Financial reform roundup: Banks "built on sand"

Financial reform news from around the Web:

The 1,300-page financial reform bill before Congress contains plenty of controversial provisions. Here's a rundown of five issues that promise heated debate between lawmakers and lobbyists. [Mother Jones] An anonymous veteran banker opens up about what he sees as a faulty financial system and the necessity of breaking up banks that are Too Big To Fail. He also discusses the need for whistleblower protection. [The Huffington Post] Michael Lewis: Good financial reform will make all banks ..read more

Tax Day roundup: Last-minute fixes & reasons for cheating

Tax Day news from around the Web:

If you still haven't filed yet, all is not lost. Here's a list of last-minute tax tips. [Lifehacker] The slew of tax breaks enacted last year has both taxpayers and the IRS scrambling to keep up. The IRS has erroneously issued millions in tax credits even as it has detected and stopped faulty refunds. [Associated Press] Enjoy tax day in 2010, because taxes are only going up from here.  As America ages and Social Security and ..read more

More Money Monday roundup: E-filing advice & and a hedge fund show tune

Looking to increase tax time efficiency by filing with the IRS online? Watch this how-to video on keeping your private financial information secure using e-returns. [MarketWatch] The Fed might have led you to believe that the recession ended sometime in mid 2009, but a committee at the National Bureau of Economic Research has released a statement that we are not yet out of the woods in the economic downturn. [New York Times] Build-your-own might be a great concept when it comes to ..read more

More Money Wednesday roundup: Tax credits & hedge-fund flatulence

Personal finance from around the Web:

If you are sending a kid to college next year, this is the week financial aid offers should be arriving from colleges and universities. To help cushion the blow of what can sometimes seem a paltry sum, here's advice on how to negotiate for more aid. [ABC News] Down to the wire for filing this year? Make sure to give these commonly forgotten tax credits a look before you throw in the towel. [MarketWatch] Rather than focus ..read more

More Money Friday roundup: Government jobs & recess for adults

Personal finance from around the Web:

Unemployed? Consider working for Uncle Sam. The federal government will add more than 190,000 jobs to its payroll over the next few years. [Wise Bread] Health insurers and policymakers are watching a Maine court case revolving over insurers' ability to increase premiums. Should the state insurance commissioner be permitted to dictate prices that translate into a loss for an insurance company? [The Wall Street Journal] High-achieving high school students should consider tuition last when deciding to which ..read more

More Money Monday roundup: 10 immediate benefits of healthcare reform & outrageous traffic tickets

Personal finance from around the Web:

You're sick of reading about healthcare reform, of course. But now that it's passed, check this list of ten immediate benefits for you and your family. [Crooks and Liars] Forget about getting an early look at those Wall Street analysts' reports: A US District Judge ruled Thursday in favor of complaints brought by several financial services firms against Theflyonthewall.com for publishing their investment recommendations before the firms could communicate them to their clients. [Yahoo News] Think twice ..read more

More Money Friday roundup: L.A. vs. the banks & a la carte cable

Personal finance from around the Web:

Banks in Los Angeles now have a new incentive to make loan modifications, open branches in poorer neighborhoods and invest in the city. Those banks that rank lowest in community investment will lose access to nearly $30 billion in city savings and pension funds. [The Huffington Post] Think you might be eligible for a 2010 homebuyer tax credit? Follow this chart to find out. [The Consumerist] As Congress still battles it out over health care, costs continue ..read more

More Money Wednesday roundup: Wealthiest religions & Google's guide to credit cards

Personal finance from around the Web:

New-home construction may be edging upward, but sales aren't keeping pace. New-home sales fell 11.2 percent in January, as reported by the Commerce Department, hitting a record low. [The New York Times] Exploding Ford Pintos, lead-laden toys — take a trip down memory lane with "the worst product recalls of all time." This gallery might just take your mind off of your Toyota anxiety. [The Huffington Post] You've probably compared incomes using every other variable in the ..read more

More Money Monday roundup: Job expansion & tax tips for gays

Personal finance from around the Web:

Two Bloom Boxes can power the average American home. What is a Bloom Box? A device, unveiled on 60 Minutes Sunday night, that allegedly uses a new kind of fuel cell that is entirely self sufficient. [Huffington Post] A new survey produced by the National Association for Business Economics forecasts job expansion and sustained growth in the next two years. [FOX Business] If you're funding a prepaid tuition plan, be on the lookout. Some institutions are trying ..read more

More Money Wednesday roundup: 2010 investment predictions & Rush Limbaugh on health reform

Personal finance from around the web:

The ultimate guide to 2010 investment predictions and outlooks: More than 50 Wall Street banks, hedge funds and investment gurus forecast how the markets will perform this year. [The Pragmatic Capitalist via The Big Picture] Feeling depressed about the stock market? Well, there are worse places to stow your money. Romanian papers report that a man hid $57,000 in a pair of old shoes, only to have his wife clean house and throw them away. [The ..read more