money matters

Warren Buffett is investing in newspapers. Should you?

Dave Meyer and Greg Heberlein — Tue, 21 May 2013 12:00:00 +0000

In our digital world of social media, blogs and the like, is the newspaper industry a dinosaur?

Only 11 newspaper businesses are publicly owned. Is it foolish to invest in them? Legendary investor Warren Buffett doesn't think so. He's acquired 28 papers in the past couple of years.

A veteran of 32 years at The Seattle Times, financial commentator Greg Heberlein, can't help but believe Buffett is on the right track.

Stocks: Should you sell in May and go away?

Dave Meyer and Greg Heberlein — Tue, 16 Apr 2013 12:00:00 +0000

The financial media are full of suggestions for timing the stock market. We usually discredit those schemes on Money Matters, but this month we talk about one that might have at least a little merit to it.

The strategy is to “sell in May and go away.”

It’s based on the notion that the six months from late fall to late spring are great for owning stocks. Conversely, the period starting in May is not. Those periods are often referred to as the winter months vs. the summer months.

Does it really work?

Greg Heberlein goes to Vietnam, finds American companies

Dave Meyer and Greg Heberlein — Tue, 09 Apr 2013 12:01:00 +0000

Financial commentator Greg Heberlein has just returned from a vacation in Vietnam and Cambodia. While there, he couldn't help but notice how westernized the Southeast Asian economy is becoming.

How to get paid for not collecting Social Security

Dave Meyer and Greg Heberlein — Tue, 22 Jan 2013 13:00:00 +0000

When it comes to collecting Social Security, there’s a way for some people to “have their cake and eat it, too”.

On this week's Money Matters, Greg Heberlein explains a spousal benefit that is sometimes overlooked.

If your spouse is already collecting Social Security and you decide to postpone collecting your own benefits, you may be able to collect payments equal to half of what your spouse is getting.

The folly of trying to predict the stock market

Dave Meyer and Greg Heberlein — Tue, 15 Jan 2013 13:00:00 +0000

Investors encounter numerous indices claiming to predict the future. Some are ridiculous, and some are based on facts. But most are worthless.

This week on Money Matters, financial commentator Greg Heberlein and KPLU’s Dave Meyer look at the January effect, sports indicators, and the fear index.

Seattle-based HomeStreet is an IPO success story

Dave Meyer and Greg Heberlein — Tue, 08 Jan 2013 13:00:00 +0000

HomeStreet, a Seattle bank company, sold its first shares publicly on Valentine’s Day, 2012. It's been a love affair with investors ever since.

This is a stock that didn’t split its shares only once, but did so twice in just nine months. Factoring in both two-for-one splits, the stock started out at $11 a share. They finished up at $25.55, more than a double their initial value.

Financial commentator Greg Heberlein and KPLU's Dave Meyer talk about Home Street on this week's Money Matters.

Learn more about the charities you give money to this holiday season

Dave Meyer and Greg Heberlein — Tue, 18 Dec 2012 13:14:00 +0000

There are a lot of worthy (and, perhaps, not-so-worthy) charitable organizations asking for your support at this time of year. How should you decide which ones deserve your money?

One website that can help you is charitynavigator.org. It rates charities according to their financial health, accountability and transparency. Financial commentator Greg Heberlein and KPLU's Dave Meyer talk about the ratings on this week's Money Matters.

Don't worry about a hike in the capital gains tax

Dave Meyer and Greg Heberlein — Tue, 11 Dec 2012 13:34:00 +0000

As we approach the dreaded fiscal cliff, many financial pundits are sounding the alarm: “Take your capital gains now to avoid higher taxes next year!”

Should most of us be worried about this? On this week’s Money Matters, financial commentator Greg Heberlein says you should hang on to your winning investments. He tells KPLU’s Dave Meyer that the push to sell because of capital gains concerns may be the biggest idiocy since the sale of no-money-down, balloon-payment mortgages.

Are you financially literate?

Dave Meyer and Greg Heberlein — Tue, 20 Nov 2012 13:00:00 +0000

If you can define compound interest and inflation, then pat yourself on the back!

A recent report by the Securities and Exchange Commission finds that most Americans don't understand such basic concepts.

Commentator Greg Heberlein and KPLU's Dave Meyer talk about financial literacy on this week's Money Matters.

Financial pitfalls to avoid

Dave Meyer and Greg Heberlein — Tue, 23 Oct 2012 12:00:00 +0000

There are few guarantees in the world of finance. Every investment involves risk. But one thing is guaranteed: everyone makes mistakes.

On this week's Money Matters, financial commentator Greg Heberlein warns us away from some of the most common errors.

Beware of bad municipal bond insurance

Dave Meyer and Greg Heberlein — Tue, 16 Oct 2012 12:00:00 +0000

Municipal bonds are relatively safe investments. So insured municipal bonds should be a sure thing, right?

That's not a safe assumption.

Thanks to the financial meltdown, that insurance may not offer any protection. Financial commentator Greg Heberlein explains why on this week's Money Matters with KPLU's Dave Meyer.

Computer trading glitches undermine investor confidence

Dave Meyer and Greg Heberlein — Tue, 09 Oct 2012 12:00:00 +0000

Last Friday, India's main stock index suddenly experienced a 16% drop in value. $58 billion temporarily vanished in the blink of an eye thanks to a computer problem.

Computer errors have also been blamed for Facebook's IPO troubles and 2010's infamous Flash Crash. Financial commentator Greg Heberlein and KPLU's Dave Meyer look at the world of computer driven, high-frequency trading on this week's Money Matters.

Are you saving enough for the golden years?

Dave Meyer and Greg Heberlein — Tue, 18 Sep 2012 12:00:00 +0000

The numbers are staggering. Three-quarters of the population approaching retirement (aged 50 to 64) earns less than $53,000 a year. That group has saved an average of $26,000 in their retirement accounts. Even adding in social security, one forecaster estimates retirees will be able to pay only $5 a day for food.

Financial commentator Greg Heberlein and KPLU's Dave Meyer look at the looming retirement crisis on this week's Money Matters.

Insider trading

Dave Meyer and Greg Heberlein — Tue, 11 Sep 2012 12:00:00 +0000

As legendary money manager Peter Lynch once said, "Insiders might sell their shares for any number of reasons, but they buy for only one; they think the price will rise."

On this week's Money Matters, financial commentator Greg Heberlein explains why you should pay attention when executives buy or sell shares in their own companies.

Beware of IRA pitfalls

Dave Meyer — Tue, 21 Aug 2012 19:44:27 +0000

Individual Retirement Accounts (IRAs) are great for planning your financial future. But if you don't pay attention to the rules, you could find yourself in trouble.

Financial Commentator Greg Heberlein and KPLU's Dave Meyer look at IRA pitfalls to avoid on this week's Money Matters.