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Pay for Your Gas with Cash

noreply@blogger.com (pfstock) — Wed, 09 May 2012 03:38:00 +0000

While it may be difficult to fork over $50 for a tank of gas, sneering at the gas attendant won’t have any effect on rising prices. Station owners are barely turning out profits, as they are losing most of their proceeds to nasty credit card swipe fees. You may have noticed that many gas stations are starting to offer lower cash prices than credit card prices. While you may think this is merely to inconvenience you, you might want to consider taking heed of these discounts. By paying with cash or debit card, you are benefiting both yourself and these small business owners.

Recent Findings
Recent data from the Merchants Payments Coalition (MPC) has revealed, as gas prices increase, station owners lose more money, since credit card swipe fees are based on purchase percentages. This means, while we pay more and gas stations lose more, big banks collect big.

According to The Oil Price Information Service, in order to be competitive in the gas industry, gas providers typically lose about 2 cents per gallon per quarter. While these small business owners are losing, big banks are earning approximately 2-3 percent of each credit card purchase of gas, via swipe fees. So whenever gas prices go up, banks bring in higher profits without any additional effort. This comes to an added seven to ten cents per gallon for the consumer. "They (big banks) want to convince the public that gas stations are sitting on a windfall," said Lyle Beckwith, senior vice president of government relations at the National Association of Convenience Stores and MPC member. "In fact, many didn't even turn a profit last quarter in this hyper-competitive business."

The Loophole
The Federal Reserve may have made some efforts to thwart greedy bank practices by instituting a cap on high debit card fees, but they still have some cracks to fill. As the Federal Reserve's law did not include any mention of credit card swipe fees, many banks are replenishing their debit card fee losses with even higher credit card swipe fees (which are oftentimes hidden fees). It is crucial for the government to recognize this loophole before big banks run both our gas stations and our wallets dry.

Swipe Fee Statistics
The highest cost for gas retailers is labor, the second highest is hidden swipe fees. These fees, initiated by Visa, MasterCard, and other major banks, generally take approximately $2 out of every $100 spent on credit cards. As Americans, we are especially susceptible to this practice, as US consumers pay the highest swipe fees worldwide.

The price of gas increased 80% from 2004 to 2011. The price of credit card fees went up 180%. Of interesting note, during this time, the cost of providing electronic swipe transactions decreased considerably.

So the next time you complain about rising gas prices, don't blame the gas station owners. Remember, gas stations are small and often family-run businesses. According to Robert Fisher, who co-owns several Chevron gas stations and convenience stores, across Arizona, Oregon, and Washington, with his father, brother, and sister, "There have been times in the past month when I've been losing money for every gallon of gas I sell… It’s a very tough industry." So the next time you fill up, consider the Robert Fishers of the world over the big banks. Pay with cash or debit card to avoid hidden fees for you and the retailer.

Disclaimer
This is a guest post. The opinion expressed is that of the sponsor.

How Much Do You Make?

noreply@blogger.com (pfstock) — Tue, 01 May 2012 14:51:00 +0000

That is the question that everybody would like to know the answer to, but nobody wants to ask. I mentioned before how readers are innately curious about other people's net worth. I think this is because of people's natural curiosity -- wanting to assess how one is doing compared to others. When you read new blog or meet somebody new, do you ever wonder how much they make?

So, how much do you make? I have asked this question before, and I'm asking again. Since I write an anonymous personal finance blog, that gives me the unique luxury of being able to ask the question without personally offending anybody.

So the last time I asked, I received a few responses such as these:

married female, 30 years old (husband is 30 years old). both of us completely self made professionals with degrees from state schools. rental income is approximately $60,000. combined household income is approximately $200,000.

Male, Married,Age 29 and 28, both MSEE, both work for the same company, combined salary 240k. Networth 273k.

Male, 41, divorced. $145k AGI Net worth is low due to student loan debt load but 401k is maxed and I'm killing the loan too.

married Male, 42 275K + 50K options. Retail, networth 1.4MM wife unemployed, 1 child

Now, do you care to add your own comment on how much do you make?

Note: Anonymous comments are welcome. (I want to assure you that Blogger does not collect Email addresses or any other personal information, if you select "Anonymous" on the comment form.) See also the annual income poll in the sidebar of my blog.

PFS

Alternatives For Someone With Bad Credit

noreply@blogger.com (pfstock) — Wed, 18 Apr 2012 00:30:00 +0000

First and foremost, the United States is in one of the worst recessions we have seen since the Great Depression. Therefore, banks and other creditors are making it increasingly difficult for everyday people to obtain credit and purchasing power. With the dollar depreciating each and every year and inflation rising at alarming rates, it's no surprise that, in the near future, there will only be a few people who have access to credit at low APR rates. With that said, how does a person find a loan if they have bad credit? Furthermore, how does a person get out of the debt they are in, fix their credit, and get their credit back on track?

If you need an emergency loan, you need to ask yourself this question: Is this loan a necessity or a "want"? Many people often times find themselves in situations where they are desperate for a solution to their financial woes, and believe it or not, many of them look for loan sharks. Illegal ones at that. A website by the name of The Loan Shark Guide helps people learn the difference between legal lenders, and illegal lenders who will rip you off. The site is in the middle of an upgrade and looks rather ugly, but in the coming weeks/months the site will get a complete makeover, with the ability to help folks search for loans that fit their needs.

This brings up another conundrum, however.

Some will argue that payday loans and debt consolidation loans are the worst loan programs that a person could ever get into. While there are many payday loan companies out there that charge insane APR, the resolution lies in finding the right type of payday loan. You have to compare loan providers in order to make an informed decision. The best thing to do if you find yourself in an emergency financial situation, however, is to borrow from family or friends first. Payday loans, and other high interest loans, should be a last resort. If you know of an illegal lender, you can report them here.

Disclaimer
This is a sponsored post. The opinion expressed is that of the sponsor. PFStock.com does not specifically recommend or endorse any product or service mentioned above.

More on Discover Cashover

noreply@blogger.com (pfstock) — Tue, 10 Apr 2012 13:32:00 +0000

I recently noticed some renewed interest in my post about getting cash back at supermarkets when using Discover. Basically this post was about using the Discover Card in supermarkets, and then choosing cash back as an option during checkout. Usually, you can only request cash back when you pay with an ATM or debit card. Discover Card is the only credit card I know of that offers this, and they call this checkout option getting "cash over". For me, the cashover feature works like an interest-free loan because I pay off the card every month. Readers were interested in knowing if there was a list of all the participating stores. That list can be found on the Discover website (URL: www.Discover.com/cashatcheckout ).

