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May 23, 2012

Ex-CIA spy in Iran's Revolutionary Guard: Baghdad talks highlight Western naivete
Tony Pugh: More private colleges offering tuition discounts
Lisa Gerstner: 4 Money-Etiquette Questions Answered
Mary Beth Franklin: How to Choose the Right Annuity for You
Art Markman, Ph.D.: Get smart: How to bulk up your creativity muscles
Tina Susman: The wig wasn't enough: Man gets 13 years for posing as his dead mom
The Kosher Gourmet by Emma Christensen:A simple way to do fish right
May 22, 2012
David S. Cloud and Kathleen Hennessey: Obama changes mind on Pakistan invite to NATO summit --- and then gets dissed by country's president
Warren Richey: Can US group challenge overseas surveillance act? Supreme Court to decide
Thomas M. Anderson: Walking Away From a Mortgage
Environmental Nutrition editors: The lowdown on a low-acid diet
The Kosher Gourmet by Megan Gordon: Enjoy a celebration of the most rich and layered flavors: Black bean, sweet potato and quinoa chili
May 21, 2012
Mark Clayton: Cybersecurity: How US utilities passed up chance to protect their networks
Howard LaFranchi: NATO summit: Who will foot the bill for long-term Afghanistan security?
Chris Farrell : Earn Dividends in Emerging Markets with This WisdomTree ETF
James K. Glassman: 5 Stock Picks Among Online Retailers
Stephen Whiteside, Ph.D. : Mayo Clinic Medical Edge: Social anxiety disorder --- or just shy?
Guy Jackson : Victim's father regrets death of Lockerbie bomber
The Kosher Gourmet by Mario Batali: Famed chef's veal shoulder farsumagru: A festive meat course for late spring
May 18, 2012
Rabbi Berel Wein: Striving: The People of the Book's Book for (All of) the People
Caroline B. Glick: Embracing dangerous delusions and not our friends
Steven Goldberg: 5 Great Stock Picks and the Exchange-Traded Fund that Owns Them
Janet Bodnar: How to Teach Kids to Handle Credit Cards
Mary Pickett, M.D.: Ask the Harvard Experts: Don't be forced into gluten-free lifestyle based merely on a doctor's false-positive test
The Kosher Gourmet by Carolyn Malcoun: DIY healthy lunchbox treats: HOMEMADE FRUIT BARS for kids and brown-bagging adults alike
May 17, 2012
Warren Richey: Teacher fired for being unwed and pregnant can sue religious school, court rules
Josh Mitnick: Netanyahu's 'centrist' coalition is already proving it's anything but
Steven Goldberg: Earn Dividends in Emerging Markets with This WisdomTree ETF
Mary Beth Franklin: Retirement Savings Tips for New Grads
Amina Khan: Research links coffee to lower death rates
Chelsea Sheasley: Social media: Is it too feminine?
The Kosher Gourmet by Faith Duran : Cheesy Potato Breakfast Casserole with Cheddar and Sun-Dried Tomatoes
May 16, 2012
Jackson Holahan: The Aleppo Codex
Jonathan Tobin : Iran Declares Victory in Nuclear Talks
Anne Kates Smith: 7 Stocks That Let You Sleep Tight
Carmen Terzic, M.D., Ph.D. : Mayo Clinic Medical Edge: A variety of exercises can help improve balance
Melissa Healy: National strategy on Alzheimer's disease aims to halt it by 2025
The Kosher Gourmet by Joyce White : GOODNESS GRACIOUS: GREENS! 4 winning recipes that are no longer just for down-home folks (Includes expert tips & techniques)
May 15, 2012
Dennis Prager: God and Man at (and for) Liberty
Kristen Chick: Obama administration resumes arms sales to Bahrain despite serious unresolved human rights issues. Activists feel abandoned
Pat Mertz Esswein: Homes are now affordable again and mortgage rates are low. What you need to know before you buy
Kathy Kristof: Our Practical Investor Fights Inflation with These 6 Investments
Sue Hubbard, M.D.: The Kid's Doctor: Lactose intolerant young child? Check again
Environmental Nutrition Editors: Get the facts on palm sugar sweetening
The Kosher Gourmet by Kathy Hunt: Spread a Little Excitement with EXOTIC CONDIMENTS (4 RECIPES)
May 14, 2012
Richard Simon: Purple Hearts for domestic terror victims?
Nando Pelusi, Ph.D.: The privacy paradox: Surrounded by strangers, we risk isolation, anxiety
Chris Farrell: Investing Lessons from the Great Recession
Lisa Gerstner: How to Protect Your Identity, Finances If You Lose Your Phone
Harvard Health Letters: Heart disease and dementia
