Click here to print
Recent Press Releases (U.S. and international) for magazine issues and staff changes may be found below. Please note that for many issues there exists only a highlights sheet, while for others there may also be a full press release. The cover of Money's current issue is pictured at right. Please contact the appropriate communications staff member with any questions.
Highlights of the May 2006 Issue of
MONEY and Financial Planning Program
[Full stories also available online at www.CNNMoney.com ]
COVER STORY: WHERE TO PUT $5,000 NOW : Whether you're a money novice or a seasoned vet, here's what to do with a four-figure stash , by George Mannes and Michael Sivy, page 87 In life, the wherewithal to build a future tends to arrive in drips and drabs - the $8,000 bonus, the $2,500 tax refund, that $6,000 savings bond you've been meaning to cash in. Even when you've been at it for awhile, the bulk of your money decisions are more likely to involve these four-digit amounts than massive windfalls. So whether you're just getting started, hoping to buy a home, looking to invest or saving for college, where should you put five grand today?
TAKE YOUR MEDICINE : Medicare's May 15 drug-coverage deadline is approaching. But missing it will only hurt you later , by Cybele Weisser, page 23 Nobody likes a deadline, but Medicare-eligible Americans - and those who love them - are approaching a big one. On May 15, the open-enrollment period for the new Medicare prescription drug plan (known as Part D) officially ends for 2006, leaving those who have no other drug coverage out in the cold until next year - and, worse, subject to a permanent penalty on the amount they pay each month. THE SQUEEZE IS ON : Your kid got into college. (Whew.) Now, the hard part: how to pay , by Ellyn Spragins, page 37 Many families are facing staggering college bills just as they should be tacking another oversize financial challenge: saving for retirement. Is there anything scarier-or more guilt inducing-than having a kid ready to go off to college but lacking the dough to pay for it? How can you figure out a way to foot the bill for that B.A., or at least a big chunk of it, without undermining your own retirement savings? These strategies should help. DO IT NOW : Pay (a Lot ) Less for Phone Calls , by Janet Paskin, page 46 Between your cell phone and your home phone, your long-distance carrier and Internet provider, you face a stack of telecom bills every month. Are you getting the best deal you can? Probably not. Could you be dealing with fewer companies? Maybe. Take a deep breath, gather your bills, and look for these four signs that you're paying too much. FINDING A CONTRACTOR WHO WORKS FOR YOU : There's no place like home - until it's ruined by a hellacious renovation. Before you start, hammer out these details , by Kate Ashford, page 55. The home improvement industry gets more gripes from consumers than any other group. There are basic safeguards, of course, but there are other steps that can ensure you don't wind up being the tool in this relationship. NAB A LOWER CREDIT CARD RATE : Fed up with paying a high rate on your credit card when you know lower rates abound? Just pick up the phone and dial , by Amanda Gengler, pg 45 More than half of consumers who call their issuer to request a lower rate land a better deal. But you've got to know what to say. HOW TO KICK THE HIGH COST OF CHILD CARE : Cut nanny costs in half (without hiring Robin Williams), by Janet Paskin, page 48b In most states, a year of infant or toddler care at a typical day-care center costs more than tuition at a public university - without 18 years to prep for the payment. In fact, the average family spends 7.5% of its income on child care. These strategies can make the bills more manageable. THE COOLEST TOOL IN THE BOX : Exchange traded funds can cut your investment costs, lower your tax bill and simplify your life. Just make sure you handle them with care , by Walter Updegrave, page 121 When exchange-traded funds, or ETF's came on the scene in the 1990's, they looked like the rarest of new financial products-one that actually made money for you instead of just your broker-and you can still cash in on their original promise if you ignore the hype and instead focus on how they might fit into your long-term investing strategy. With that attitude in mind, here are five smart ways you can make the most of ETFs. RULES OF THE GAME : Do Old Money Rules Still Apply?, by Ryan D'Agostino, page 42 Rules change from generation to generation. It's time to take a look at which still hold true and which need an update.
PLUS: Ski in a T-Shirt: Late-spring skiing means longer days, fewer crowds and better deals. Now Hear This: Bluetooth headsets have slimmed down and shaped up. Off the Beaten Path: Now-between the Olympic Winter Games and the summer hordes-is the perfect time to go to Italy . Auto Awards: Who Really Wins. Rags to Help You Keep Your Riches : These newsletters could change your financial life for the better. ID Theft: Are You the Next Victim : When it comes to protecting your identity, maybe you have your head on your shoulders and maybe you don't. Test yourself and find out.
# # #
For further information please contact: Phil DiIanni
|