dropcard.com - business news

'Dearly beloved, we are gathered here . . . to exchange credit scores.' OK, you might not want to go that far, but sharing financial data before marriage can help a relationship.

The US government's tab (and the taxpayers' tab) for fighting the financial crisis grows week by week, and the potential bill is far into 13 figures already.

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Paul Heck owns EveryHome, A successful real estate brokerage in suburban Philadelphia. The 53-year-old never considered making a Roth IRA part of his retirement plan. While Heck understands the substantial tax advantages of a Roth, he makes too much money to qualify. Recently, however, he got a tip from his financial planner about an upcoming change in the tax law that will allow Heck - and many other business owners - to seize a back-door opportunity to open a Roth.

Two readers weigh in with ideas on getting bailout dollars into the hands of consumers. Because if the Treasury chief can't decide how to spend it, we can.

Making lightweight canoes had long been a labor of love for Joel Flather, founder of Compass Canoes in Taunton, Mass. But last year, at age 66, Flather decided to sell his ten-year-old business to a larger boating company. The transition confronted Flather with one great unknown. "We never had a pension plan at my company," he says, "so funding the future became an important issue."

Despite crummy economic news, the Dow and S&P 500 enjoy their biggest four-day percentage gains since the 1930s. Techs are strong, and General Motors and Ford jump on new bailout hopes. The Fed OKs the Bank of America-Merrill Lynch merger.

It is troubling to consider exactly how much money is being thrown at the economy. Taxpayers will eventually have to pay for all this somehow.

SmartMoney test-drove free online personal shoppers, looking for presents that were clever, thoughtful and affordable. One Web site stood out from the rest.

Banks, automakers, now even my tot wants a bailout. Why stop? Here are more enterprises we could help while we're being silly.

Falling markets and a sour economy have opened a gap of more than $200 billion in the pension plans of S&P 500 companies, including Ford and GM. Will taxpayers get stuck with the bill?

Even in turbulent times, don't be tempted to stop saving or cash out your retirement accounts.

The government offers new initiatives to ease tight consumer credit markets and boost mortgage lending. Tech shares fall on Hewlett-Packard's weak outlook. But Google jumps on reports its lead in search has expanded.