Tiffany O'Callaghan: New hormone mimics effects of exercise without the sweat
The Kosher Gourmet by Megan Gordon: MANGO COCONUT OAT MORNING MUFFINS are a bright but hearty delight
May 11, 2012
Rabbi B. Shafier: Why happiness will always be elusive
Charles Krauthammer: Echoes of '67: Israel unites
Howard LaFranchi: With G8 snub, US-Putin 'reset' off to stumbling start
Jeremy J. Siegel: Investors, Relax About Rising Interest Rates
Jessica L. Anderson: Get the Best Deal on a Used Car
Jett Stone: Forget face-lifts and fake knees. Scientists have seen the fountain of youth --- and it's broccoli
The Kosher Gourmet by Chef Mario Batali: The famed chef's vegetable dish that tastes true to the season: FAVAS AND SUGAR SNAP PEAS WITH POTATOES AND TARRAGON
May 10, 2012
Clifford D. May: The Real Palestinian Refugee Problem
Sergei L. Loiko: Putin sends warning to U.S., NATO in Victory Day speech at Red Square
Mary Rourke: How being a 'mentch' got Vidal Sasoon his start and fighting in Israel's War of Independence provided him with confidence and a strong sense of his own identity
Harvard Health Letters: Palliative care: Underused therapy yields surprising benefits
Jeff Bertolucci: Get Home Phone Service for Less Than $10 a Month
Rachel L. Sheedy and Susan B. Garland : Make the Right Moves to Boost Benefits
The Kosher Gourmet by Betty Rosbottom: Gleaming with its golden, crimson, and snowy white hues, this silken smooth and creamy STRAWBERRY ORANGE TRIFLE looks impressive, but is easy to prepare
May 9, 2012
John Rosemond: Parents, stop destroying the American male
Valerie J. Nelson: Maurice Sendak, author of 'Where the Wild Things Are,' dies at 83
Bob Frick: Angst Over Annuities
Sharon Palmer, R.D. How you can reduce your risk -- or delay -- chronic diseases associated with aging
Howard LeWine, M.D.: Ask the Harvard Experts: Why did my blood pressure suddenly shoot up?
Lisa Gerstner: Lower the Rate on All Your Loans
The Kosher Gourmet by Emily Ho : Springtime soba with miso sauce offers a coloful mix of fresh textures and flavors
May 8, 2012
Edmund Sanders: Netanyahu suddenly cancels new elections, forms unity government
Frank J. Gaffney Jr.: Farewell to European superstate
Anne Kates Smith: 4 Stocks That Mimic Buffett and Berkshire Hathaway
Gaia Vince and Clare Wilson The Rise of Miniature Medical Robots: Fantasy Fast Becoming Reality
Paul Takahashi, M.D.: Mayo Clinic Medical Edge: Never suffer night leg cramps
Jessica L. Anderson: Extended-Warranty Warning
The Kosher Gourmet by Diane Rossen Worthington: Celebrate National Chocolate Chip Day with the Best Cookie Ever (Includes techniques)
May 7, 2012
Mark Clayton: Homeland Security warns major cyber attack aimed at gas pipeline industry underway
Angus Roxburgh: Putin Decoded: World view of a Russian feeling dissed
Kimberly Lankford: Navigate a Course for Long-Term Care
Kevin McCormally How to Adjust Your Tax Withholding
Celeste Robb-Nicholson, M.D.: Harvard Health Letters: How do you treat a Baker's cyst?
Joanne Capano: Healthy Snacks for Children: The Choices May Surprise You
The Kosher Gourmet by Penelope Wall: Classic Creamy Spinach Dip with a Fraction of the Calories and Fat
May 4, 2012
Rabbi Nathan Lopes Cardozo: Holy 'trivialities'
Jonathan Tobin: Bibi v. Barak will be no contest this time around
Steven Goldberg: Blue Chip Stocks On Sale Worldwide
Art Pine Slow Productivity Growth a Blessing --- For Now
Sue Hubbard, M.D. : The Kid's Doctor: Are Kids Too Wired?
Kerri-Ann Jennings, M.S., R.D: Foods that are good for your smile
Amy Paturel, M.S., M.P.H.: Eating Well: Foods that are good for your smile
The Kosher Gourmet by Betty Rosbottom: Strawberry rhubarb parfaits are elegant yet simple to assemble
May 3, 2012
Michael Freund: Who's Afraid of the Messiah?
Clifford D. May: The Foggiest War
Susan B. Garland: Insurance to Cover Old Old Age
Steven Goldberg 6 Reasons to Bet on a Big Bull Market
Harvard Health Letters: Treating prostate cancer --- no rush to judgment
Larry Gordon: Harvard, MIT partner to offer free online courses
Naomi Nix : Man gets free trip to Chicago after postcard sent by mother in 1957 finally reaches him
The Kosher Gourmet by Diane Rossen Worthington: Intensely Italian vegetable frittata is a seriously simple standby


