Investment Planning Resources

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You can count on Provident's Financial Consultants* to help you with your investment planning needs. But for some general advice and tips to help you with your investing and retirement planning, please check out the links on this page. If you have any questions, your initial consultation with a professional, experienced Financial Consultant is free. Just call (650) 508-0300 or (800) 632-4600, ext. 2487.

Reference

• IRA Comparison Chart [pdf] Compare and contrast the three main types of IRAs (Individual Retirement Accounts) and ESAs (Education Savings Accounts).
• Glossary of Financial Planning Terms Definitions to all the possibly unfamiliar words you might hear or read about financial planning and related products.
• IRA and ESA Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) Frequently Asked Questions about the three main types of IRAs (Individual Retirement Accounts) and Coverdell ESAs (Education Savings Accounts).

Learning Library

• Year-End Tax Planning Tips You may not be able to avoid Uncle Sam, but with careful planning, you may be able to minimize the tax bite. Here are a few year-end tax planning strategies.
• 10 Money Saving Ideas These days its more important than ever to save money for your future and for that of your family. Here are ten ideas to help you along.
• Are You Saving Enough? Most individuals understand that in order to achieve significant financial goals, they must learn to make saving a significant part of their lives. As a nation, however, how successful are we at saving?
• Five Tips For Folks Over 50 As you get older, your investment strategy changes. Here are 5 tips for those entering their silver years.
• Choosing Your Retirement Benefit Distribution Consider carefully how you want your benefits on your pension funds to be paid out during retirement. The distribution methods you select may impact your family for years to come.
• Retirement Reminder When figuring out how much money you'll need to live on during retirement, remember to budget for "wants" as well as needs. Such as...
• Withdrawing Money without Penalty Consider carefully how you want your benefits on your pension funds to be paid out during retirement. The distribution methods you select may impact your family for years to come.
• Plan Now, and Retire in Comfort The best way to ensure a comfortable retirement is with early planning. Here are some general guidelines to get you started.
• Building Wealth: It's Never Too Late Tips on how to improve your prospects for a comfortable retirement, if you didn't start saving early enough.
• Increase Your Savings to Achieve Your Financial Goals It is important to make saving a habit. We'll show you ways to jump start your savings program.
• What Makes Your Portfolio "Tick"? Market trends aren't the only things that affect how well your investments perform. Here are six more factors that make a difference.
• Five Steps to a Healthier 401(k) Don't let the investments in your 401(k) get out of whack. Follow these 5 steps to keep your 401(k) "in the pink."
• Protect Your Retirement When Leaving Your Job Changing jobs? Wondering what to do with the money in your existing employer-sponsored retirement plan? We'll help you out with some tips.
• Five Key Aspects of Family Financial Management Focus on these 5 areas to help preserve the financial security of your family, send your children to college, prepare for a comfortable retirement, and more.
• 529 Plans Offer Tax Benefits When Saving for College 529 Plans are a great, tax-smart way to save for your child's future education. Read more to find out why.
• The Financial Rewards of Aging Learn what the key ages of your life are, in relation to retirement accounts and Social Security.

Media Resources on the Web

The following links are to resources outside of the Provident Credit Union Web site that may also help you with your Investment Planning and money management. Provident does not control the content on any of the following links:

