If you have a mortgage, loan, line of credit, or a credit card, it may be in your best interest to accept the creditor life and disability insurance that goes along with it. Although it will cost you extra money out of pocket, it may just be worth your while.

1. It can give you peace of mind. If something were to happen that drastically changed your ability to earn income, you want to know that you and your family would be protected. Without insurance, you would still be expected to make payments to your credit products. But, with insurance, you would know that it would be paid of in full in the event of your death and that your disability insurance would kick in if you were unable to work due to an accident or injury.

With the holiday season in the rearview mirror, we are all getting back into our normal routines. Unfortunately, that means starting to think about tax season 2012. April is right around the corner, after all, and if you foresee an inability to pay your full tax bill in full, this can be quite disconcerting. To help ease concerns, the California Society of CPAs recently announced some important strategies for dealing with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) if you cannot cover your total tax toll.

Before we get to them, however, there are a few things that you need to know about the IRS, its practices, and the terminology you can expect to come across when dealing with an inability to pay:

In a recent article about the negative effect Swiss banking secrecy and hypocrisy have on the rest of the world, we suggested the creation of a revamped banking community, in which member nations would share information about bank accounts held by foreign nationals with their respective governments and member banks would require that identifiable individuals be behind every account (even corporate accounts). These rules – defiance of which would result in economic ostracism – would help prevent tax evasion, money laundering, drug trafficking, and other criminal activities. In formulating this idea, we did not specifically consider the effect such a system could have in curbing terrorism, but recent sanctions levied by United States against Iran as well as banking institutions doing business with the country have indeed made this utility clear.

The U.S., together with Britain and Canada, announced on Monday Nov. 22, 2011, new sanctions against Iran – targeted to the country’s petrochemical sector and organizations with terrorist ties – that are designed to put increased pressure on the Iranian economy and thereby limit nuclear development as well as funding and training for terrorist groups around the world. The Obama administration hopes that by designating Iran as a “primary money-laundering concern,” companies will break off ties with Iran in order to remain in good standing with countries like the U.S. that are opposed to its practices.

A few months back, I wrote an article about how glaring flaws in Lufthansa’s rewards program were causing me to question my long-time relationship with the Star Alliance member. With these doubts in mind, the 100,000 initial bonus miles being offered at the time by the British Airways Credit Card proved too much to resist. What’s the worst that could come of shifting my airline loyalty program allegiances and opening the British Airways Card, I thought? Sure, BA’s network of partner airlines doesn’t even come close to matching Star Alliance’s, but shouldn’t that result in the company compensating via better rewards, customer service, etc.?

Apparently not, as my experience thus far with the British Airways rewards program has made Star Alliance look terrific by comparison. While BA’s problems are numerous, they can be separated into two primary categories: effectively worthless rewards and unprecedentedly bad customer service.

Saving money in your household finances needs to be a top priority, especially when you consider the difficult economy in which we are living. Every dollar and every cent counts and so does every one that you can save. There are many ways that you can stretch the hard earned cash in your household to make it last longer and work harder. Here we zero in on the top six money saving tips for your household that you can start doing not tomorrow, next week, or next month,  but today!

1. Pay your credit cards off in full every month. The interest you will pay if you carry a balance from month to month is astronomical and not something you even want to think about! Okay, maybe thinking about it for a minute is essential to driving the point home. Consider the fact that a $1,000 balance that is being charged at 18 % will cost you approximately $200 a year in interest charges. Wouldn’t you rather keep that $200 in your bank account? When you use them pay them off- completely!

In one corner, we have the Black Card. In the other, we have, uh, the Black Card. Confused? Most likely, and that’s exactly why American Express recently engaged in a legal battle for the right to use the name that has come to signify wealth and status not only in the credit card industry, but throughout society and pop culture as well. Rappers routinely crow about their Black Cards in songs, athletes and movie stars are spotted using them by the paparazzi, and they’re even employed in shows like “The OC” and “Entourage” to signal things like prosperity, greed, or overspending to viewers. While Amex was successful in nullifying the Black Card LLC’s trademark on the term “Blackcard,” several trademark infringement and false advertising claims remain unsettled, as does the ultimate question: Which is the better Black Card?

