Thieves are finding new ways to steal from us. In stealing account information, they have made an end run around the PIN code system and started producing counterfeit ATM cards to steal money directly from related accounts.

Women face special challenges when it comes to managing their money. Stereotypes abound that perpetuate the myth that women aren’t any better at financial management than they are at operating motor vehicles. Janice Kimball, a CPA in Corpus Christi, TX, has worked with clients who have fallen into that clichéd trap. “I still have clients where the woman in the relationship still does not have a clue about any of their finances,” Kimball said.

In a letter sent to Secretary of Labor Elaine Chao as she prepares to open the final SAVER Summit, members of Americans for Secure Retirement, a coalition of 34 organizations representing a broad cross section of interests, urged Chao and Summit attendees to explore solutions addressing often-overlooked elements of the retirement security debate.Advertisement

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) reports that total health care spending will grow from its current 16.2 percent of the economy to 20 percent by 2015. This translates to each person spending $12,320 annually, according to USA Today. Nationally projected, we will spend more than $4 trillion on health care by 2015.

The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) released data last week based on random audits of 46,000 tax returns for 2001 that showed a tax gap of about $354 billion a year. IRS Commissioner Mark Everson said, according to Bloomberg.com, that most of the noncompliance occurs in businesses where there isn’t automatic reporting of information to the IRS, such as sole proprietors who report income and deductions on Schedule C.

The next generation is learning financial prudence, according to a survey of American “tweenagers” conducted by Weekly Reader Research and the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA). When asked what they would do with a gift of $100, 59 percent of children between the ages of 9 and 12 indicated they would save at least $50.The announcement of the survey results, coincide with the launch of a special “Budget Buzz” program.

If thoughts of marriage are filling your head this Valentine’s Day, it may be time to take a good look at your finances…and those of the one you love. Financial problems are often among the greatest challenges facing couples. With many people facing increasing levels of debt and more stringent bankruptcy laws making it more difficult to eliminate even crippling levels of debt, being on the same general financial page is more important than ever.The issue is especially important for those under 35.

Commitment is the most desirable characteristic women look for in a potential long-term mate. Appearance, or looks, come in fourth when considering characteristics of long-term mates although it is the most preferred characteristic in short-term mates, according to a study conducted by David Geary, professor of psychology at the University of Missouri – Columbia, and pending publication in the journal Human Nature.These results seem to defy conventional wisdom which holds that women are primarily concerned with status and financial resources when looking for a long-term mate.

The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) announced today that new steps, including the notification of taxpayers when refunds are frozen and the more timely release of frozen refunds not warranting further review, have been undertaken to improve the Questionable Refund Program (QRP) and reduce the number of taxpayers subject to frozen refunds.Advertisement