SFGate: Net Worth

• Little support for new home-buyer tax credit
  Is another federal home-buyer tax credit coming? Shaun Donovan, secretary of housing and urban development, dodged that question over the weekend, leading to speculation that the Obama administration might pursue another one. But it's hard to see where... Shaun Donovan - United States Secretary of Housing and Urban Development - Presidency of Barack Obama - Tax credit - United States
• ETF companies call San Francisco home
  San Francisco, which is already home to the largest exchange traded fund purveyor (iShares) and one of the fastest growing (Charles Schwab's ETF division) is about to get another player in this hot industry. Russell Investments, the Tacoma, Wash., investment... Exchange-traded fund - Charles Schwab Corporation - San Francisco - IShares - Russell Investments
• Sept. 16 deadline to redeem Microsoft vouchers
  California consumers have until Sept. 16 to redeem vouchers that Microsoft agreed to issue when it settled a civil class-action suit in 2003. The suit claimed that Microsoft violated California's antitrust and unfair competition laws and thereby overcharged... Microsoft - San Francisco Chronicle - Business - Chronicle - New York Times
• New analysis of student loan repayment rates
  A large percentage of borrowers who left college in the past four years made no principal payments on their federally guaranteed student loans in 2009, according to the Department of Education. This is the first time the department has calculated and... Student loan - Loan - United States Department of Education - Education Department - College
• Mortgage refinancing difficult for many
  With mortgage rates at record lows, there has never been a better time to refinance your mortgage. But with unemployment high, home prices low and lending standards back to more prudent levels, large numbers of homeowners can't qualify for a new loan and are... Mortgage - Refinancing - Business - Financial Services - United States
• Jobless numbers may be too grim
  Has the job market really taken a turn for the worse? An unexpected increase in the weekly jobless claims last week sent the stock market reeling, but some analysts question whether that number is painting an overly gloomy picture. On Thursday, the U.S. Labor... San Francisco Chronicle - Chronicle - Arts - Music - Education
• Good-faith estimates bring higher closing costs
  Closing costs on home loans have increased over the past year, two reports show. A new survey by Bankrate.com showed a startling 37 percent jump in estimated closing costs. The survey compared certain costs reported on the good-faith estimate lenders must... Bankrate - Loan - Closing cost - Good faith estimate - Bankrate.com
• Wells Fargo debit card fee rebate possible
  Today I'll answer questions about my Thursday blog post on Wells Fargo overdraft fees and my Aug. 5 column on Social Security. Q: Jeannine W. asks, "I read your article about the Wells Fargo case. Are customers going to get any rebate?" A: If the decision in... Wells Fargo - Debit card - Overdraft - Social Security - United States
• Feds offer aid to renters as well as homeowners
  Congress and the Obama administration have committed tens of billions of dollars to keep homeowners in their homes. Renters, who make up about one-third of households nationwide - and close to two-thirds in San Francisco and other large cities - wish the... San Francisco Chronicle - Chronicle - Games - Roleplaying - Horror