But for the convenience of PFStock readers, I have decided to publish the whole list here. These are the stores where you can use your Discover Card when you check out and get cash over:

ACME
Albertson's
Army & Air Force Exchange Service
Baker's
Big Y
bigg's
bloom
Bristol Farms
Carr's
Coborn's
Cub Foods
Dillons
Dollar General
Dominick's
Family Fare Supermarkets
Farm Fresh
Food 4 Less
Food Lion
Fred Meyer
Fry's Food Stores
Garden Street Market
Gelson's
Genuardi's
Gerbes
GetGo
Giant Eagle
Giant-Landover
Glen's Markets
Haggen's
Hannaford
Heinen's
Hilander
Hornbacher's
Jay C
Jerry's
Jewel-Osco
King Soopers
Kroger
Kum & Go
Lucky
Lunds & Byerly's
Meijer
Owen's
Pavilions
Pay Less
Quality Food Centers
Ralphs
Randalls
Safeway
Sam's Club
Shaw's & Star
Shop 'n Save
Shoppers
Smith's
Sunflower Farmers Market
SuperValu
Sweetbay
Tom Thumb
Turkey Hill
Vons
Walmart
Winn-Dixie

If you don't have a Discover Card yet, I suggest that you apply for one in order to take advantage of this deal. One particularly popular credit card is the Discover® Open Road Card because it offers 2% cash back at all gas stations, year round. With gas prices increasing and summer travels right around the corner, every little bit helps. Plus there are no fees and other cash back bonuses.

PFS

Filing an Amended Tax Return

noreply@blogger.com (pfstock) — Sun, 08 Apr 2012 17:06:00 +0000

I won concert tickets from a radio station a few years ago. A VIP package to see one of my favorite rappers, Jay-Z. I bragged about my winnings to all my friends. The package was valued at a whopping $800, meet-and-greet included. I remember the prize department warning me to be on the lookout for a 1099 form (the concert tickets were taxable) but I never received it. When tax filing season rolled around months later, I didn't factor them in. Not because I didn't remember, but partially because claiming the prize was all sorts of confusing without the form; honestly though, I mostly didn't factor in the prize because I wasn't anyone important. Why would the IRS audit me? I pressed the continue button on the free e-filing software I had used since college and that was that. No turning back.

For four full years I came out unscathed. But one day I received a letter in the mail saying I owed the IRS $1,200 in taxes for the unclaimed tickets. There have been far worst cases, but $80 vs. $1,200? A huge difference for someone barely making ends-meet. If only I would’ve filed an amended tax return.

Often consumers innocently forget about additional income they earned throughout the year—whether it be through serving jury duty, dog sitting, getting a $50 bonus for opening up a new bank account or whatever. It happens. This is why I've learned that organization is crucial—helps with "remembering." If you forget, hopefully you won't get audited like I did. But if by some off chance you happen to remember about the extra income before tax filing season is over, or you remember about a deduction that you qualify for, you should definitely file for an amendment tax return. It can save you a lot of financial turmoil in the end or give you a bigger return.

So how does one do this? You'll need to have all of the documents you used to file your taxes, including the amendment form—a 1040x. It may seem a little confusing at first but it's fairly easy to fill out. All you need to do is find the difference between the original tax return, and the new one. If this is difficult to do because let's say you never received your 1099, call the facility (in my case it would’ve been the radio station) and request that they send you a copy. If you can't get a hold of the proper personnel, then be prepared to estimate its value.

You will then need to explain in the box provided what specific changes you are making and why. Don't make it drawn out and long winded. Get to the point, and add-in the value in your explanation as well. Sign and date it. Include your check if you own the IRS more money. If you're now expecting a larger tax return due to new deductions, then you'll just have to play the waiting game. Make copies of everything.

Then you'd simply mail in your amendment. Remember that while you may have been able to e-file your original return, amendments must be sent through traditional mail. If you don't think it'll be delivered in time, go ahead and file for an extension—although you have up to three years to file an amendment.

About the Guest Author
Mariana Ashley is a freelance writer who particularly enjoys writing about online colleges. She loves receiving reader feedback, which can be directed to mariana.ashley031 @gmail.com.

Disclaimer
This is a guest post. PFStock.com does not provide specific tax advice. If you have questions about amending your tax return, please contact a qualified tax advisor.

Do I Need to Report the Motorola Spinoff on My Taxes?

noreply@blogger.com (pfstock) — Fri, 02 Mar 2012 14:31:00 +0000

I have been a long time holder of Motorola stock. In 2011, there were two significant events that are related to Motorola: 1) At the beginning of 2011, Motorola Incorporated was split into two companies: Motorola Solutions (NYSE: MSI) and Motorola Mobility (NYSE: MMI). The old stock symbol MOT was retired at that time. 2) In August 2011, Google Inc. announced that it plans to acquire Motorola Mobility (MMI) for $40 per share in cash. This transaction is expected to close in early 2012.

If you owned shares of Motorola in 2011, this post will try to explain what you have to report on your taxes. Let's start with the spin off. The Motorola spin off was a bit more complicated than the usual spinoff. First, holders of the old Motorola Stock (MOT) were given 1 share of Motorola Mobility (MMI) for every 8 shares of MOT that they owned. Then, the remaining MOT shares underwent a 1-for-7 reverse split and the remaining entity was renamed Motorola Solutions (MSI). If this sound confusing, I have written a post that describes the Motorola Spinoff.

I've seen that people often do web searches using terms like "Motorola cost basis" or "Motorola spinoff". Unfortunately, you won't be able to find your cost basis in this way as everybody's situation is different. Your own cost basis has to be calculated for your personal situation.

In most cases, you will end up with fractional shares of either MSI or MMI after the spinoff. (The only exception is if the number of original MOT shares you owned was a multiple of 56 shares.) In the case of fractional shares, there is also a small portion of the cost basis that may be paid out as "cash in lieu" (CIL) of fractional shares. For cash-in-lieu, this distribution may or may not be reported by your broker on a 1099-B form.

Motorola investor relations has a webpage with additional information about the spinoff. It is located here: http://investors.motorolasolutions.com/separation.cfm

My brokers, TD Ameritrade and Morgan Stanley Smith Barney, calculated the cost basis for me. In both cases, there was a slight difference between what my the basis would be if I calculated using the method above. My suggestion is that if your broker already calculated the the basis for you, you should go with that number unless you believe that they made a mistake in the process.

