Salem-News.com Finance articles

Ways You Can Build Financial Security as a Single Parent

Financial security is more than just simply having savings.

(SALEM, Ore.) - Building financial security is hard enough, but throw a child into the equation, and you're about to face a very difficult challenge.

It's true that being financially secure takes time and effort. However, the process is nowhere near as difficult as people make it out to be.

The Dangers of Wishful Thinking About Your Finances

At some point, you must bite the bullet and make a financial plan for the future.

(SALEM, Ore.) - It's true that everything may work out for the best in the end, but that's unlikely if you aren't taking some actual steps to make the best happen.

Here are a few of the ways you may be letting a sunny attitude substitute for real action and sabotaging your finances along the way.

5 Steps for Making a Legally Valid Will

Writing your own will is not a difficult task, just begin.

(SALEM, Ore.) - There are more misconceptions about wills than just about any other personal finance topic. The good news is that it's pretty easy to write your own will with a few downloaded forms and a short guidebook.

In the case of a standard will the process is fairly simple. No matter how old you are, what your employment status is, whether you're married or single, or what your net worth is, you can create a binding, legally valid will in under an hour.

5 Years in Prison is Payback for a Criminal Debt Collector

Illegal, aggressive tactics against debtors result in prison time

(WASHINGTON D.C.) - John Todd Williams, the owner of a debt collection company based in Georgia, used illegal and aggressive tactics to squeeze millions of dollars from thousands of victims. Now Williams is paying his own debt—to society—in the form of a five-year prison sentence.

Williams ruthlessly tricked victims into paying by pretending to be a law enforcement officer/lawyer and illegally threatening arrest and other legal action.

FBI Launches Campaign Against Economic Espionage

As part of a nationwide campaign to raise awareness of the growing economic espionage threat, the FBI has released a short video, "The Company Man: Protecting America’s Secrets", based on an actual case.

(WASHINGTON, D.C.) - Industries in the United States spend more on research and development than any other country in the world. The amount of effort and resources put into developing a unique product or process that can provide an edge in the business world is not unsubstantial.

But what happens if someone comes in and steals that edge—a company’s trade secrets—for the benefit of a foreign country?

Oregon`s Unemployment Rate Rises in June, Job Growth Continues

Three out of every five Oregonians, 16 years and over, are working or looking for work...the lowest participation rate since comparable records began in 1976.

(SALEM, Ore.) - Oregon's unemployment rate was 5.5 percent in June, a slight increase from May's rate of 5.3 percent.

The increase was not a surprise because one characteristic of Oregon's labor market following the Great Recession has been small increases in the unemployment rate during the summer months.

Few Fast Facts about Playing Live Blackjack

Don't lose your shirt.

(SALEM, Ore.) - Blackjack or twenty-one is the most popularly played casino games worldwide. People play this game more than any other casino and gambling game. In addition to the field based casino, the online version of this game has created a huge fan following.

Now, a few reputed casino operators have started an innovative and a far more enjoying concept of this game - a live blackjack game with real dealers.

5 Steps Women Should Consider Making to Take Control of their Financial Future

Some tips on gaining your financial "peace of mind"

(WESLEY CHAPEL, Florida) - When it comes to women and money, there is some good news, says Lance Drucker, ChFC, CLU, a veteran financial professional.

On average, women are more independent and financially literate than ever before, he says. On the other hand, women are no more likely to make sound financial decisions today than two years ago – or even when the study began 10 years ago.

Merkley Slams Republican Efforts to Roll Back Consumer Protection and Wall Street Reform

Republicans push consumer protections....and Democrats push back.

(WASHINGTON, DC) - Oregon’s Senator Jeff Merkley, along with Senators Elizabeth Warren (D-MA) and Al Franken (D-MN), slammed Senate Republicans’ budget push to roll back consumer protections and Wall Street reform at a press conference held in the Capitol today.

The Senate Budget that is being debated on the floor this week includes language to weaken the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) and to roll back financial reforms.