Personal finance news - CNNMoney.com

• 4 tips for caring for mom and dad
  Caring for an ailing or aging parent is never easy, but the challenges only multiply when Mom and Dad live far away.
• Tips for getting homeowners insurance
  1. Loyalty is overrated
• McDonald's sizzling stock
  Can these arches stay golden if the economy tumbles again?
• Money's new More Money blog
• Second act: Software to wind energy
  Jim Maguire describes himself as being ahead of his time, and he's hardly bragging. In 2002, Maguire -- who managed software projects for large companies -- was consulting in Germany when he discovered "the next big thing."
• Can mom afford to work only part-time?
  Shawn and Mary Kate DeRose live comfortably on a combined $133,000 income. They pay their debts, save for retirement, even have room to splurge on dinners out and high-end gym memberships.
• Are Americans de-banking?
  The financial crisis that destroyed some of the world's biggest banks and sent others to the brink of failure have changed Americans' idea of lending and borrowing. While most still seem to have no problems storing their money at banks small and large, a few trends indicate that everyone from consumers to some of the world's largest companies are straying away from large financial institutions as sources of funding.
• Quest for the perfect credit score
  A major league pitcher dreams of throwing a perfect game. High schoolers eyeing the Ivy League study furiously in hopes of earning 2400 on the SAT. Meanwhile, Chris Peplinski is pursuing his own brand of flawlessness: an 850 credit score.
• 6 steps to improve your credit score
  Ready to embark on the quest for an 800 credit score?
• Nab the best rates on all loans
  To ensure the best deal on any loan, aim for 780-plus on your FICO score. But, that's not always possible. Here are the minimum scores for the best rates on loans.
• Credit card debt at an 8-year low
  The amount of credit card debt consumers are carrying dropped to an eight-year low and delinquencies continued to decline in the second quarter as consumers looked to shore up their savings.
• Boost your company's profits, boost your career
  The person at your office who routinely brings in millions of bucks worth of business probably doesn't have to worry about job security. Or begging the boss for a raise. Or advocating for a promotion.
• State tax hikes could go too far
  Some U.S. states facing steep budget gaps have resorted to tax policies that could be harmful over the long term, a non-profit research group said Monday.
• How financial reform will really work
  Almost two years after the near collapse of the U.S. financial system, a sweeping reform package has finally been signed into law. Now the real work begins.
• 5 investing bubbles
  Even after multiple crashes, investors still tend to pile into overheated sectors. From the Chinese economy to gold, a look at the biggest risks today.
• The U.S. is a mess. Should we invest overseas?
  Question: Looking into the future of the American economy, I see tons of debt, the yoke of increasing social spending, pork-fed bureaucratic waste, the exporting of jobs and the importing of poverty. While this may paint a negative picture, I feel it's reality. We all want to be patriotic, but aren't there more fiscally responsible places to invest in that may offer a better landscape? --Dave, Bethlehem, Penn.
• Do high-cost funds pay off?
  Question: I'm trying to choose between two funds in my 401(k) that invest in the same sector. One has higher fees, but it also performs better. How can I tell if a fund's performance is worth the higher price? --Jordan, San Antonio, Texas
• Will the next pop be the bond bubble bursting?
  Question: I'm within five years of retirement and currently have about 35% of my investments in bond funds. With rising interest rates a likely scenario, how do I stay diversified without exposing myself to a "bond bubble"? -- John Clay, East Helena, Montana
• Skeptical of too-good-to-be-true retirement plans
  Question: Are you familiar with something called a Plan B pension? Is it a legit investment and, if so, how can I sign up? --Lloyd, Decatur, Georgia
• Tired of living paycheck to paycheck
  Question: I've been trying to be a little more thrifty lately. I realize that a lot of the luxuries Americans have are "wants" not "needs." Basically, I'd like to balance my household budget so I don't end up with just $30 at the end of the month. I'd even like to start building some savings. Any suggestions? --Kim, Idaho Falls, Idaho

BusinessWeek.com -- Finance

• Battle of the Big Brokers
  It has fewer advisers, yet Merrill Lynch's brokerage unit has a big edge over Morgan Stanley's in profit
• A China Cheat Sheet for Investors
  Bloomberg columnist Ben Simpfendorfer offers five simple points to help investors understand the world's second-largest economy
• TXU Tumbles as Natural Gas Imperils Biggest LBO
  A plunge in natural gas prices has raised concern the utility may have a harder time meeting its debt payments
• Barclays Said to Hire Pratt as Asia Debt Capital Markets Head
  Barclays Plc hired Jon Pratt as head of debt capital markets for Asia ex-Japan, according to a person familiar with the matter.
• OGI’s Bedwick Set to Double Macro Fund Assets to $100 Million
  The OGI Global Macro Fund, run by former Lehman Brothers Holdings Inc. proprietary trader Allan Bedwick, is set to double assets to about $100 million this month after outperforming hedge-fund peers globally.
• Otsuka Said to Hire Morgan Stanley, Nomura, UBS
  Otsuka Holdings Inc., Japan’s largest privately owned drugmaker, hired Morgan Stanley, Nomura Holdings Inc. and UBS AG to manage an initial public offering that may take place before year-end, four people familiar with the matter said.
• Kokusai Buys Record World Bank Debt in Push for Yield
  Japanese investors are scooping up record amounts of bonds sold by the World Bank and state-backed lenders, seeking higher returns as government debt yields tumble.
• Hard Times for Wall Street's "Sell Night" Recruits
  In the post-TARP era, "sell night," the Street's annual August ritual of hosting steak dinners and strip-club expeditions, is over
• Stock Picks: Apple, Cisco, Zumiez
  Wall Street analysts offer buy, sell, or hold opinions on stocks in the news on Sept. 2
• Reheating the Job Market After a Chilly 'Recovery Summer'
  Without the right focus in Washington, job creation will continue to be slow and unsteady, says columnist Frank Aquila
• Stock Picks: Ford, Infosys, JPMorgan
  Wall Street analysts offer buy, sell, or hold opinions on stocks in the news on Sept. 1
• Home Prices
  Aug. 31 -- Karl Case, an economics professor at Wellesley College and co-creator of the S&P/Case-Shiller home-price index, discusses the U.S. housing market
• Mackerel Row
  Aug. 31 -- Bloomberg's Ryan Chilcote reports on a dispute between Iceland and the U.K. over mackerel fishing quotas and the risk the row may affect the North Atlantic nation's bid to join the European Union