As for whether the cash-in-lieu (CIL) distribution is taxable, in general CIL received for fractional shares of stock is a taxable event. However last year, after Verizon spun off Frontier, I received 6 cents in CIL that was not reported. A broker is not required to report a CIL distribution unless it is for $20 or more. Specifically, I got this message from my broker: "A cash-in-lieu payment is reported on Form 1099-B if the payment exceeds $20. If your payment was less than $20, it is not reportable."

As for the Google acquisition of Motorola Mobility (MMI), this deal has not yet closed. So unless you sold MMI in 2011 there is nothing additional to report beyond the possible cash in lieu.

Disclaimer: This article is provided for illustrative purposes only. PF Stock does not provide tax advice, and I encourages readers to consult with a tax adviser if they have specific questions about tax reporting.

PFS

Top 3 Gold Online Buyers

noreply@blogger.com (pfstock) — Tue, 28 Feb 2012 23:17:00 +0000

In today’s tight economy, it is fairly common for full-time employees to seek out extra income. Whether they’re working part-time freelance jobs, running small online businesses, or selling old valuables, they’re taking precious time out of their already hectic schedules to earn a few extra bucks. So, for the sake of all you double-booked earners, I’m here to make your jobs (well, your second jobs) a bit easier by filling you in on a lesser-known moneymaking venture.

Selling old gold is an especially lucrative trade right now. In general, gold prices rise in times of economic hardship, and today is no exception. But finding a gold buyer can be tricky, considering tight-budgeted local gold dealers, intimidating auctions and gold scammers. Trustworthy online gold dealers offer the safest and most convenient options for selling your gold, while ensuring high cash returns.

So where do you find these seemingly mythical, high-returning, trustworthy, online cash for gold dealers? Check out a list of the top 3 online buyers!

Sell Your Gold
Ranked the #1 online gold buyer by NBC’s Today show, Sell Your Gold is a credible choice for your online gold trading needs. The company, owned by 50-year-old veteran gold-buying company, John Galt Refining, has been operating with an A-rated BBB accreditation since 2008.

In addition to a competitive payout, Sell Your Gold offers a higher payout percentage for large volume orders. All your questions and concerns are readily addressed by Sell Your Gold’s knowledgeable customer service agents, easily available by phone or live chat.

Sell Your Gold offers unmatched shipping rates and insurance packages, covering up to $1000 for smaller orders and the entire worth of larger orders.

Cash for Gold USA
As a result of an undercover investigation, FOX News reported that Cash for Gold USA has a return rate three times greater than its competitors.

A-rated by the Better Business Bureau, the company offers a two-week satisfaction guarantee on all transactions and the packages you send them are insured up to $1000. Service is quick and easy, providing sellers with a prepaid envelope for shipping their precious metals at no cost.

Cash for Gold USA accepts gold and gold jewelry of all conditions and karats, as well as sterling silver, diamonds, platinum, palladium, dental scrap, and electronic scrap.

Empire Gold Buyers
This 15-year-old, A+ rated company has been featured on CBS news as a premier gold buyer. Empire Gold Buyers has a favorable payout for buyers, offering 90% of the spot price of gold for transactions up to 3 ounces, 96% for transactions from 3 to 25 ounces, and up to 98.5% for transactions 25 ounces and above. Empire Gold Buyers blows other insurance packages out of the water, with coverage up to $25,000.

If you’re looking to make extra cash from your old gold, be sure to select an online dealer that offers free shipping and handling, a comprehensive insurance package, efficient customer service, and a guaranteed high payout. If you decide to stray from this list, always research online dealers for their reputability before mailing in your precious goods!

Disclaimer
This is a sponsored post. PFStock.com does not specifically recommend or endorse any product or service mentioned above.

Comparison of Popular Online Tax Software

noreply@blogger.com (pfstock) — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 14:54:00 +0000

Tax season is here: it’s a phrase that few Americans welcome with any joy. Tax-paying Americans must submit their federal tax returns to the IRS by April 15 (for this year, the deadline is April 17, 2012), and many of us are looking at the approaching deadline with understandable anxiety. But the days of mailing multiple paper tax forms to the federal government are long gone with the advent of online tax filing (or e-filing) software programs affiliated with the IRS. Most of these online tax filing software programs offer to file your taxes with the federal government for free or a nominal fee, and the process to file with them is undoubtedly faster and cheaper than doing so the old fashioned way. And when you e-file your tax returns, you almost certainly receive your tax refund (if you received any) at a faster rate than had you filed via paper mail. The only problem is that there are so many e-filing sites; it’s hard to determine which one is the best fit for you. I have offered a brief overview of 5 of the biggest e-filing sites.

TurboTax
TurboTax has long held a position as the most popular e-filing site for American taxpayers. They offer a free version of their services to individuals with relatively simple tax returns (no children, one job, no investments, etc.) and they charge a small fee (starting at $19.95) for more comprehensive returns. TurboTax would be a good place to start for people completely unfamiliar with e-filing because the website allows users to nearly complete an entire form before asking you to submit a username and profile with the service. So you can essentially go through TurboTax’s entire e-filing process and estimate your tax refund or before officially signing up with the service. The site also has an extensive customer service team reachable online or via phone to help you through any concerns with the program or your taxes should you have them.

There are few drawbacks to using Turbo Tax because the service is so well established in the e-filing industry. Users have complained about a slower-than-advertised refunding process, but that may be due to the high volume of returns that the site processes during tax season. All in all TurboTax is an ideal site for people with simple to moderately complex tax returns.

H&R Block
H&R Block is the e-filing service often mentioned in comparison with TurboTax. H&R Block also boasts a large following of users who have filed with them for years, and they have a great track record for providing people with quick and accurate returns. The H&R Block At Home website has an easy to understand, no-frills interface that’s perfect for people unfamiliar with e-filing their tax returns. The site asks you a series of questions like "Do you own a home?" or "Are you a dependent?" to help determine what tax forms you need to fill out in an effort to streamline the process. The website also offers free filing for users with easy tax returns.

H&R Block also has physical locations, something that none of the other e-filing websites can claim. So if you have concerned about your tax return or if you want to work out some detail about your taxes before you e-file, you can speak to a representative about it in person at an H&R Block location. H&R Block would be the wise choice for people faced with a more complicated tax return than the average person. Some sources even say that it’s better for big-time investors who want to save on their returns.

