Special Feature

Even as health insurance companies promise to support President Obama�s push to provide insurance coverage for the estimated 50 million Americans who are currently uninsured, they have been relatively silent about making changes to the small business market, a category that includes many medical practices.

Ask stock market professionals whether the recent run-up in the market is a signal that the economy is turning around and you’re likely to get a variety of opinions – yes, no, and maybe.

The recent outbreaks of swine flu have highlighted what some healthcare experts say is a critical shortage of laboratory technicians in the US.

Some middle-income taxpayers will lose and some may win under new income tax rates proposed by the Obama administration.

As healthcare professionals struggle through the same economic restraints as the rest of the country, the need for a more dynamic, more reliable form of patient payment is growing exponentially.

Deciding how to divvy up assets between taxable and tax-deferred accounts has always been confusing and potential changes in the tax code won’t make it any easier.

Law enforcement officials predict that the total number of victims this year will be far higher than the 8.1 million recorded two years ago, as scammers kick it into high gear.

In a tough economy, finding ways to enable your business to run more efficiently is critical, but not always easy. Working lean, but not necessarily mean, is important for small businesses like physician practices.

Is the recent jump in stock prices a bear market rally, another example of irrational exuberance, or the real thing?

A new idea floated on Capitol Hill is to tax health benefits, which are currently exempt. Employees don’t pay tax on the value of their company-sponsored health insurance and companies get to write off the cost as a business expense.

When the Federal Reserve announced the results of the bank stress tests, was your bank among the black sheep? Or was it one of those that got a clean bill of health? And what difference does it make to you?

With the interest-rate adjustments recently announced by the U.S. Treasury, however, investors can’t be blamed for looking the other way. The new interest rate on Series EE bonds is 0.70%. The rate on Series I bonds, which is adjusted for inflation, is 0%.

The Consumer Confidence Survey released April 28, 2009 shows an increase in confidence – up to 39.2, an increase from 26.9 in March. But what does this mean?

When the markets turned sour last year, just about every asset class collapsed, leaving traditional buy-and-hold investors awash in red ink. As a result, many financial advisors are facing angry clients and some are switching tactics to preserve their client base.

There is much confusion when trying to figure out the alphabet soup of investment advisor professional designations and credentials. When a physician is evaluating a potential financial advisor, what credentials or professional designations are important?

As the recession drags on, consumers are hunting for more ways to stretch their dollars. Not all spending cuts are equal, however.

The devastation in the stock market not only has many doctors postponing their plans for retirement, it also has many retired physicians looking for work.

Economic indicators can have a significant impact on the stock market, so knowing how to interpret and analyze them is important for you as an investor.

When you clean out your closets or your garage and donate clothing, sporting goods, or unused appliances to a charity, how do you figure out how much the stuff is worth so you can deduct that amount?

Many more couples in second marriages who need help to clarify their estate planning and resolve issues like who pays for their kids’ college. But they have to be prodded.

Money may be tight, but perhaps you don't feel like taking a vacation close to home to save cash. Lucky for you, cruises and tours in Alaska are going at deeply discounted prices.

Jumping on a plane for an international vacation may not be an option right now, but don�t let that stop you from journeying with Dr. Anderson as he shares his travels through Russia with us.

Though today�s cars leave much to be desired in terms of how environmentally friendly they are, there are still things we can keep in mind when purchasing our next vehicle.

Credit cards can be especially bad because of the debt they can get us into and their sky-high interest rates. But there are some contrarians who believe that using a credit card can sometimes be the best way to go.

A recent survey presents a mixed picture of what’s happening in the healthcare benefits arena. The one consistent result is that both employees and employers are reacting to the current economic problems, although in different ways.

When it comes to selecting stocks, you’ll find everyone has their own opinion and few experts can ever agree. There are two main schools of thought on how to select good investment stocks - and they are quite different.

In a recent summit meeting with executives of 14 major banks, President Obama urged them to voluntarily adopt the consumer protection reforms reflected in the Federal Reserve rules scheduled to take effect on July 1 of next year.

In response to a probe by the Texas Attorney General�s office, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Texas says it no longer uses claims data from doctors to measure their affordability and rank them accordingly.

Like with many projects that Congress puts its hands to, the stimulus bill that President Obama signed in February has generated a lot of questions. One of the most common misconceptions is that stimulus payments will come by check, like the rebates that were enacted under the Bush administration.

There are opportunities to be found, and good places and people to invest with even in this challenging period. Here are some "rules of the road" for successful investing, which do not include keeping all of it in cash under your mattress.