SmartMoney.com

• How to Survive Hurricane Earl
  Here are 10 steps to prepare your home and valuables for the storm.
• Late Push Lifts Dow Before Jobs (Market Update)
  Stocks mounted an afternoon rally to close near the day's highs as investors awaited...
• New Apple TV Could Shift Video Rental Trends (Deal of the Day)
  Where you rent is increasingly about what technology you use.
• Which Stocks Survived the August Selloff? (Tradecraft)
  Hoenig: Let your winners run -- and cut your losses.
• India Calls for Web Data From Google, Skype (Early Bird)
  Like RIM before them, the firms face a new mandate.
• 3 Stocks With Customer Satisfaction Appeal (Screens)
  Hough: Studies show firms that satisfy clients take care of shareholders, too.
• Co-Op Maintenance Fees Are Rising
  Budget-strapped boards are charging more for building services.
• 10 Things Graduate Schools Won't Tell You (10 Things)
  The big question: Will an advanced degree lead to a bigger paycheck?
• Not a Stockpicker's Market
  Despite increasing talk of ominous market indicators, stocks are more likely to rally.
• 11 Tips to Cut Your Grocery Bills (Deal of the Day)
  Offset rising food prices with smart savings strategies.
• Jail Bonds Can't Bar Defaults (Muni Bond Watch)
  Public money and private prisons sentence investors to portfolio worries.
• Apple Makes Internet-TV Push
  A new Apple TV can deliver 99-cent rentals of TV shows over the Internet.
• Saving on Taxes in a Lousy Economy (The Tax Guy)
  The upside of the gloom? Some valuable tax breaks.
• College Savings Plans Cut Fees
  Some 529 savings plans are cheaper, but they aren't perfect for every parent.
• Get a Flu Shot for Less (Deal of the Day)
  Consumers looking for a seasonal flu vaccination can get them early and cheap.