Jewish World Review June 29, 2010

How to help a graduate invest in the future

By Gail Marks Jarvis


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http://www.JewishWorldReview.com | (MCT) QUESTION: Our grandson is about to graduate from college. Instead of handing him a gift, we thought we'd open an account and invest $5,000 for him. Our question is: Should we choose only an S&P 500 index fund, or put 80 percent into the S&P 500 and 20 percent into the EFA foreign index? Or should we wait for the stock market to calm down?

—E. H., Phoenix

ANSWER: What a fabulous gift for a graduate — especially if you talk with him about the investments you have chosen and explain how he can painlessly make the sum much bigger if he adds a little of his own money regularly.

If, for example, you invest $5,000 in the stock market index funds you mentioned, and he adds just $25 a week throughout his working life, he could have about $1 million by the time he retires. Without his contributions, your $5,000 would probably grow to about $285,000 if the stock market behaves over the next 45 years the way it has since 1926 — climbing about 9.4 percent a year on average.

Notice I said "average." Anyone with money in the stock market in 2008 and early 2009 learned painfully that the "average" doesn't mean positive results every year. Investors lost 57 percent during the horrible bear market, then gained 80 percent between March 2009 and this April, and then lost about 12 percent again. The historical average of 9.4 percent a year is a blend of the stock market's cruel and benevolent periods.

IF HE'LL ACCESS THE MONEY SOON: Because no one can predict when the stock market will be kind or cruel, the stock market — or the Standard & Poor's 500 index fund you are considering for your grandson — is not a good choice for someone who will need to use the money soon. So if you told me that you wanted your grandson to use the $5,000 gift for a down payment on a house in about five years, I would tell you to skip the stock index funds you mentioned or any stock investments. In the short-term you cannot count on the stock market. So bank CDs or U.S. Treasury bonds would be a safer.

IF HE'LL ACCESS THE MONEY LATER: But if the idea is to give your grandson a start on saving for his distant future, then your choice is ideal. A Standard & Poor's 500 index fund mimics the stock market and will give your grandson a chance to own a tiny piece of 500 of the nation's largest companies — everything from Apple to Exxon. It's a stock fund that can be purchased when young and held for a lifetime. You could put some money also in an index fund that invests in the MSCI-EAFE index. That would give your grandson exposure to many of the world's largest companies — from Nestle and Bayer to Canon and Honda.

With a number of European companies, this fund will likely decline while investors worry about the ongoing European financial crisis. And in a global world, the S&P 500 index fund won't be immune.