TaxACT
TaxACT is a third consideration beyond the previous two, offering the same free e-filing service that savvy taxpayers have come to expect from online tax filing software. TaxACT software in particular is known for its aptitude in determining small errors and irregularities in tax returns. Think of TaxACT as the quiet champion of the e-filing system: while everybody knows about TurboTax and H&R Block, it seems like those who know about the benefits of TaxACT keep it to themselves, as if guarding a well-kept secret. TaxACT will also e-file the tax returns of small businesses, making it a tempting proposition for entrepreneurs who don’t want to hire an accountant to handle their taxes.

CompleteTax
CompleteTax has more free e-filing plans available than the previous three sites, and allows users to import their previous tax documents for free, even if the documents were filed through other e-filing sites. The CompleteTax.com site might seem a little dated when compared to those of its competitors, but don’t let looks deceive you. The team at CompleteTax is dedicated to giving their customers the best e-filing service possible, and they do so by guaranteeing that they will offer the best tax refund of any service. They also offer a guarantee that the information filed on your electronic tax return will be submitted to the IRS with complete accuracy. Not bad for a small scale service. Drawbacks to CompleteTax include a dearth of options for small business taxes and a support center that only takes requests via email.

FreeTaxUSA
As the name suggests, FreeTaxUSA offers a completely free experience to users submitting their tax returns electronically (although they charge $9.95 for state tax returns). The site boasts that it has submitted over 7 million tax returns since its inception, and it also claims to be among the fastest e-filing services available. While the service is reliable, it seems like the outfit is better suited for people with uncomplicated tax returns. I assume they also get a good deal of business from people who decided to look for other e-filing options beyond the big 3 companies. Like CompleteTax, FreeTaxUSA allows the user to import previous tax documents from prior e-filing services at no extra charge. The customer support for TaxFreeUSA can only be reached via email after you’ve logged into the service, so make sure you already have an account if you intend on asking any questions.

About the Guest Author
This is a guest post by Eliza Morgan who is a full time blogger. She specializes in writing about business credit cards. You can reach her at: elizamorgan856 at gmail dot com. If you are interested in writing a guest post, please contact PF Stock at the Email address listed in the sidebar.

Note to Commenters: If you represent a company such as Intuit, H&R Block, TaxACT, CompleteTax, FreeTaxUSA, Microsoft, etc., please leave your contact information or send pfstock an Email (the Email address is listed in the sidebar) to let me know that you left a comment. If I cannot determine that your comment is authentic, it will be deleted.

How Multiple Savings Accounts Keep Your Life in Order

noreply@blogger.com (pfstock) — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 14:20:00 +0000

I have come to the realization that multiple savings accounts is the kind of thing that is so naturally intuitive and refreshing that, on first glance, the idea seems too obvious or too good to be true. I simply find it surprising that it took me so long to stumble across this idea and that most people I know haven't really caught on to the idea yet.

I think this attitude stems primarily from this blasé notion of banking that much of America seems to share. My guess is that people have this idea that Bank of America is probably the best they can have, so they often miss opportunities from other banks like ING Direct, FNBO Direct and Ally Bank. Each of these online banking institutions offers the ability for you to create multiple savings accounts with ease and at no expense. You don't even have to create multiple logins.

How It Works
You don't often realize the beauty of having multiple savings accounts until you actually have them and get to mess around and experiment. Before having multiple accounts, I (like many other people I presume) had a checking and savings account. Mine were both held by Bank of America. The idea of having multiple savings accounts didn't even occur to me for the first couple months after switching to ING savings; I just signed up for the higher interest.

It wasn't until I finally had my emergency fund the way I wanted it that I realized a need for multiple accounts. I had never been much of a saver before (by virtue of being very poor), so after reaching my goal of saving a certain amount for an emergency fund, I quickly thought of other things I wanted to save away for. But it became pretty difficult managing which savings goals I had and what amount of my funds in my savings account went to which goal.

This all simplifies magnificently with multiple savings accounts because you can designate each account for a particular goal. Best of all, once that goal is completed and you spend the money you saved, you can rename the account nickname to suit a different financial goal of yours. And all of this account maintenance comes free of charge, of course.

For any of you who use Mint.com, you will be happy to know that multiple savings accounts pair seamlessly with Mint's goal system. Right now, I have an "Emergency" goal (which is already met, but I keep the goal there just to remind me it's there if I need it), "Europe Trip" goal, and "Big Purchase" goal. Each of these goals are separate accounts, but all manageable through the same ING login, and I know exactly what track I am on the completing this goals.

All of this organization within my savings has made me more savings-conscious. I have been budgeting better because I have a very clear idea what I am saving for and when I will reach that goal. Every long-term expense has become that much more in reach, all thanks to the organization I get from multiple savings accounts.

About the Guest Author
This guest post is contributed by Angelita Williams, who writes on the topics of online courses She welcomes your comments at her email Id: angelita.williams7 @gmail.com.
If you are interested in writing a guest post, please contact PF Stock at the Email address listed in the sidebar.

IRS e-file – When Will I Get My Refund (2012)?

noreply@blogger.com (pfstock) — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 14:51:00 +0000

If you are wondering when you can expect to receive your tax refund from the IRS, they have a publication where you can look this information up. If you used IRS e-file, the information is listed in Publication 2043 for 2012. For people who efile, this publication is printed in both English and Spanish.

I copied a portion of the table below which shows when your federal tax refund should be deposited in your bank account (by direct deposit), or when your check would be mailed if you e-filed and your refund was accepted within certain dates.

