For Citibank credit card holders, there is one way to escape the bank's rate hikes currently under way: Meet a monthly spending requirement. Those who meet the spending minimum -- in some c

I first wrote about the Muddle-Through Economy in 2002, and the term has more or less become a theme I've returned to from time to time. In 2007 I wrote that we would indeed get back to a Muddle-Thro

“Pick me out a winner Bobby.” --Roy HobbsIf only it were that easy. Mixing futures contracts and ETFs is like the The Natural’s flame-throwing Nebraska farm boy adding a circle chan

Editor's Note: This article was written by James Quinn, a senior director of strategic planning for a major university. James has held high-level financial positions with a retailer

Mixed MetaphorsBotanical commentators are finding "green shoots." The astronomically minded have seen "glimmers." The meteorologically minded have spoken about the storms "ab

Imagine you own a home. Chances are, at some point in the past 3 years, you’ve heard that nagging voice in the back of your head - the one that whispered, “sell, sell, sell.” 

Editor's Note: James Quinn is a senior director of strategic planning for a major university. James has held high-level financial positions with a retailer, homebuilder and a university in his 22-yea

Just when you thought it was safe to go back in the water... Subprime lending has come roaring back. But this time, reckless financial innovation isn’t being hatched on Wall Street. Instead, st

April Retail Showers Most of the nation’s retailers reported same-store sales for April yesterday. Tax rebates, holiday sales and warm weather all helped boost retail transactions to

As far back as 2005, CompUSA customers were complaining of long delays in receiving their rebates. So when the company -- now controlled by Mexican uber-billionaire Carlos Slim -- shuttered the last