Fool.com Headlines

• Is DuPont Stock Cheap Right Now?
  Let's take a look.
• Does Amgen Pass Buffett's Test?
  Discover one of the Oracle of Omaha's favorite ways to size up a stock.
• What Apple TV Should Be, but Still Isn't
  A fear-based strategy can't be good for shareholders.
• The One Thing to Know About Colgate-Palmolive
  Learn the most important metrics when evaluating a CEO.
• Are You Hanging On to These Energy Companies?
  These volatile stocks make your stomach turn.
• Who's the King of Android Phones?
  It all depends on where you look.
• Dividends Aren't Enough: Credit Cards
  This simple secret can reveal a company's true generosity.
• Why Apple Needs a New Social Network
  Technology firms play ping pong with their customers' affections.
• 6 Stocks to Consider Before Buying ExxonMobil
  If you like ExxonMobil, you may like these six better.
• Could China Add Potash to Its Commodities Hoard?
  Following BHP Billiton's bid for PotashCorp, lots of eyes are on China.
• Is Pfizer Stock Cheap Right Now?
  Let's take a look.
• The One Thing You Must Know About Target
  Learn the most important metrics when evaluating a CEO.
• 6 Service Stocks Getting Slammed
  These dividend-paying service stocks could be good bargains.
• McDonald's Leaves the Beef Behind
  The fast-food giant further expands in India.
• The 7 Most Popular High Yielders in Consumer Goods
  You may be surprised.
• Is Trouble Ahead for China Green Agritech?
  Does this highly-shorted stock deserve it?
• Don't Let It Happen, Sonus Networks
  Keep ahead of Wall Street with this secret tool.
• Best Dividend Play: AT&T, Windstream, or Telecom New Zealand?
  Which is the best?
• Will AVX's Next Quarter Be a Bomb?
  Look here for a clue.
• How Much of a Bargain Is Schlumberger Stock Right Now?
  Let's take a look.
• Don't Buy This Clean Energy Stock Yet!
  You'll get burned if you jump into this market too early.
• 6 Companies Hating the New iPod Touch
  The new iPod touch is so cool, it makes other companies shiver.
• The Most Popular High Yielders in Food and Drink
  You may be surprised.
• Does Amazon Pass Buffett's Test?
  Discover one of the Oracle of Omaha's favorite ways to size up a stock.
• Don't Let It Happen, Cirrus Logic
  Keep ahead of Wall Street with this secret tool.
• The 7 Most Popular High Yielders in Pharma
  You may be surprised.
• How Much Is Kimberly-Clark Worth?
  Is Kimberly-Clark's stock on sale?
• How Cheap Is General Electric Stock Right Now?
  Let's take a look.
• Technically, Chesapeake Energy Is a Sell
  Assuming you pay attention to lines on a graph.
• Time to Short JA Solar Holdings?
  Does this highly shorted stock deserve it?
• Is Sigma-Aldrich Growing or Slowing?
  Look here for a clue.
• Picture of the Day: How High Can a Dead Cat Bounce?
  Wednesday's report from purchasing managers isn't all it's cracked up to be.
• Checking for Revenue Tricks at Talecris Biotherapeutics Holdings
  Look here for a clue.
• Are Shorts Watching Mead Johnson Nutrition Co.?
  Look here for a clue.
• How Safe Are Inergy's Dividends?
  Evaluating the sustainability of dividend payments.
• How Safe Are Xilinx's Dividends?
  Let's find out.
• Will World Wrestling Entertainment's Dividends Last?
  Evaluating the sustainability of dividend payments.
• Nordic American Tanker Shipping's Dividends May Not Last Forever
  Evaluating the sustainability of dividend payments.
• Will Tyco Electronics' Dividends Last?
  Evaluating the sustainability of dividend payments.
• Technically, Isilon Systems Is a Buy
  Assuming you pay attention to lines on a graph.
• Technically, BB&T Is a Sell
  Assuming you pay attention to lines on a graph.
• The One Thing to Know About Caterpillar
  Learn the most important metrics when evaluating a CEO.
• The One Thing You Must Know About Occidental Petroleum
  Learn the most important metrics when evaluating a CEO.
• Is Amedisys a Short?
  Does this highly shorted stock deserve it?
• Dividends Aren't Enough: Prescription Drug Services
  This simple secret can reveal a company's true generosity.
• Dividends Aren't Enough: Drug Services
  This simple secret can reveal a company's true generosity.
• Dividends Aren't Enough: Clinical Laboratories
  This simple secret can reveal a company's true generosity.
• Dividends Aren't Enough: Media Companies
  This simple secret can reveal a company's true generosity.
• These Stocks Are More Dangerous Than You Think
  Companies can keep this liability off their balance sheets.
• 6 Big-Time Material Stocks Up for Grabs
  These large-cap stocks look pretty cheap
• Don't Let It Happen, U.S. Steel
