Personal Finances

Safety measures to take when banking online

In mid-2011, roughly 200,000 Citigroup credit card customers received some startling news. Hackers had accessed the gigantic bank's system, a security breach that exposed account holder's names, e-mail addresses and account numbers to hackers.

News of the breach created a sense of panic among Citi's customers. Despite the fact that customers' social security numbers, dates of birth, card expiration dates, and card security codes were not compromised, the breach did leave those customers whose information was accessed susceptible to further fraud. Having names and matching sensitive information, such as e-mail addresses and account numbers, enables hackers to potentially perpetuate mass fraud, leaving Citi customers at great risk.
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Delaying retirement has financial, social benefits

The need to save for retirement is something professionals start hearing about from the moment they begin their careers. Whether it's parents extolling the virtues of retirement plans or employers who encourage their employees to take advantage of their retirement programs, saving for retirement is never far from the minds of professionals.

As important as such savings can be, many workers are deciding to delay their retirements. As much as men and women envision retiring to a faraway seaside villa for their golden years, such retirements are not terribly common, and many older workers have begun to recognize the economic and social benefits of delaying retirement. Those undecided about when they want to say goodbye to the office should consider the following benefits to delaying retirement.
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Finding the right bank for personal banking

When searching for a bank to do their personal banking, many people find banks aren't all that different from one another. Banks offer similar services, and many have similar rules and regulations with regards to opening a personal account.

Though banks might be similar, the individuals who open accounts are anything but. And when it comes to finding the right fit to for personal banking, men and women should consider what's most important to them before opening a new account.
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Avoiding financial woes from a health condition

Those who are not self-made billionaires or beneficiaries of another's vast fortune rely on their paychecks to stay afloat. Should that steady source of income be removed due to an illness or injury, it may not be long before a financial crisis ensues.
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How to manage personal debt

As if anyone needs their memory jogged, debt is a substantial problem for men and women living in fully developed countries. Estimates vary, but numerous surveys have indicated the average American household has more than $10,000 in credit card debt, a figure that doesn't include debt such as mortgages, car loans or student loans. In Canada, an early 2011 report from the Vanier Institute of the Family suggested the debt-to-income ratio for the average Canadian family was 150 percent, which means that for every $1,000 a Canadian family earns, it owes $1,500.
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The basics of estate planning

With regards to finances, the future is a big part of many people's financial planning efforts. Be it the kids' college tuition or the day when retirement finally arrives, financial planning is all about the future.
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Things to know about using credit abroad

The opportunity to travel overseas is something few people would pass up. But before travelers board a jetliner for an adventure abroad, there are a few things they should know about credit cards and what to expect when those cards are swiped in a foreign country.
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Did you know?

A credit score is a number generated by a mathematical formula, or algorithm, based on information in each individual's credit report. Lenders use different scoring models to determine if an applicant is worthy of credit, and these different models are why men and women have three different credit scores. But each of these models relies heavily on an individual's credit report.
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