Personal Finance - Boston.com

Ropes & Gray lawyer Keith Higgins to run SEC corporate finance unit

Fri, 24 May 2013 23:04:48 GMT

Keith Higgins was a third-year associate at his Boston law firm when he pitched in on Reebok International Ltd.’s initial public stock offering in 1985. When the sneaker giant was sold to Adidas 20 years later, he was the head of the legal team on the deal.

Menino endorses Markey in Mass. Senate race

Fri, 24 May 2013 22:35:01 GMT

BOSTON (AP) — Democrat Edward Markey made public eight years of tax returns on Friday just hours after winning both the endorsement and the considerable political clout of Boston Mayor Thomas Menino as he faces off against Republican Gabriel Gomez in Massachusetts' special U.S. Senate election.

6 tips on managing your 401(k) plan effectively

Fri, 24 May 2013 22:23:32 GMT

The run-up in stock prices this year could tempt even the most hands-off investor to wade into their 401(k) and make some changes.

Analog Devices prices senior debt notes

Fri, 24 May 2013 22:14:55 GMT

Norwood’s Analog Devices Inc. recently disclosed the pricing of senior unsecured notes of about $500 million. The bonds carry a rate of 2.875 percent and are due to mature in 2023. Analog said it intends to use a portion of the net proceeds to fund the redemption of its 5.00 percent senior unsecured notes due 2014. The semiconductor maker also said it intends to use remaining proceeds for general corporate purposes, which may include stock repurchases or acquisitions.

Mass. Senate hopeful Markey releases tax returns

Fri, 24 May 2013 21:48:15 GMT

BOSTON (AP) — Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Edward Markey released eight years of tax returns Friday, showing virtually all he's earned has come from his salary as a member of the U.S. House of Representatives.

Investors shift focus to growth stocks

Fri, 24 May 2013 20:14:54 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — Growth stocks, neglected at the start of the year, are starting to get a bit of love from investors again.

Recalls this week: Children's beds, shades

Fri, 24 May 2013 19:22:29 GMT

A line of children's beds with defective mattress support rails and motorized shades with overheating batteries are among this week's recalled consumer products.

Summer travel forecast: Better, but no blowout

Fri, 24 May 2013 18:37:39 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — This summer, high rollers are flying to lavish hot spots for their vacations. The rest of us are driving to less luxurious places like nearby campgrounds.

Summer travel forecast: Better, but no blowout

Fri, 24 May 2013 15:13:17 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — The forecast for summer travel, 2013: Partly sunny.

Conn. House approves home foreclosure help bill

Fri, 24 May 2013 09:42:48 GMT

HARTFORD, Conn. (AP) — The state House of Representatives has approved a bill that would expand protections for homeowners facing foreclosure.

Big stores nix credit card settlement, file suit

Fri, 24 May 2013 00:29:22 GMT

Some of the country’s largest retailers, including Target Corp. and Macy’s Inc., and TJX Cos. on Thursday filed a lawsuit against MasterCard and Visa, rejecting a settlement reached last year over alleged fee-fixing.

6 tips on managing your 401(k) plan effectively

Thu, 23 May 2013 23:35:24 GMT

The run-up in stock prices this year could tempt even the most hands-off investor to wade into their 401(k) and make some changes.

IRS replaces official in tea party controversy

Thu, 23 May 2013 23:19:40 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — Moving quickly to stem a raging controversy, the new acting head of the Internal Revenue Service started cleaning house Thursday by replacing the supervisor who oversaw agents involved in targeting tea party groups.

Money market fund assets rose to $2.601 trillion

Thu, 23 May 2013 22:31:19 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — Total U.S. money market mutual fund assets rose $19.53 billion to $2.601 trillion for the week that ended Wednesday, according to the Investment Company Institute.

Mass. Senate candidate Markey to release returns

Thu, 23 May 2013 22:20:15 GMT

BOSTON (AP) — Democratic U.S. Senate hopeful Edward Markey agreed Thursday to release his tax returns dating back to 2005, one more year than was previously released by his opponent Gabriel Gomez, in a day of campaigning in which money from outside groups was at issue as well.

