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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 June 2007 Issue of
MONEY
[Full stories also available online at www.CNNMoney.com ] WHERE TO PUT $5,000 NOW, by Asa Fitch and George Mannes, page 77 It's no fortune, but you can do great things if you put your money to work Where's the best place to put five grand? The special report in this issue aims to help you answer that question by asking you first to decide which of five broad goals — ranging from building wealth to enriching your life — matters most to you right now. For each of those goals, you can then choose from at least half a dozen brilliant moves, all of them distilled from the smartest advisers in the field. So, it's still your call. But now you can make it with confidence. CARDS THAT PAY BIG-TIME REWARDS, by David Futrelle, page 46 Want cash, discounts or air miles? These cards will give you the most Sure, rewards cards promise free travel, cash back and other goodies, but they often come with high interest rates that can wipe out any savings. And in many cases it's nearly impossible to cash in your points, which is why more than 41% of cardholders rarely or never claim their rewards, according to a GMAC survey. Fortunately, there are cards that have sane rates (and no fees) and aren't stingy with the rewards. Here are the best of the bunch.
RX AMERICA, by Pat Regnier, page 84 Politicians are talking health reform again and they have THREE BIG IDEAS for how to get there. And each one will make a big difference in your family's bottom line Health-care reform has pretty much been off the table since 1994, when Bill Clinton's push for universal coverage was squashed. But that's changing. A recent CBS News/New York Times poll found that two-thirds of Americans think the government should guarantee access to insurance. So the health-care debate is back, and this time it's not going away. As the presidential aspirants unveil their plans and the special-interest groups roll out their attacks in the coming months, expect to hear about those old demons "socialized medicine" and "greedy insurers." The real debate is more subtle, thank goodness, and comes down to three big ideas that are taking hold in proposals from across the ideological spectrum: making insurance mandatory, changing the tax code, and mixing public and private coverage. Whatever the end result, it's going to have a big effect on your family. Here's how. MONEY'S GUIDE TO ALTERNATIVE CARE, by Patricia B. Gray, page 90 From acupuncture to vitamins, a money-wise guide to alternative therapies. Which are worth the cost. And which are useless, or worse Americans are embracing alternative medicine with a passion. The most recent federal survey on the topic, in 2002, showed that half the adult population had used alternative therapy. Boomers are the top users: Nearly 70% of people 50 to 64 have tried alternative therapy, from acupuncture to chiropractic to meditation to supplements, according to a 2006 survey by AARP. And as demand has grown, the medical establishment, once avowedly anti-alternative care, has started to accept it. But don't jump on what's hot or what's hyped; it's sure to disappoint you. (Think Echinacea and Pets.com.) Treat information from sources who have something to sell you with a high degree of skepticism. Be wary of grandiose promises. Pay attention to fees. And invest only in things that have track records of effectiveness and safety. After all, the most valuable asset you own is your good health. Where can you go for the straight story? Start here, with MONEY's guide to the major categories of alternative therapies, their usefulness and their costs. SO MANY COLLEGES, SO COSTLY TO TOUR THEM ALL, by Dan Kadlec, page 49 Got a kid who's college-bound? Here's how to visit all those campuses without breaking the family bank These days kids expect to visit a dozen or more colleges before they decide where to apply, and a few more after acceptances roll in (you hope) to determine the winner. Every campus has its own vibe, and experiencing it firsthand really is helpful. But seeing too many schools can also be counterproductive — the distinctions blur, and it's both stressful and expensive. A single overnight trip for two can top $1,000 for air fare, car rental, hotel, meals and parking. Now multiply that by 12. MONEY shows you how to be smart when searching for the right college.
LONG-DISTANCE ASSISTANCE, by Kate Ashford, page 35 You live here. They live there. The best ways to help your aging parents when they're not down the street If Mom and Dad are in West Palm Beach and you're in Chicago, it can be tough to make sure everything's okay. You have a career and a home of your own to tend to, and popping by is out of the question. But that doesn't mean you can't be involved and even help them out substantially from wherever you are. Here's how to make it work.
PLUS: Three fast fixes: Reaching out to help mom and dad. LOAN SHARKS ON CAMPUS, by Lynn O'Shaughnessy, page 25 What aid officer-lender relationships mean for your kid The prospect is anything but appealing: You—and possibly your offspring—will have to borrow gigantic sums to pay those college bills soon coming due. Worse, you may be getting that money from lenders who haven't been playing fair. Already the New York State attorney general has uncovered enough about the student-loan industry to make you shudder. Worst among its transgressions: paying kickbacks to colleges to win spots on their "preferred lender" lists, to which students and parents are steered. Colossal Sallie Mae and two other loan companies have already agreed to multimillion-dollar settlements. And further investigations are in the works. Might the lenders' scandalous behavior force you to pay more than you would otherwise? The answer is: not if you're smart about borrowing. Here's how. CONGRATULATIONS, YOU'RE THE BOSS! NOW WHAT?, by Sam Grobart, page 38 Tips for ruling the new empire you've been handed So you put your time in, did a yeoman's service to the company, and you've won a senior management position. Way to go, tiger. But it's funny, isn't it? After the celebratory steak dinner, the pat on the back from colleagues and friends, reality sinks in: You have absolutely no idea how to be the boss. You can always sign up for one of those courses at the American Management Association, like "managing difficult employees" or "delegation boot camp." But that takes time you may not have because, well, you have a job to do. Instead, think about the following three rules other bosses have discovered. You can put them into effect immediately.
SAVE A BUCK, SAVE THE WORLD, by Jean Chatzky, page 30 You don't need to go broke to go green. In fact, you can help the planet and your budget at the same time Until recently I pretty much ignored the environment. I owned three successive SUVs and drove them without a lot of guilt, ran the dishwasher when it was half empty and rolled my eyes at the suggestion I might want to buy organic. But I've had a change of heart. I drive a small wagon, not an SUV; the dishwasher stays off until it's full (unless I've been cooking fish; there are limits); and I even started buying organic milk. You may have had a similar consciousness-raising of late. But if you're like me, you're not quite ready to grow your own organic food, spend a small fortune on solar panels for the roof or freak out every time one of your kids forgets to turn out a light. Still, there are a slew of small changes you can make that will have a positive impact on the world around you — and, believe it or not, on your wallet as well. ALSO START: Price Me out of the Ballgame The cost of two box seats along the third-base line? Outta the park. Add on sodas, hot dogs and parking, and you begin to see where A-Rod's salary comes from. PLAN: Finding The Right Words: Honey could you please not spend our last dime? HOME: Let Your Home Value Blossom Landscaping offers one of the best returns for your renovation dollars INVEST: Is There a Time Bomb in Your Portfolio? These common mistakes could send your retirement savings up in smoke. The Right Way to Handle a Surprise Why a one penny shortfall in a stock's earnings makes Wall Street go crazy, and how to keep yourself sane. Janus Plots a Comeback, but Wait to Buy the Ticket After years of scandal and dismal returns, the fund group is on the rebound. Now let's see if it can last. Where are the Values and How to Buy Them Despite the Dow's run-up, some sectors of the market are cheap. With ETFs, you can own the best of them. SPEND: How to Cushion Yourself Against a Hard-Drive Crash You could run headfirst into a world of misery if you don't get smart about protecting your data Zeroing In on the Kids GPS-equipped phones can tell you if they are where they're supposed to be. MONEY is available in digital format. To access this version go to http://digital.money.com
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