To avoid putting money into either fund and watching it decline in this turmoil, you could open an account at either a mutual fund company or a brokerage firm like Fidelity that lets you buy shares in exchange traded funds without paying a commission. Then, you could put a little money into the iShares S&P 500 exchange traded fund (IVV) and the MSCI EAFE fund (EFA) a little at a time over the next year. This is called dollar-cost-averaging, and it would allow you to buy some shares in the funds cheaper if the stock market keeps falling for a while. But if you'd like to deposit your full $5,000 at once and be done with it, studies show lump sum deposits do as well as dollar-cost-averaging over time.

IF HE'LL ACCESS IT IN RETIREMENT ONLY: Most importantly, if you are thinking of the $5,000 as a start toward retirement saving, open a Roth IRA for your grandson and invest in the index funds within the Roth account. Then your grandson will never have to pay taxes on the money as it grows or during retirement. If he's lucky enough to have $1 million, it will be his free and clear — a much better approach than paying taxes every year on $5,000 in a taxable account. But pay attention to the rules: You can deposit up to $5,000 for your grandson in a Roth, but only in a year in which he's earned at least that much working. If your grandson earns $2,000 on a job this year, for example, you could deposit $2,000 in the Roth. If he earns $3,000 next year, add that to the Roth.


Every weekday JewishWorldReview.com publishes what many in the media and Washington consider "must-reading". Sign up for the daily JWR update. It's free. Just click here.

Gail Marks Jarvis is a personal finance columnist for the Chicago Tribune and author of "Saving for Retirement without Living Like a Pauper or Winning the Lottery." Comment by clicking here.


Previously:

06/08/10:Hare favored in tech race with tortoise
05/05/10: Pick up the pieces of 529 college-savings plans
03/25/10: No matter your age, there's an investment strategy for you
03/01/10: IRS tax credit rewards savers with low incomes
02/16/10: Your tax refund is a waste of money
02/06/10: Changes to credit card rules won't perfectly protect consumers
09/24/09: Recession's end doesn't make stock picking any easier
08/25/09: Weigh risks of being overly conservative with investments
07/06/09: Fear can force better investment planning
06/10/09: Best stock buys passed quickly, even for pros
05/12/09: On Wall Street, signs plant a seed of hope
04/08/09: Analysts debate the future of the rally
03/19/09: Gold unlikely to pan out as cure-all
02/29/09: Housing credit could provide sizable boost
02/19/09: Rebalancing being put in different light
02/04/09: Diversification doesn't always offer insulation
01/27/09: Taking steps can help regain some control
01/20/09: How to save for college during a recession
01/12/09: Bonds still risky option to stocks
12/24/08: Some predict mid-2009 for return to investing joy
12/09/08: A small dose of short funds may be useful
11/11/08: Mutual funds can get caught in downward spiral
10/27/08: Investors can bounce back from even the worst of times
10/20/08: Want to sell? Look at 401(k), but don't leap
10/16/08: Want to be like Buffett? There are ways
09/29/08: Money protection only goes so far, so know the risks
08/26/08: Retail stocks may not be best fit for investors
08/20/08: Rear-view mirror investing can be dangerous to a portfolio
07/01/08: What do we do? My daughter didn't get a scholarship
02/25/08: Before abandoning your mutual fund
02/14/08: Dirty little secret of some funds may be haunting
01/29/08: Sorting out the stock market
01/03/08: One word for 2008 crystal-ball gazers: Caution
12/11/07: ‘Buy and hold’ isn't necessarily tried and true
11/26/07: Translating the falling dollar's implications for investors
11/13/07: Gradual retirement may not be key to happiness
11/05/07: Rate cut won't offer immunity to investors
10/29/07: Employers set to help workers save in 401(k) accounts
10/22/07: Playing bounce may be costly to stock investors
10/10/07: Investors find boring often can be fruitful
10/01/07: Make up lost time with swift, smart action
09/24/07: Balance is key for investing by retirees
09/18/07: Homeowners who wait see options fade
09/04/07: Easy matter to rate fund's performance
08/27/07: Mortgage mess could be good for savers
08/17/07: Small stocks are coming with large caveats


© 2007, Chicago Tribune Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Information Services

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