House backs variable rate student loans

Thu, 23 May 2013 21:54:01 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — Dismissing a veto threat from President Barack Obama, lawmakers in the House passed legislation that links student loan rates to the ups and downs of the financial markets in a vote largely along party lines.

Pepper your wardrobe with 'Gatsby' glitz for less

Thu, 23 May 2013 21:28:00 GMT

NEW YORK (AP) — Baz Luhrmann's big screen adaption of "The Great Gatsby" is shining a spotlight on Roaring Twenties glam fashions, from drop-waist dresses and head scarves to crisp bow ties and spectator shoes. But you don't need a wallet the size of Jay Gatsby's to get the look.

SEC orders former investment banker and Timothy Cahill aide to pay $100k civil penalty

Thu, 23 May 2013 20:15:33 GMT

The US Securities and Exchange Commission has ordered Neil M.M. Morrison, a former investment banker at Goldman, Sachs and ex-top state treasury aide to Timothy P. Cahill, to pay a $100,000 civil penalty, citing what the agency said was his role in a pay-to-play campaign fundraising scheme for Cahill. The agency’s order also bars Morrison from working in the securities industry for five years as part of the negotiated settlement that brings to an end a two-and-a-half year investigation into his activities in raising campaign funds and participating as a chief advisor in Cahill’s campaign for governor in the 2010 election. SEC regulations sharply restrict public-finance bankers from contributing to political figures and elected officials who issue public bonds.

Muni bond investors on edge over tax proposal

Thu, 23 May 2013 20:09:08 GMT

BOSTON (AP) — Municipal bonds continue to provide a reliable refuge from stock market volatility and a steady source of tax-free income.

US companies challenging contraception mandate

Thu, 23 May 2013 20:01:09 GMT

DENVER (AP) — Hobby Lobby Stores Inc. is challenging the part of the federal health care law that requires for-profit companies to offer employees health coverage that includes products the business owners find morally objectionable, such as certain types of contraception.

News Summary: US mortgage rates up, but still low

Thu, 23 May 2013 19:39:11 GMT

RATES RISE: Average U.S. rates on fixed mortgages rose this week to their highest levels since mid-March. Even with the gains, they remained close to historic lows.

Mass. Senate hopeful Markey to release tax returns

Thu, 23 May 2013 17:55:57 GMT

BOSTON (AP) — Democratic U.S. Senate hopeful Edward Markey has agreed to release several years of his tax returns.

US rate on 30-year mortgages rises to 3.59 pct.

Thu, 23 May 2013 17:53:48 GMT

WASHINGTON (AP) — Average rates on fixed mortgages rose for the third straight week, hitting their highest levels since mid-March. Still, mortgage rates remained close to historic lows, a trend that should help sustain the housing recovery.

Review: Google music plan solid, serendipitous

Thu, 23 May 2013 16:41:57 GMT

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Google's new music service offers a lot of eye candy to go with the tunes. The song selection of around 18 million tracks is comparable to popular services such as Spotify and Rhapsody, and a myriad of playlists curated along different genres provides a big playground for music lovers.

Retirement savers have seen a big bounce since the recession, Fidelity says

Thu, 23 May 2013 16:21:16 GMT

Retirement savers with 401(k) accounts have seen a big bounce since the recession, according to Fidelity Investments, as rising markets pushed the average balance to a record $80,900 at the end of the first quarter of the year. That marks an 8.4 percent increase from a year ago and 75 percent growth since the market’s low during the first quarter of 2009. Back then, the average balance plunged to $46,200. The recent gains are a result of employees continuing to contribute their own money to their accounts, as well as improved investment returns. An analysis of retirement savers age 55 and older, who’ve been with the same employer for a decade, found an average balance of $255,000 – nearly double their average balances in 2009, Fidelity said.