IRS accepts your return (by 11:00 am) between…	Direct Deposit Sent	Paper Check Mailed
Jan 17 and Jan 18, 2012	Jan 25, 2012	Jan 27, 2012
Jan 19 and Jan 25, 2012	Feb 1, 2012	Feb 3, 2012
Jan 26 and Feb 1, 2012	Feb 8, 2012	Feb 10, 2012
Feb 2 and Feb 8, 2012	Feb 15, 2012	Feb 17, 2012
Feb 9 and Feb 15, 2012	Feb 22, 2012	Feb 24, 2012
Feb 16 and Feb 22, 2012	Feb 29, 2012	Mar 2, 2012
Feb 23 and Feb 29, 2012	Mar 7, 2012	Mar 9, 2012
Mar 1 and Mar 7, 2012	Mar 14, 2012	Mar 16, 2012
Mar 8 and Mar 14, 2012	Mar 21, 2012	Mar 23, 2012
Mar 15 and Mar 21, 2012	Mar 28, 2012	Mar 30, 2012
Mar 22 and Mar 28, 2012	Apr 4, 2012	Apr 6, 2012
Mar 29 and Apr 4, 2012	Apr 11, 2012	Apr 13, 2012
Apr 5 and Apr 11, 2012	Apr 18, 2012	Apr 20, 2012
Apr 12 and Apr 18, 2012	Apr 25, 2012	Apr 27, 2012
Apr 19 and Apr 25, 2012	May 2, 2012	May 4, 2012
Apr 26 and May 2, 2012	May 9, 2012	May 11, 2012

While it may be interesting information to have, this is the federal government that we are talking about. You can also check the status of your income tax refund using this link. (And of course, en Español: ¿Dónde está mi reembolso?) You will need to enter your social security number, filing status, and refund amount to see your refund status.

I've heard some anecdotal stories about the IRS taking a lot longer to process refunds in 2011, so I would take the information with a grain of salt. I will be curious how the IRS does this time around.

PFS

Discover Card 2012 Cashback Bonus Categories

noreply@blogger.com (pfstock) — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 14:47:00 +0000

Discover Card offers a 5% cashback bonus on a "seasonally rotating" list of spending categories. For the 2012, these bonus categories are as follows:

Q1 2012: Gas Stations, Museums, Movies
Q2 2012: Restaurants, Movies
Q3 2012: Gas, Movies, Theme Parks
Q4 2012: Department Stores, Electronics Stores, Toy Stores, Movies

I noticed that "movies" occurs in every one of seasonal lists, so you can conclude that you should always use your Discover card if you are at the movies.

Discover® More Card - 18 Month Promotional Balance Transfer

It is also worth mentioning that Discover Card is currently offering a deal on balance transfers. If you apply for a new card (see link), Discover is will give you an introductory 0% APR for 12 months from date of first transfer, for transfers that post to your account by July 10, 2012 AND there is no transfer fee. It seems that you need to open a new account to get the $0 balance transfer fee. I have an existing Discover Card account, and although they still offer 0% APR on balance transfers, they charge 5% with a $10 minimum for account transfers.

PFS

Citi Dividend Card Q1 2012 Categories

noreply@blogger.com (pfstock) — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 14:34:00 +0000

Health care - doctor's visits, eyeglasses medicine, etc.
Fitness clubs - memberships and more
Utilities - gas, electric, wireless services, cable, etc.

Note that "Q1 2012" means from January 1 - March 31, 2012. Also note that even if you have a Citi Dividend Card, the enrollment is not automatic. You have to login and sign up for this offer at the Citibank website.

PFS

Financial Spread Betting

noreply@blogger.com (pfstock) — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 14:24:00 +0000

In the United Kingdom, a type of financial trading called "spread betting" is available to investors. Spread betting can be used as a derivatives investment that allows a trader to cash in on the price movements of many financial markets, such as indices, shares, currencies, commodities and more.

Spread bets can be used to speculate on price movements regardless of whether the general market is rising or falling. If you go long (buy), profits rise in line with any increase in that price. If you go short (sell), profits will rise in line with any fall. Similarly, if you go long on the price and the underlying stock price falls, you will lose money.

In order to participate in financial spread betting, you must first open a margin account with a broker such as City Index. When you place a trade, you are required to deposit a small percentage of the full value of your position. The potential for both profits and losses from an initial investment is significantly higher than in traditional trading. The required margin is typically between 1% and 10% of the total value of your position, depending on the market. City Index offers prices on over 12,000 spread betting markets.

In spread betting, two prices are quoted for all spread bets – a buy price (the price at which you can go long if you expect the underlying market to rise) and a sell price (the price at which you can go short if you expect the underlying market price to fall). The difference between the "buy" price and the "sell" price is known as the spread.

A graphic from the City Index website gives additional insight into the spread.

An additional benefit of spread betting is that profits made in spread betting are exempt from UK Capital Gains Tax. This automatically saves you a large percentage of your profits that you would normally have to pay if you were to trade the underlying markets. As spread betting is a derivatives product, it is also exempt from UK stamp duty. Tax laws are subject to change and depend on individual circumstances.

Lastly, as with any leveraged derivative investment, you have the potential to lose more money than you invest. Do not invest with money that you cannot afford to lose, and consult a financial advisor if you are unsure if financial spread betting is suitable to you.

Disclaimer: This material is for general information only. It is not intended as an endorsement, recommendation or sponsorship of any investment. PFStock does not provide investment advice. This post is sponsored by City Index.

Groupon: A Broken IPO

noreply@blogger.com (pfstock) — Fri, 02 Dec 2011 16:06:00 +0000

The Internet deal website Groupon (Nasdaq: GRPN) priced its initial public offering (IPO) at $20 per share on November 3, 2011. When the shares began trading the next day, GRPN opened at $28 per share -- a 40% jump. The hype surrounding a new IPO is usually the main driving force behind a rapid run up (or "pop") such as this one.

However last week, the share price of Groupon dropped below the $20 IPO price. Stock traders call an IPO that has dropped below its initial offering price a "broken IPO". So, Groupon is now considered a broken IPO. Could it be that the market for online coupon and deal sites is saturated? Groupon certainly has a lot of competitors, as was mentioned in this post about websites similar to Groupon.

I have written about buying IPOs before on PFStock. While getting into an IPO can be a way to make money quickly, I have warned that not all IPOs go up in price. A point that I will again underscore is that buying an IPO can involve significant risk! This appears to be the case with Groupon.

Disclosure: I do not own any interest in Groupon.

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PFS

Get $150 Cashback from Discover Card

noreply@blogger.com (pfstock) — Wed, 02 Nov 2011 13:52:00 +0000

Discover Card just sent me an Email offering a $150 cash back bonus for opening a new credit card account. Like every other credit card offer out there, they have certain conditions that you must satisfy to receive your money. For this one, you basically have to charge $1000 to your card within the first 90 days.

Update: The original offer has expired, but here is a link to another great Discover card offering:

Discover® More Card - 18 Month Promotional Balance Transfer

It is worth noting that new card members will receive a 0% introductory APR for the first 6 months. This is helpful if you run a balance, but that doesn't matter much if you usually pay off your card every month.