  Keep ahead of Wall Street with this secret tool.
• Ford Hits a Pothole
  Sales declined in August. Should investors worry?
• Fatter Wallet. Up 22%. Still Risky.
  Orexigen gets a mirror image of Arena's obesity drug deal.
• Why Did My Stock Just Die?
  These stocks just rolled over. Can they come back?
• Does Hugh Hefner See Something You Can't?
  Entrepreneur Stephen Greer on pennies, Playboy, and precious metals.
• Meet the Cash Kings of Diversified Electronics
  These companies are rolling in greenbacks.
• Pfizer Takes an Orphan Into the Fold
  Rare diseases are the new black.
• 1 Stock You Should Avoid Right Now
  There are better places for your money.
• Orexigen Nabs $1B Deal With Takeda to Market Obesity Drug, Shares Climb
  Obesity treatments are still a lucrative market.
• The 10 Best Semiconductor Values
  Avoiding the high-risk, no-growth trap.
• Whoa! What Just Happened to My Stock?
  These stocks just took off, but are they about to make a return trip to earth?
• This Just In: Upgrades and Downgrades
  It's a bird. It's a plane. It's American Superconductor!
• Is This Furniture Company Worth Its Salt?
  How does this company look on this critical metric?
• Is This Stock-Picking Method Broken?
  Don't entirely count out quantitative-based investing.
• HP Won the 3PAR Auction
  And by "won," we kind of mean "lost."
• Jump on This Wealth-Making Move Now
  Why a Roth IRA conversion could be a big deal -- and why you need to do it soon.
• What Were You Thinking, Microsoft?
  AOL and Google go for another five years together.  
• How Many Oil Companies Should You Short?
  There's another energy disaster in the Gulf. What does it mean for investors?
• How Did You Manage That, AK Steel?
  Keep an eye out for suspiciously spotless earnings.
• 4 Utility Stocks Getting Slammed
  These dividend-paying utility stocks could be good bargains.
• Don't Let It Happen, Rite Aid
  Keep ahead of Wall Street with this secret tool.
• JDSU, an Optical Giant, Enters the CPV Market
  CPV going to where the sun is rather than where the subsidies are?
• Meet the Cash Kings of Beer
  These companies are rolling in greenbacks.
• What's the Best ETF Right Now?
  We poll a panel of Fools for their finest fund picks.
• Meet the Cash Kings of Paper
  These companies are rolling in greenbacks.
• The Next 4 Dot-Com Buyouts
  Another round of consolidation could soon sweep Web-based companies.
• These Global Giants Look Cheap
  Get emerging markets exposure without leaving the U.S. market.
• Meet the Cash Kings of Grocery
  These companies are rolling in greenbacks.
• How Did You Manage That, Hudson City Bancorp?
  Keep an eye out for suspiciously spotless earnings.
• The 7 Most Popular High Yielders in Real Estate
  You may be surprised.
• O E*TRADE Baby, Where Art Thou?
  The new E*TRADE ads are missing a little something.
• The U.S. vs. Steve Jobs
  Unemployment is up, but so are corporate profits. What's up with that?
• Don't Let It Happen, Weatherford
  Keep ahead of Wall Street with this secret tool.
• The 7 Most Popular High Yielders in Finance
  You may be surprised by these finance picks.
• 9 Takeover Targets Being Chased by the Smart Money
  A list of stocks that may have institutional investors circling.
• Follow This Top Global Fund
  A look at a leading mutual fund's top holdings.
• Is Cummins Going to Earn or Burn?
  Keep your eye on margins.
• The Biggest Green Market? Seven Reasons Why It's Green IT
  Solar, wind and biofuels are all fantastic technologies, but to make money, stick to IOPS.
• What's Up With This Margin Trend?
  Keep your eye on Margins.
• Will Energy Conversion Devices Earn or Burn?
  Keep your eye on margins.
• Are You Satisfied With These Margins?
  Keep your eye on margins.
• Today's Buy Opportunity: ADPT
  The former Adaptec presents a very special opportunity for investors.
• 6 Big-Time Electronic Stocks Up for Grabs
  These large-cap stocks look pretty cheap
• Is This the Next Long Term Capital Management?
  A new commodity ETF sports an Ivy League pedigree.
• Coloring in the Margins at Coventry Health Care
  Keep your eye on margins.
• 5-Star Stocks Poised to Pop: Leucadia
  Market-trouncing returns could be written in these five stars.
• 4-Star Stocks Poised to Pop: Coca-Cola
  Market-trouncing returns could be written in this 4-Star.
• Meet the Cash Kings of E-Commerce
  These companies are rolling in greenbacks.
• Apple Vs. Amazon Battle Continues: Adventures in TV Land
  Who's inching ahead?
• The One Thing That Apple Is Missing
  Apple may have a hit on its hand, but there's one way to make sure that it launches like a rocket.