American Express Centurion Card
Though the American Express Centurion Card has long been shrouded in secrecy – an Amex representative responded to a request for comment by saying, “We actually can’t confirm much about the Centurion Card as we don’t talk about its services or benefits” – a few things are substantiated, including its fee structure and the fact that it is available by invitation only. The rest we can only glean from various sources and first-hand accounts, almost as if the Centurion Card is a Bigfoot-esque mythical creature.

During a recent experience to forget with WalMart.com and its customer (dis)service department, I happened upon something likely to be quite interesting to both American Express and anyone using an American Express small business credit card.

It all started when a WalMart representative informed me that my digital gift card order had not been completed as a result of a problem with my credit card. I, of course, reacted by immediately flipping the card over and calling the number listed on the back for Amex’s 24/7 small business customer service department…or so I thought.

When most entrepreneurs need to go to banks or investors to raise funding, they realize they need to develop a business plan. But, unfortunately, most entrepreneurs complete their business plans incorrectly, and thus fail to raise money.

Interestingly, most entrepreneurs do include much of the key information they need in their business plans, such as the executive summary, industry analysis and marketing plan sections. But, since most entrepreneurs have the wrong mindset when creating these plans, they fail to achieve their goals.

Whether you are well-versed in international economics or not, you’re probably aware that Europe is having substantial problems. You’re also likely familiar with the resulting worldwide ripple effects: uncertainty amongst investors, fears of a global double-dip recession, and widespread political upheaval, just to name a few. Of course, there are a number of prominent theories for how to solve Europe’s debt crisis, but given the depth and complexity of the problem, none is perfect and each requires tough choices to be made. People – not just in Europe, but around the world – need hope, however. We need a plan, a sense that these economic issues are finite and not permanently debilitating. So, with that being said, what say we take a quick look at four different courses of action that Eurozone governments can take, the pros and cons of each, and which will provide the most long-term benefit without causing short-term chaos.

Option 1: Economically sound European countries pay down southern debt
This plan would involve countries like Germany, the Netherlands, and Finland using savings, tax revenue, and export surpluses to help pay down the debts of southern neighbors like Greece, Portugal and Italy until they are at manageable levels. Such an approach is logical in the sense that the economies of European Union (EU) nations are interconnected, and the default of one or more countries would have negative repercussions for others.

While the tradition of stores being veritable zoos on Black Friday continued this year – news reports describe consumers getting pepper sprayed, trampled, and even shot – many people turned to the Web for their Thanksgiving purchasing, hoping to score the same deals without the lines, bodily harm, and overall hassle. Unfortunately, this approach did not help Walmart.com customers save money or live better, as we all learned the hard way. You see, before learning of the technical problems that plagued the retailer’s website on Black Friday, forcing shoppers to look elsewhere to complete their purchases, I had quite the adventure when trying to purchase a digital gift card.

My ordeal began on the Tuesday before Thanksgiving when I placed my Wal-Mart electronic gift card order. It’s important to note from the start that I opted to get a digital gift card precisely because the person I was buying it for wanted to purchase a TV from Walmart.com on Black Friday. In order words, time was a factor. After providing my payment information and completing the transaction, I received an e-mail confirmation, saying that the gift card would be delivered to the recipient’s inbox within a few hours. Everything was going according to plan.

Not everyone is getting an email from his or her employer to enroll in health and dental insurance this year.

Unfortunately, in the last two years, we’ve witnessed 9 million adults losing their health coverage as nearly a quarter of working-age adults either lost their job, or dealt with a spouse losing their job, according to a 2011 Commonwealth Fund survey.

On the eighth day of Christmas, my true love sent to me…eight things to know about gift cards this holiday season. Sure, you might have been expecting some milk maids or something, but with gift cards firmly entrenched as the most popular type of holiday present and the U.S. agriculture industry not what it once was, you might find this more useful. So gather together your swans, geese, golden rings, calling birds, French hens and turtle doves; get that partridge out of the pear tree; and settle in to learn everything you need to know about getting better gifts this year

1.  Last year’s leftovers are still valuable
It’s not just you; all of us in general don’t even come close to using all of the gift cards we receive each year. In fact, a quarter of U.S. adults have at least one gift card left over from last year, and 55% of them have more than two, according to a Consumer Reports Holiday Survey. The top three reasons people gave for not using their cards: not finding anything they want to buy, lack of time, and forgetfulness. It’s not too late to get value from old gift cards, however, as you can sell them for cash via an online gift card exchange.

