Personal Finance - baltimoresun.com

Consuming Interests: New airline pricing rules go into effect

By Michelle Deal-Zimmerman — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 15:52:00 EST

If you're booking a flight today, airfares may appear higher than yesterday but they're really not.

Eileen Ambrose: Retirees face the risk of outliving their money

By Eileen Ambrose , The Baltimore Sun — Mon, 6 Feb 2012 17:49:00 EST

Treasury Department proposes a solution: annuities through workplace plans

Until recently, retirement planning focused mostly on helping workers accumulate savings.

Electric deals often look good — until the contract ends

Jay Hancock — Mon, 6 Feb 2012 18:08:00 EST

Your first job as a Maryland electricity shopper is to sign up for a good deal at a good price. I'll remind you how to do so later in the column.

Maryland regulators and libraries launch financial literacy clearinghouse

Eileen Ambrose — Tue, 7 Feb 2012 14:21:00 EST

Need to find help with budgeting or to fend off a foreclosure in Maryland?

Q+A - What is shadow banking and why does it matter?

Michelle Martin — Tue, 7 Feb 2012 07:45:13 EST

LONDON, Feb & (Reuters) - The shadow banking system makes up 25 to 30 percent of the total financial system, according to the Financial Stability Board (FSB), a regulatory task force for the world's group of top 20 economies (G20).

Eileen Ambrose: Moves to lower your tax bill

By Eileen Ambrose , The Baltimore Sun — Sun, 5 Feb 2012 00:00:00 EST

Be prepared for new forms and mileage rates

Death and taxes might be certain, but the latter changes each year.

Sallie Mae changes fee after online student protest

Eileen Ambrose — Fri, 3 Feb 2012 10:40:00 EST

Stef Gray launched an online protest against a $50 loan forbearance fee imposed by private student loan giant Sallie Mae. The fee is $50 per loan for a maximum of $150 per three-month reprieve on payments.

Investors worry where to put cash as banks wobble

Chris Vellacott — Fri, 3 Feb 2012 09:38:02 EST

LONDON (Reuters) - Investors are holding more cash than at any time since the Lehman Brothers collapse to protect themselves against volatile financial markets, presenting them with a dilemma - where to hold that money when banks are looking shaky.

Workers must start getting 401(k) fee disclosures late summer

Eileen Ambrose — Thu, 2 Feb 2012 10:49:00 EST

Amazingly, the government has had to require businesses that provide accounting, recordkeeping, legal and other services to 401(k) plans to tell employers just how much they are being paid -- and if they have any conflicts of interest. Read my earlier story about this.

Survey finds heartening level of consumer spending for Valentine's Day

By Sandra M. Jones — Wed, 1 Feb 2012 00:00:00 EST

You can't buy love, but that isn't stopping Americans from spending plenty on jewelry, flowers, candy and dinner out this Valentine's Day, according to a report released Wednesday.