Once again, it’s time to make some New Year’s resolutions. This year, in addition to promising yourself that you’ll hit the gym more often, learn a new language or take up a musical instrument — all worthy goals, of course — why not set some financial resolutions?

Don’t forget about our plans for publishing during the holidays.

    In the past few years, Americans have done a pretty good job of whittling down their debt load. If you’re in this group, you may now have a chance to use your lower level of indebtedness to your advantage  — by investing for the future.

Submitted by Gary Coon

Here’s a disturbing statistic: One out of every five Americans over the age of 65 has been victimized by a financial scheme, according to the Investor Protection Trust, a nonprofit organization devoted to investor education. If your parents are in this age group, should you be concerned? And can you help them avoid being “scammed” so that they maintain control over their finances?

 By Jeff Roth

With all of the national concerns, even protection of our funds in a nationally insured banking institution can be at issue. Several years ago the government increased the amount of coverage from $100,000.00 to $250,000.00 per depositor, per insured bank, for each account ownership category. The government devised a very complicated formula to determine exactly how much would be protected. It combines the entire depositor’s like accounts in the calculation. Protection is granted based on ownership and stated beneficiaries.