Additionally, I will note that Discover Card offers a 5% cashback bonus on a "seasonally rotating" list of spending categories. For the remainder of 2011, these bonus categories are as follows:

Q4 2011: Restaurants, Department Stores, Clothing Stores

PFS

Get a $1,750 Gift Certificate

noreply@blogger.com (pfstock) — Mon, 24 Oct 2011 14:44:00 +0000

Great news! I just received an Email from TD Ameritrade with a remarkable offer. Apparently, I am one of their pre-selected clients who is eligible to receive a $1,750 gift certificate for Ritz-Carlton or Marriott Hotels. All that I need to do is deposit or transfer $1 million dollars into an Ameritrade or Amerivest account. Even if I don't qualify, I could get a $400 gift card for a deposit of only $250,000. What a deal!

I know that most of my readers won't be able to benefit from this, but here is the link to this offer anyway. But seriously, I am not sure what they are thinking over at TD Ameritrade. I was going to make some additional comments, but I think the message from Ameritrade already speaks volumes.

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PFS

Flex Spending Accounts for 2012

noreply@blogger.com (pfstock) — Mon, 03 Oct 2011 13:57:00 +0000

It is that time of year again when companies hold their annual open enrollment. This is when employees have the opportunity to change medical or dental plans, and to opt into making contributions to a flexible spending account (FSA). In general, a flexible spending account allows one to deposit pre-tax dollars into the account to pay for medical expenses, or to pay for dependent care. (Note that these are two different types of accounts.) The ability to use pre-tax money to pay for expenses is a good benefit that can save you money.

Starting in 2011, there was an important change to FSA plans. Specifically, the rules have changed for the purchase of over-the-counter (OTC) medicines and drugs (such as OTC allergy medicines, pain relievers, antacids, cough medicine, etc.). This change is due to the federal health care reform law, the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of 2010 (PPACA). (This was a part of President Obama's health care reform plan.)

Previously, all of these OTC purchases were covered by flex spending accounts. However, starting in 2011 these OTC drugs and medicines cannot be reimbursed through an FSA unless they are prescribed by a medical practitioner to treat a specific medical condition. So, the bottom line is if you plan to purchase these OTC items through a flexible spending plan, you'd better have a prescription first.

One other thing to keep in mind when contributing to an FSA is that most flex spending accounts operate on a "use it or lose it" basis. This means that any balance you have in the account at the end of the calendar year is forfeited to your employer. This is something that I would rather not do, since I never want to leave any money on the table.

Warning:
In the current economy, I also want to warn my readers of one more potential hazard with FSAs. Having been downsized twice in the last decade, I can tell you that the "use it or lose it" provision also applies if you are terminated without cause (i.e., laid off). Any money that you have left in your FSA plan when you are terminated will be kept by your former employer. This may seem totally unfair, but that has been my real life experience.

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PFS

Citi Dividend Card Q4 2011 Categories

noreply@blogger.com (pfstock) — Wed, 21 Sep 2011 14:29:00 +0000

I had written before that I have a Citibank Dividend MasterCard. One of the benefits of this card is that it offers 5% cash back on rotating categories of merchants. The main problem I have with this arrangement is that I always forget which categories are currently offering 5% cash back when I am at the store. As a result, I often miss out on the bonus dividend dollars. In order to help me remember, I have decided to post the categories which change every three months here.

For Q3 2011, the categories are Airlines, Hotels, and Car Rentals.
For Q4 2011, the categories are Department stores, clothing stores, electronics stores, and toy stores.

Note that "Q4 2011" means from October 1, 2011 through December 31, 2011. Also note that even if you have a Citi Dividend Card, the enrollment is not automatic. You have to login and sign up for this offer at the Citibank website.

PFS

How Much Does a Bad Credit Score Really Cost You?

noreply@blogger.com (pfstock) — Mon, 22 Aug 2011 14:36:00 +0000

You could have a perfect credit score today and a terrible credit score in just a few months. All it takes is a few months of missed credit card payments to completely trash your credit score. Lot of things can hurt your credit score, but serious delinquencies hurt the worse because the credit scoring calculations place the most emphasis on payment history. But even late payments are mild compared to the damage that’s done from serious delinquencies like charge-off, collection, or worse, a bankruptcy or foreclosure.

Even people who are diligent with paying their bills on time can end up with bad credit after divorce, death of a spouse, job loss, or serious medically bills. All are situations that don’t directly affect your credit score but do impact your ability to pay on time.

Living with a bad credit score is tougher than you may realize. Lots of businesses depend on credit scores to decide who to give accounts to and how much to charge for those accounts. Businesses penalize people with bad credit by charging higher prices, additional fees, and higher interest rates.

Some companies charge an upfront security deposit to people who have bad credit. The deposit can range from $50 to $300 (possibly even more depending on what you’re applying for) and is held as a security for your account in the event that you cancel your service with a balance. Landlords, electricity companies, cable companies, and cell phone and internet service providers commonly charge security deposits. While you do get the security deposit refunded to you when you turn off your service or move out of the rental (as long as you don’t have a balance), it can be tough to come up with the extra money to establish these accounts.

It often surprises people to find out that you could pay a higher insurance premium when you have bad credit. Insurance companies are another business that charges higher rates to people with bad credit. Their reasoning is that people who have bad credit tend to file more claims than those with better credit scores. As a result of the increased risk of filing a claim, you’ll have to pay a higher insurance premium.

Not only does bad credit make you pay more money, it could also cost you the prospect of making more money. Your past credit mistakes may keep you from getting the job of your dreams. While employers don’t check your credit score, they do check your credit report, but only with your permission. If you have significant credit mistakes, like bankruptcy, lots of debt, or unpaid debt collections, you could be turned down for the job. Credit checks are common with jobs in the financial industry and higher-level management positions. Your current employer might check your credit, too, if you’re up for a promotion or a raise.

Bad credit makes it tough to get approved for new credit cards and loans. If you get approved, you can expect to have a higher interest rate, which means higher finance charges. On an installment loan, like a mortgage or auto loan, which has a fixed repayment period, the higher interest rate results in higher monthly payments. Credit cards don’t have a fixed repayment schedule, but you still pay a higher cost if it takes you longer to pay your balance in full.

Living with a bad credit score is costly, but it doesn't last forever. Most negative information falls off your credit report after seven years and you can proactively repair your credit even before the bad things disappear. The sooner you get a better credit score, the sooner you can stop paying extra money for services.