Impulse purchases, we all make them and almost always end up regretting them later. Decisions involving money should always be well thought out. For me at least, impulse buys almost always end up being bad decisions. They are bad choices because you haven’t taken the time to decide if you really need the item or you just want it. Since you also did not spend any time doing any comparison shopping, purchases made on a whim will cost you more.

So how do you stop yourself from making these bad choices time and time again? Here are five ways you can stop your impulse purchasing habits.

Unions are inextricably tied to the U.S. economy. Since the industrial revolution, they have served an important purpose, ensuring that there is a balance of power between management and labor. But what if things have gone too far? Could unions actually be costing Americans jobs by forcing companies to outsource? And, if so, what’s the solution?

To understand the role of labor unions today and how they could be jeopardizing your wallet, we must circle back to their origins. When most of the U.S. labor force was concentrated in mills and factories in small towns and growing industrial epicenters, connected only by a limited railway network, unions played the dual role of watchdog and agent. They ensured that management could not subject workers to inhumane conditions or force them to accept unfair compensation by giving workers bargaining power borne from unity, organization and educated leadership. For many of us, the noble role unions played during this time, righting wrongs like those explored in Upton Sinclair’s famous novel about the U.S. meatpacking industry, The Jungle, created a romanticized image that unfortunately does not match up with current realities.

When you think of Switzerland, the first few things that likely come to mind are bank accounts, chocolate, and neutrality, and there’s a reason for that. The Swiss love to portray themselves as mild mannered people who eschew crime, make delicious candy and run perhaps the most unique banking industry in the world. But hidden behind this façade are layers of hypocrisy and implicit criminal involvement, which allow illicit operations to flourish around the world and provide safe haven for tax evaders. Lost in the aura and tradition of Swiss banking isolationism is the negative effect the Swiss system often has on citizens of other countries. The bottom line is that economies around the world are now more interconnected than ever, and if we want the world to become a safer place or all U.S. citizens to be held accountable for the same tax laws, then Switzerland will need to adjust or risk expulsion from the Western financial network.

Swiss Banking’s Murky Past
Swiss banking secrecy officially took effect in 1934 with the passage of the Swiss Banking Act—which effectively made it illegal to share bank account information with third-parties, including Swiss authorities and foreign governments—and even the circumstances of these origins are enough to raise eyebrows. Switzerland has long justified its banking secrecy laws by harping on the merits of personal privacy, and while this is likely a large part of the equation, scholars seem to agree that the aforementioned 1934 law was passed in reaction to a French scandal, which involved France’s Prime Minister accusing distinguished French citizens from various walks of life of stashing money away in Swiss banks and thereby funding the Nazi regime.

Think all secured credit cards are the same? It’s ok, you can admit it. I mean, it’s a natural assumption; they all require minimum security deposits of around $200, the exact amount you put down equals your credit line, you get back your deposit minus any outstanding balances when you close your account, and so on and so forth. Interestingly though, a new study helps complete the picture and reveals some important differences between secured credit card issuers.

Overview & Application Requirements
The first thing you need to know is that not all banks or credit card companies offer secured credit cards. In fact, only 62% of the issuers investigated in the study do. What’s more, there are some minimum requirements for approval that all issuers must abide by. Some are going to seem familiar, others may be a surprise:

By now, everyone knows what Verizon, Sprint, and AT&T have to offer in terms of standard data, texting and talk plans for the new iPhone 4S. But what about the niche aspects of major carriers’ iPhone offerings? Not every consumer is content with plain vanilla utility and many, in fact, require certain supplemental features. With that being said, we took a look at how the aforementioned networks differ in terms of international usage costs, mobile hotspots and how “Night & Weekend” minutes are classified.

Night & Weekend Minutes
In our previous article examining the iPhone 4S, we noted that the three carriers offered calling plans in terms of how many “Anytime” minutes they provided: 450, 900, or “Unlimited.” Obviously, if you opt for the unlimited anytime minutes, the number of “Night & Weekend” minutes you get or when in the day these minutes begin doesn’t matter, but the same cannot be said for those of you that choose the two other options. So let’s take a closer look at what they offer.

Retirement is ultimately a function of your bank balance, not your age. Not long ago, I came across some statistics which showed that the majority of the US population will either retire broke or still have to work to have a decent retirement.

