Times Staff Writer One of the more generous and immediate tax breaks included in the big tax package President Bush signed into law last week is a boost in the child tax credit. Here's a guide to how it will work. As banks trim lending rates after Fed action, consumers can save by refinancing. Homeowners have the widest options. An easy way to start narrowing the field when choosing between retirement plans is to consider the restrictions.
Spring is in the air, and letters announcing college financial aid awards are in the mail.
This year, those letters are likely to cause confusion and concern among the college-bound and those who pay their bills. CD yields have plummeted, but those willing to shop around or change strategies can find better rates. Rising layoffs and a declining stock market are taking their toll on Americans' confidence about retirement savings, according to the Employee Benefit Research Institute's annual retirement survey. Complaints against brokerages for selling securities bought with borrowed money are up. But that happens when the value drops.