About the Guest Author
This guest post was written by James Quinn, a personal finance writer specializing in topics related to obtaining credit, debt relief, credit repair and more. Pass through the debt settlement blog for more tips and advice.

Yodlee MoneyCenter Alerts

noreply@blogger.com (pfstock) — Wed, 10 Aug 2011 14:10:00 +0000

Over the weekend, I received 11 Yodlee MoneyCenter Alerts by Email. I've written about these Yodlee alerts before. The alerts will, for example, inform me if an account balance drops below a certain amount, or a large transaction is processed. These alerts are meant to help in the early detection of fraud.

However, I received 11 of these alerts all at once, and they are for transactions going back as far as April. In most cases, the alert was to let me know that my paycheck was auto deposited into my savings account. But, the real question is why did I get 11 alerts all at once? And, is it even helpful to know that I received my pay check nearly 4 months after the fact?

While I don't think that I could live without Yodlee to help keep track of my finances, situations like this add to my list of reasons why I have a sort of a love/hate relationship with Yodlee. Did anybody else get a bunch of Yodlee Money Center alerts all at once?

PFS

5 Money Lessons You Definitely Should NOT Teach Your Kids

noreply@blogger.com (pfstock) — Wed, 20 Jul 2011 14:00:00 +0000

Want to give your kids one of the best gifts you could ever give them? Teach them how to handle their money. And do NOT teach them the following lessons:

1) Pick a career you love, with no consideration of earning power.
Many parents tell their kids "do something you love and the money will take care of itself." That sounds nice. Everyone deserves to be happy. But can you be happy if you don't find a job? Or get into a career that doesn't give you the life you want? There's no easy answers to those questions, as many people live happy lives doing social service work, missions, or even volunteer work. And this is not to say you should discourage your kids to use their talents as actors, artists, or the like. But you should teach them some kind of balance. And if they decide to go to college, make sure to discuss the benefits of a degree, and who will be paying back the student loans, if there are any. Encourage your kids to do volunteer work, job shadowing, internships, or get a part-time job in the field they want to build their career BEFORE they make any significant investment, so they can see what the working life is really like.

2) Money comes easy, so don't worry about how you'll get it.
When it comes to teaching kids about money, giving an allowance is a debatable topic. Should you give your kids an allowance, either for doing some basic chores or just out of the goodness of your heart, so they have some money they can learn how to manage? Or not? Tough question! Here's one way to think about it - is it better to just give your kids money, or to teach them how to earn it? Just doing the same chores every week for the same amount of money doesn't really do it. Instead, think about giving them the choice - do the work and get paid, or don't do the work and don't get paid. Have them do jobs around the house - real jobs that require some work, like painting or window washing or fixing something that is broken. And teach them that to GET money they have to GIVE some sort of service and effort.

3) Keep all your money in the same place.
When you're a kid having all your money in one account is no big deal. You make a few bucks, put it in your savings account, and take it out when you need it. But as your kids get older, and as they become adults, this becomes a bad strategy. Because in 2011 if you put all your money in your bank checking or savings account, you're earning very little interest. It may be safe, but it isn't doing much for you. Or if you invest it all aggressively into a single stock or type of investment, you risk losing a LOT when the market changes. Even as a kid, if you put your money in your drawer or in a box, you risk big brother or sister taking your money, or your parents "borrowing" from your stash of cash. And none of these are things you want to have happen. So teach your kids to diversify their money early on. Need money quickly? Keep some in your bank savings account. Want to save long term? Put money in U.S. savings bonds, mutual funds, stocks...you get the idea. The more kids know about the different types of investments the better.

4) Hope is a good thing...
Hope you win the lottery. Hope you get a good job. Hope social security will be around when it's your time. Hope that mom and dad will bail you out when things get bad. And if none of these come true, don't worry, something good will happen. Obviously, this is a bad strategy when it comes to managing money, and a bad lesson to teach your kids. Instead, teach them how to set themselves up well financially long-term. Teach them how to save on a regular basis. Teach them how to start their own business or get a job when they need money. Teach them how to protect their money and not to spend all their money just because they have it right now. Then, if you want to buy a lottery ticket for fun, good luck!

5) If you want it, buy it now, worry about paying for it later.
When you're young, ask mom and dad to buy it for you. When you're older, use plastic. Same concept - buy now, pay later. Bad lesson, very bad lesson. Kids need to realize that money is a thing, not an idea. Meaning that you need it to spend it. Credit cards are a way of life for many adults, but for most people they are little more than an illusion. An illusion that you have money that you might not have. OK, if you use credit cards responsibly, or if you use them for the rewards and then pay them off every month, that's not so bad. But if you buy something on a credit card because you don't have enough cash, then what happens next? First, you get a bill for the entire balance. Then, next month there's some interest added on. Before you know it, the monthly payment keeps getting bigger and bigger...do your kids a big favor, and teach them that if you want something then you should wait until you have enough cash to buy it. Otherwise, keep saving until you do.

The best time to teach your kids about money is when they are young enough to want to start spending it. That means they understand that money is a means to getting what they want. Of course, you don't need to force them to read Forbes or the Wall Street Journal when they are 3. But it's never to early to learn the balance between spending, saving, and earning!

About the Guest Author
Kris Bickell started www.Debt-Tips.com to share the lessons he learned about getting out of debt, fixing credit problems, and saving money. Learn how to get the type of debt help you need and get your finances back on the right track.

Guest Post: Reverse Mortgage and Credit Card Debt

noreply@blogger.com (pfstock) — Mon, 18 Jul 2011 14:01:00 +0000

Retirement used to be a time for people to enjoy life without a mortgage or high credit card bills, a time when heavy debts were mostly a thing of the past. Increasingly, that's no longer true. Some seniors are taking on debt in retirement to fund a trip they've always wanted to take. But a growing number are in debt because they have no choice, according to debt counselors and a growing body of research.[i]

Reverse Mortgages can solve a lot of problems for people facing financial hardship due to the rising costs of medical bills on a fixed income. A qualified consumer can enter into a reverse mortgage which has two major benefits. The first, you no longer pay a monthly mortgage payment. This allows you to free up cash flow to pay your medical expenses and credit card debt more comfortably. The second is a source of income you can receive in monthly disbursements or a lump sum of cash. The extra income can help you become more comfortable during your retirement years and alleviate the stress of bills you are facing and the burden you may feel you are placing on your immediate family to care for you.