I don’t know about you, but this isn’t even close to good enough for me, and definitely is not in alignment with my vision of a happy retirement lifestyle.

You’ve likely seen the Sprint commercial that shows phones from the four most prominent smartphone carriers—Sprint, Verizon, At&T and T-Mobile—racing up a chart, almost as if they are those mascots that race at sporting events, in order to display the differences in their data plans. And while it’s been around since about late July, this commercial might not have struck a chord with you until the October 4 announcement that Sprint would for the first time be carrying the iPhone. With the new iPhone 4S slated to hit stores tomorrow at 8 AM, many of you have a tough choice to make in terms of which network to get it on. So, how are you supposed to decide?

Obviously, people already under contract will stick with what they’ve got, but where you cell phone free agents end up depends on precisely how much texting, talking and e-mailing you plan to do. Each of the networks carrying the new iPhone—the aforementioned four, minus T-Mobile—offers plans at different price points, and figuring out your usage habits ahead of time is the best way to get the coverage you need without incurring extraneous costs. To help in this endeavor, we took a look at the best carriers for different types of smartphone consumers:

In a previous article, I made the case that usury laws are counter-productive. Usury laws, which cap interest rates for lenders, completely fail to serve their intended purpose of forcing banks to deliver affordable loans and instead result in the declining availability of loans for anyone whose credit history merits an interest rate above an arbitrary cap. While this is still true for regular interest rates, I would like to suggest one particular feature of our contemporary lending industry that could actually benefit from usury laws: Penalty rates.

Why? Because penalty (or default) rates on loans and credit cards currently dictate the order in which consumers repay their debt obligations during times of crisis and invite banks to engage in reverse competition over who can charge the highest interest rates.

Every so often, talk of curbing excessive lending practices by instituting usury laws at a federal level resurfaces, and speeches are made, hearings are held and editorials are written, but nothing ever comes of it. This begs a couple of questions: For starters, what are usury laws exactly, and—perhaps more importantly—do we need them?

Usury laws are those that prevent high interest rates, and as a result typically garner popular support, especially in times such as these when the economy is fledgling and anger toward financial institutions is running high. However, you cannot truly evaluate the merit of these laws, which at their basis are a means of forcing lenders to serve the greater public good, without understanding their practical effect.

While the positive effects of the financial laws passed over the course of the last few years have indeed been many, these new regulations have also served to limit financial institutions’ means for making money. For example, debit card interchange fees have been capped at about 24 cents per transaction, credit card companies can no longer raise interest rates on existing credit card balances unless delinquency reaches 60 days, banks can’t charge overdraft fees unless accountholders agree to opt-in for the ability to overdraw their accounts, and people under the age of 21 can’t open credit cards without either a co-signer or the assets and income required to cover minimum payments.

From the time these laws were first proposed, people have been wondering how banks would recoup their losses, and to a certain extent, these questions have been answered. Having already lost much of the $25-38 billion they once charged in overdraft fees and now facing what Card Hub estimates to be $9.4 billion in lost interchange fee revenue, major banks like Wells Fargo, Chase, SunTrust and Regions are adding fees to checking accounts and are gearing up for a push to prepaid cards. Most banks have also stopped offering unsecured credit cards for bad credit in light of credit card fee restrictions.

I will bet that if you have had to apply for at least two mortgages in your life the process was not the same for both. This is because the mortgage industry is constantly changing and lenders are always updating their guidelines for mortgage qualification.

Before the housing bubble burst you could get a mortgage on a ‘Stated Income’. This simply meant you told the lender what your income was and they gave you a loan based on that income (these were one of the types of loans that contributed highly to the housing bubble). After the bubble burst and the recession hit, lenders and banks tightened the reigns. They required more documentation proving income, assets and other factors to be sure you would not default on your loan.

Until recently it had been far too easy to fall in the trap of relying on a not-so-keen sense of frugality to keep your expenditures in order–especially while out and about. Was it just last week that you bought that new TV you had to have because it was on sale? Did your buddy Ted already pay you back for that one time you covered his dinner because he forgot his wallet at home? Maybe you’ve got a few hundred dollars to go before you hit your spending limit, right?

We all know how those stories end. You end up missing payments, dealing with overdraft fees or penalties, and falling into debt. Okay maybe that’s an overstatement–but it can happen often enough that it remains a very real worry.