside a tidy nest egg, and are still saving. We have no debt. We are currently paying over $10,000 a year for health insurance. I will soon be old enough to apply for..
Terry Savage talks money with Flip Filipowski
He's ba-ack! Flip Filipowski, who more than any other individual dramatized Chicago's Internet aspirations, has survived a billion dollar bankruptcy of his publicly held Chicago-based divine inc. and a personal downfall that left him with a significantly diminished fortune. Of course, he started with the $3.5 billion he made by selling his startup software company,..
Do homework before you start kitchen project
It's so easy to fall in love with the idea of a new kitchen -- new appliances, new cabinets, new flooring. Maybe you'll even cook! And it looks easy to justify the expense. After all, this will certainly add value to your home. But when it comes to the financial side of kitchen remodeling, you..