What many people don’t realize is that a certified debt specialist may be able to work with your reverse mortgage specialist to involve you in a plan to not only alleviate your financial troubles and burden but help to eliminate your credit card debt for less than the full amount owed. This can further assist you in preserving your precious resources for medical bills and cost of living increases you face on a fixed income.

The need for these two services is at an all time high as every single day more than 10,000 Baby Boomers will reach the age of 65. That is going to keep happening every single day for the next 19 years.[ii] Baby boomers are retiring under the umbrella of $790.1 billion of U.S. Consumer Debt.[iii] A large portion of which are adjustable rate credits cards while the largest population in US history is on or going on a fixed income. A recipe for disaster coupled with an underfunded social security program.

Because a reverse mortgage is not driven by credit it does not matter if you are falling past due on your credit card accounts, have late payments in the past, or cannot show enough income. You are facing a financial hardship on fixed income so a certified debt specialist may be able to put a plan in place for you in conjunction with your reverse mortgage to assist you in paying off your debts all at once or over time.

These two specialists working together can help turn your retirement years around by preserving more of the precious resources you need to last the rest of your life. You can move beyond the monthly cycle of medical bills and unhealthy stress of credit card debt. Working with a reverse mortgage specialist and Certified Debt Specialist can help.

[i] http://www.usatoday.com/money/perfi/retirement/2007-01-22-senior-debt-usat_x.htm
[ii] http://endoftheamericandream.com/archives/in-2011-the-baby-boomers-start-to-turn-65-16-statistics-about-the-coming-retirement-crisis-that-will-drop-your-jaw
[iii] http://www.federalreserve.gov/releases/g19/Current/

The 2011 San Francisco Money Show

noreply@blogger.com (pfstock) — Fri, 01 Jul 2011 15:15:00 +0000

Each year, The Money Show is held at the San Francisco Marriott Marquis Hotel in the city's downtown. This a literal carnival of investing. Every year The Money Show brings in a large collection of speakers, most of whom have some sort of investing product or service to sell, who pitch their advice in 30-45 minute speaker sessions. Over the years, though, I have seen some notable speakers. The ones that I remember most vividly are Bambi Francisco (formerly of Marketwatch), James Jubak (of MSN Money), and William J. O'Neil (founder of Investor's Business Daily).

The seminar sessions are broken out into many of the hotel's subterranean meeting rooms. The SF Marriott Marquis is a huge hotel with dozens of meeting rooms that can be re-sized for practically any group of speakers. It is well suited for conventions such as The Money Show. At any given time, several speakers will be talking about different topics. Many of the speakers do have something to say about important topics. I think that the speakers representing larger firms are often trying to share their knowledge with people. But having said that, there are a lot of speakers who are just giving a sales pitch and fishing for new business.

The exhibitors at The Money Show range from large mutual fund companies and brokerage houses to individual newsletter writers and penny stock promoters. All and all, one has to pick and choose which booths are worth stopping by for more than quick glance. If you linger too long at any one booth, you might find yourself in the middle of an unwanted sales pitch. There is no shortage of reading materials for the numerous offerings that the exhibitors have. This brings me to another reason I like going to The Money Show: freebies.

I can usually cart off a couple of bags worth of sample newsletters, magazines, pens, notepads, key chains, refrigerator magnets, mouse pads, and candies. In a few cases, I have been able to come away with a USB flash drive or two. One time, I was lucky enough to get a copy of William J. O'Neil's book, 24 Essential Lessons for Investment Success. And occasionally, exhibitors will invite you for lunch or cocktails, but that usually involves listening to a sales presentation for the duration.

Oh, and did I mention that admission to The Money Show is free as well? I generally make a trek into the city for The Money Show event. Unfortunately, I am not going the year because the organizers have decided to hold the 2011 San Francisco Money Show on weekdays (Wednesday through Friday) from August 10-12, 2011. I still have a regular job to hold down, so I will have to miss it. Maybe next year.

PFS

PerkStreet Financial

noreply@blogger.com (pfstock) — Mon, 20 Jun 2011 17:33:00 +0000

I want to take a couple minutes here to talk about a unique checking account offered by PerkStreet Financial: the PerkStreet Financial^SM Deposit Account. Coupled with a PerkStreet debit card, they offer one of the most rewarding cash back programs in America by offering up to 2% cash back on all non-PIN debit card purchases.

You typically earn at least 1% cash back on non-PIN purchases with a PerkStreet card debit. But whenever your account balance is over $5,000 for a day, they double that to 2% cash back on all non-PIN purchases. Additionally for the first 90-days after opening a new account, they are offering 2% cash back on every non-PIN purchase regardless of your account balance.

The average family earns $600 cash back every year with PerkStreet – substantial rewards that can be redeemed for gift cards at places like Starbucks, Amazon, Target or Best Buy. But PerkStreet Financial isn't just about offering a checking account with cash back, it can be a great tool to improve your financial life. Use your cash back to pay down debt, save for the future or even reward yourself. To start earning cash back with PerkStreet, sign up today!

Pandora: A Broken IPO

noreply@blogger.com (pfstock) — Sat, 18 Jun 2011 15:49:00 +0000

Shares of Internet music service Pandora Media (NYSE: P) began trading Wednesday, June 15 after the stock's initial public offering (IPO) at $16 per share. Pandora's shares rose on their first day of trading, and peaked as high as $26 on Wednesday. The hype surrounding a new IPO is usually the main driving force behind a rapid run up such as this one.

However in the first day of trading day after its IPO, Pandora closed significantly lower than after the initial pop at $17.42. Yesterday, June 17th, Pandora dropped to close at $13.40 after dropping below its initial $16 offering price on Thursday. Traders call an IPO that has dropped below its initial offering price a "broken IPO". So, Pandora is now considered a broken IPO.

The recent LinkedIn Corporation (NYSE: LNKD) IPO has brought a new focus on IPOs. LinkedIn's IPO price was $45, and started trading on 5/19/2011. LNKD skyrocketed upward going as high as $122 at one point. However, it closed this past Friday at $65.53. While this is still greater than it's IPO price, LinkedIn's stock price is still much less than its peak.

On this blog, I have written about buying IPOs before. While getting into an IPO can be a way to make money quickly, I have warned that not all IPOs go up in price. A point that I will again underscore is that buying an IPO can involve significant risk! This is certainly appears to be the case with Pandora.

Disclosure: I do not own any interest in Pandora Media or LinkedIn.

PFS