Gail MarksJarvis - chicagotribune.com

Gail MarksJarvis: Stock market's next act may hinge on Greek drama in June

Gail MarksJarvis — Wed, 30 May 2012 05:00:00 GMT

Elections will be crucial to U.S., global economy

As strange as this might sound to an American, the well-being of your 401(k) in June will largely depend on the national elections held in Greece on June 17.

Rising U.S. consumer optimism runs up against analysts' anxiety about Europe

Gail MarksJarvis — Sat, 26 May 2012 05:00:00 GMT

Falling gasoline prices a bonus for Americans

American consumers are feeling more carefree than they've been since just before the Great Recession. That attitude arrives just as analysts worldwide are fretting about the prospect of a new global recession.

Card debt still choking low, middle incomes

Gail MarksJarvis — Fri, 25 May 2012 05:00:00 GMT

Americans have been successful at getting some of their debts off their backs, but many still have a long way to go.

Eurozone's turmoil threatens global economy

Gail MarksJarvis — Thu, 24 May 2012 05:00:00 GMT

Warning of recession on continent without quick action by European leaders

When economic and financial conditions have grown particularly dicey in the eurozone during the last couple of years, European leaders have made a habit of throwing pacifiers at the markets.

Eurozone's turmoil threatens global economy

Gail MarksJarvis — Wed, 23 May 2012 05:00:00 GMT

Fear and speculation amid Europe's woes and Facebook IPO

Gail MarksJarvis — Sat, 19 May 2012 05:00:00 GMT

Investors can't get past the gloom that continues popping up as Europe struggles with debt and recession, and the U.S. economy remains too lame to spark new jobs.

Is that all there is?

Cost of MBA teaches tough financial lesson

Gail MarksJarvis — Fri, 18 May 2012 05:00:00 GMT

MBAs can run over $300,000 but some schools give sizable aid to cut debt levels close to beginning pay

Joe Mihalic wasn't thinking at all about how he was going to pay off student loans — which would end up totaling $101,000 — when he was accepted to Harvard Business School.

Face it: Facebook IPO not the best buy in open market

Gail MarksJarvis — Wed, 16 May 2012 02:31:00 GMT

Just because you love the product doesn't mean you'll love the stock

Facebook may be your friend or where your friends hang out. But that doesn't mean the stock will be friendly to you if you rush to buy it within the next few days.

1st-quarter earnings exceed expectations, but skeptics say the bar was low

Gail MarksJarvis — Sat, 12 May 2012 12:38:00 GMT

Outlook for 2nd quarter not so bullish

Not bad.

Key money pointers for moms on their day

Gail MarksJarvis — Fri, 11 May 2012 05:00:00 GMT

Mothers would probably do just about anything for their families. That's among the character traits praised in millions of households onMother's Day.

Teaching financial experts about the cost of bad investments

Gail MarksJarvis — Wed, 09 May 2012 05:00:00 GMT

Number crunchers and investment advisers taken to task about roles in financial crisis

Americans would like an apology from Wall Street for the financial crisis.

Early year optimism fades amid fears of lethargic growth

Gail MarksJarvis — Mon, 07 May 2012 14:21:23 GMT

U.S jobs, Europe's woes weigh on investors

Another slap in the face from a jobs report, and we start another week looking at a limping recovery rather than a confident stride.

Fund on target as long as you accept the risks

Gail MarksJarvis — Fri, 04 May 2012 05:00:00 GMT

Q: I work for a company with a 401(k). I'm 24 and investing in the T. Rowe 2055 investment fund. Am I investing the right amount and am I using the right year fund? I get a 2 percent match (of salary) from my company and I put in 3 percent of every paycheck.

Is 'sell in May' the way to go?

Gail MarksJarvis — Wed, 02 May 2012 05:00:00 GMT

Wall Street adage often right about market losses through October, but there are reasons for optimism this spring

"Sell in May and go away."

Corporate earnings keep investors happy

Gail MarksJarvis — Sat, 28 Apr 2012 05:00:00 GMT

Earnings have provided momentum to the market, and after an early April decline stocks could end up for the month, the fifth-straight month of gains

Encouraged by earnings reports, investors have shrugged off European debt worries and lackluster U.S. growth and are positioned to possibly make April the fifth-straight month of gains in the Standard & Poor's 500 index.

Parents also must avoid crippling student debt

Gail MarksJarvis — Fri, 27 Apr 2012 05:00:00 GMT

Student loan debt has soared to about $1 trillion, with many college students naively tying a noose around their futures with crippling levels of debt. But what about their parents?

Austerity debate carries consequences that can be explosive

Gail MarksJarvis — Wed, 25 Apr 2012 05:00:00 GMT

Fiscal issues in Europe and U.S. may further trouble economies

The world's great austerity debate is under way and you've been feeling it in your 401(k).

Earnings season off to strong start

Gail MarksJarvis — Sun, 22 Apr 2012 05:00:00 GMT

McDonald's among companies reporting better-than-expected 1Q results

McDonald's Corp. threw an earnings Happy Meal at investors late last week and allowed them to go through the weekend in better spirits than they've been able to muster lately amid renewed angst over European debt woes.

Make it your business to start retirement plan

Gail MarksJarvis — Thu, 19 Apr 2012 19:44:18 GMT

If you started a business during the last few years, and then watched too much of your earnings evaporate at tax time, you might be able to change that.

How long can Apple reign?

Gail MarksJarvis — Wed, 18 Apr 2012 05:00:00 GMT

History shows mightiest kings fall from stock market thrones sooner or later

Apple was knocked off its lofty perch this week, as the market's most beloved stock fell almost 10 percent over five trading days.

File now, make requests to the IRS later

Gail MarksJarvis — Mon, 16 Apr 2012 18:08:00 GMT

The last thing you should do if you can't afford to pay your taxes by April 17 is to hide and hope they go away.

Jobs, Fed and Europe throw a scare into the market

Gail MarksJarvis — Sun, 08 Apr 2012 05:00:00 GMT

Stocks stumble as old fears re-emerge

Back in the dumps again.

Student has a chance at college of choice

Gail MarksJarvis — Fri, 06 Apr 2012 05:00:00 GMT

Q: I'm a counselor trying to help a high school senior who wants to go to an expensive college she can't afford. She's been accepted to both Boston College and New York University for this fall, but the financial aid they are offering is vastly different. Unfortunately, her favorite school is offering only a $5,000 Pell grant, and the college that interests her least has promised her $31,000 in scholarships. Is there anything she can do to get her favorite college to make this more affordable?

Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner likes what he sees in economy, cautions against sharp deficit cuts

Gail MarksJarvis — Thu, 05 Apr 2012 02:30:00 GMT

Geithner, addressing Economic Club of Chicago, says improvement is 'promising'

Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner said Wednesday in Chicago that improvement in the economy is "promising" after strong gains in investment and exports, but he emphasized that aggressive deficit cutting now could undermine the recovery.

Idea of weaning off Fed support makes market jittery

Gail MarksJarvis — Wed, 04 Apr 2012 05:00:00 GMT

Investors expected more stimulus from Federal Reserve and were disappointed Tuesday; now, attention turns to earnings

Investors want their fix from the Federal Reserve, and the prospect of not getting it sent shudders through the stock market Tuesday.