Learn more about Morningstar

Morningstar Investment Research Center, available free at the Newton Free Library, provides independent opinion and data on more than 30,000 stocks and mutual funds.

To learn more about the database, attend a free online training session:

WHEN:  Wednesday, April 29th, at 4 p.m. (Eastern Time).

WHERE:  Anywhere with phone and internet access.

HOW:  To register, send an e-mail to librarytraining@morningstar.com, and mention the Newton Free Library.

Morningstar Investment Research Center*
(In Library Only–also via wireless in the Library)

How to Manage Your Financial Risk

In a time of economic instability, it’s important to minimize risk to maintain financial safety, by analyzing expenses, seeking diversification, and scrutinizing spending.

How to Manage Your Financial Risk is the title of a new publication from Morningstar.  Take a look at it!

April Booklist

Each month reference librarians compile a newsletter of books purchased with grant funds from our Smart Investing @ Your Library grant–click here for our latest edition!  You’ll find previous booklists here.

Interesting articles you may have missed…

From the Wall Street Journal, February 14, 2009:
There Goes Retirement.  “With their finances in shambles, many in the 60-plus crowd are looking for jobs.  Here’s how some are finding work–and adjusting to new lives.”

Also from the Wall Street Journal on February 14, 2009:
1930s Lessons:  Brother, Can You Spare a Stock? Best stocks for the worst times.

From the Boston Globe, April 12, 2009:
During a Bear Market, Future of the 401(k) is Questioned, about whether or not 401(k)s should be reformed.

From the Wall Street Journal, April 7, 2009:
What Should I Do Now?  Five Financial Moves You Should Definitely Make–And Five You Shouldn’t

From the Wall Street Journal, April 18, 2009:
Getting Smart about Annuities — A clear explanation of how annuities work, and the pros and cons of having them in a retirement portfolio.

Protect Yourself from Investment Fraud

Are you unsure about a recommended investment?  Before you invest, find helpful information at FINRA’s saveandinvest.org website.

The site has many useful features, including a step-by-step Ask and Check guide to evaluating an investment or financial salesperson, information on the Psychology of a Scam, and Fraud Risk Meter and Scam Meter quizzes to assess how vulnerable you might be to an unwise investment.  You can also read about Common Investment Scams.

We have print copies of several of the online brochures (Fighting Fraud 101: Smart Tips for Older Investors, and Avoiding Investment Scams), available for distribution at our meetings.

How should we fix Social Security?

If our last meeting got you thinking about Social Security, take a look at the Social Security Fix-It book from the Center for Retirement Research at Boston College.

Social Security has a long-term financing problem, and more us will soon be collecting benefits with not many more paying taxes to support the program. The Social Security Fix-It book is a short, colorful guide to the program, its financing issues, and the leading proposals for eliminating the shortfall.  We’ll be adding print copies of the book to our collection soon, or you can read it online.

More fun with Social Security

Our speaker stocks the information table with goodies.

 

Last night at our April meeting, Francine Kollias, the regional Social Security Administration’s Metropolitan Public Affairs Specialist, gave us another entertaining presentation on Social Security, this time focusing on Medicare and Disability issues.   She explained the different parts of Medicare (A, B, C, and D), and told us that as of this summer, signing up for Medicare will be possible to do online.  And she answered a wide variety of questions.

She encouraged everyone to be aware of enrollment periods for Medicare, and to sign up as needed to avoid penalties.

Medicare issues can be complicated, so Francine also spoke about the SHINE (Serving Health Information Needs of Elders) program, which provides Medicare and health insurance counseling services to elderly and disabled adults.  (A SHINE counselor is available at the Newton Senior Center on Wednesdays 1:00 – 3:00 to assist with health insurance questions.  Call 617-796-1660 for an appointment.)

Francine’s PowerPoint on Medicare can be seen in its entirety here, and her presentation on Social Security Disability programs here.  She also brought copies of several brochures:
Medicare
Working While Disabled–How We Can Help
Apply Online for Social Security Benefits

These and many other Social Security publications, as well other information, can be found online at the Social Security website.

Medicare and Disability info

At our April meeting on Wednesday, April 15th at 7:00 p.m., we will welcome back Francine Kollias, the regional Social Security Administration’s Metropolitan Public Affairs Specialist, to speak on the topics of Medicare A, B, C and Social Security Disability.  A question and answer session will follow her talk.  Ms. Kollias presented a lively and informative talk last year on Social Security Basics.

This program will be in the Auditorium and is open to all, so bring your friends!  If you can’t make it, we’ll post a report on our Club page.

Don’t forget the magazines!

The Library subscribes to many magazines and newsletters on both investing and retirement, and with the exception of the current issue, and newsletter titles kept on the business table in the Reference atrium, back issues can be checked out.  Many of the publications also have websites and some of their articles online.  Don’t forget the magazines when researching investment ideas or planning your retirement!

Our titles include, focusing on investments:

BARRON’S NATIONAL BUSINESS & FINANCIAL WEEKLY

CONDE NAST PORTFOLIO

CONSUMER REPORTS MONEY ADVISER

FIDELITY INSIGHT

FINANCIAL TIMES

INDEPENDENT ADVISOR FOR VANGUARD INVESTORS

INVESTOR’S BUSINESS DAILY

KIPLINGER WASHINGTON LETTER

KIPLINGER’S PERSONAL FINANCE MAGAZINE

MERGENT BOND RECORD

MONEY

MORNINGSTAR FUNDINVESTOR

MORNINGSTAR MUTUAL FUND

MORNINGSTAR STOCKINVESTOR

NO LOAD FUND INVESTOR

WORTH

SMART MONEY

STANDARD AND POOR’S OUTLOOK

VALUE LINE INVESTMENT SURVEY

VALUE LINE SELECTION & OPINION

And focusing on retirement issues:

AARP BULLETIN

AARP THE MAGAZINE

KIPLINGER’S RETIREMENT REPORT

WHERE TO RETIRE

Another Money Conference!

Did you miss the State Treasurer’s Money Conference last year? If so–and if you’re willing to travel to Springfield–there’s another Money Conference being held on Saturday, April 25th at Western New England College.

The conference runs from 9:00 – 3:30, offers sessions on investing and various money management topics, and everything is FREE, including lunch and childcare (if needed). Find out more here!