Week's Winners and Losers: Disney Goes Solo, NYSE Goes Out



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We're now just five months away from the new Star Wars movie, but Disney isn't done milking its $4 billion purchase of George Lucas' film company. Disney confirmed reports this week that it's developing a new movie centering around the origin story of Han Solo. This goes beyond the final trilogy in the Star Wars series. Disney had already announced that it would be spinning off new theatrical properties from the Star Wars universe, including a movie about rebels trying to steal plans for the Death Star and an origin story for bounty hunter Boba Fett. However, now Disney is giving a new spin to one of the franchise's most significant characters. The movie won't hit theaters until 2018, but it's a good bet it will be that summer season's top draw. New York Stock Exchange -- Loser There's never a good time for a technical glitch, but Wednesday's three-hour trading halt on the New York Stock Exchange was pretty bad. It came at a time when confidence in the market was getting dicey. It was also bad timing since there were other problematic glitches taking down The Wall Street Journal's website and temporarily grounding United flights. Netflix (NFLX) -- Winner The leading premium video streaming service has been striking deals for original movies in recent months, and this week we finally got some firm release dates. Cary Fukunaga's "Beasts of No Nation" will come first, debuting on Oct. 16. In a unique twist, it will also hit movie theaters at the same time. Two months later we get the first of the flicks out of Adam Sandler's multi-movie deal when "The Ridiculous Six" premieres on Dec. 11. "Pee-wee's Big Holiday," with Paul Reubens reprising his signature role, will hit Netflix next March.
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GM Recalling 780,000 SUVs to Fix Power Lift Gate Problem


General Motors (GM) is recalling nearly 780,000 crossover SUVs mainly in North America because the rear power lift gates can suddenly fall and hit people. The recall covers the Buick Enclave from the 2008 to 2012 model years and the Chevrolet Traverse from 2009 to 2012. Also affected are the GMC Acadia from 2007 to 2012 and Saturn Outlook from 2007 to 2010. GM says in documents filed with U.S. safety regulators that dirt can get into the gas struts that hold up the gate, causing them to wear and fail. The company has 56 reports of injuries. Dealers will replace faulty struts and update lift gate control motor software to prevent rapid closing. GM says struts on SUVs built after March 1, 2012 were installed differently and are less vulnerable to dirt particles.
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Finding a Realistic Retirement Figure for Gen X, Millennials


any financial advisers recommend saving at least $1 million since life spans are increasing, but even half of that amount appears to be daunting and unattainable for many people who are saddled with both student loans and credit card debt. While there are various rules of thumb for people to determine a number of how much money they will need, there is no magic number for retirement savings, said Jamie Hopkins, a retirement professor at the American College of Financial Services in Bryn Mawr, Pennsylvania. People often need 10 to 25 times their pre-retirement income to "maintain the same quality of life in retirement," he said. View all Courses One of the first things Gen-Xers and Millennials should calculate is how much they plan to spend each year once they quit working. Evaluate your current assets and if you plan to include income from Social Security. If you plan to move to a smaller town or a state without income tax when you retire, your expenses will be lower. Two of the largest assets that Americans can factor into the equation are the equity of their home and the amount of Social Security they will receive. While home equity cannot always be used to generate retirement income, some retirees wind up downsizing to a smaller home or strategically using a reverse mortgage, Hopkins said.
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Should You Pay Cash for Your Next New Car?



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For years, most personal-finance experts have said, "Of course it does!" It seems like a no-brainer: Car loans add interest payments and fees to the principal, and those can add up to big bucks over the life of the loan. But in today's environment, when interest rates are low and cheap financing deals are common, the answer is a little less clear. Does it still make sense to buy a car the old-fashioned way? The Argument for Paying Cash: It Has Become Very Tempting to Overspend Personal-finance experts have long argued that paying cash is the best way to go when buying a new car or truck. By paying cash instead of taking out a loan, you'll avoid interest charges and financing fees, which can add thousands of dollars to a car's purchase price. View all Courses That's true even at today's low interest rates. On a loan of $30,000 with a 60-month term at 4 percent interest, the interest payments add up to $3,149.68 over the life of the loan. If there are fees associated with the loan, you might pay even more. That extra $3,000-plus is a big part of why many advisers suggest paying cash for a car if you can. And there's another reason to consider the save-up-and-pay-cash approach: Simply put, it's a lot harder to overspend.
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Honda Expands Recall to Replace Takata-Made Air Bags


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Honda Motor (HMC) said Thursday it is recalling about 4.5 million more cars globally to replace air bag inflators made by supplier Takata Corp., the latest move in the Japanese automaker's efforts to deal with a safety scare that has seen firms around the world recall tens of millions of cars. Of the 4.5 million, 1.63 million are being recalled in Japan, Honda said. Takata is at the center of the recalls of vehicles equipped with air bag inflators that can explode with too much force and spray metal fragments inside vehicles. Regulators have linked eight deaths to the component, all in cars made by Honda. North America isn't included in this latest recall, he said. The automaker independently collected about 1,000 Takata-made air bag inflators from Honda cars not covered in previous recalls for investigative purposes, which Takata then analyzed, the spokesman said. Honda, based on its own analysis of data provided by Takata, found that a variance in the density of gas-producing chemicals in inflators may lead to abnormal deployment of air bags in the future and issued the new recall, according to the spokesman.
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Treasury Sticking With Plan to Put Woman on $10 Bill


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Lew announced last month that as part of a redesign of the $10 note, he hoped to put a woman on the bill. The department called for the public to weigh in on who should be honored. He said he expects a final decision soon. "I think we have waited long enough," Lew said of the move to put a woman on U.S. paper currency for the first time in 100 years. He made his remarks Wednesday during an appearance at the Brookings Institution. The initial announcement to remove Hamilton triggered a public outcry. Critics of the decision complained that Hamilton, the nation's first Treasury secretary, should be left on the $10 bill. Instead, they argued, a woman should be featured on the $20 bill in place of Andrew Jackson, who many historians view less favorably because of his treatment of Native Americans. Former Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke wrote in a blog post that he was "appalled" by Lew's plans to replace Hamilton, calling him "without doubt the best and most foresighted economic policymaker in U.S. history." Asked about all the controversy, Lew said that he wanted to move quickly to honor a woman and that the next bill scheduled for redesign to improve anti-counterfeiting features is the $10 bill.
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Microsoft to Cut 7,800 Jobs, Write Down Nokia Phone Business


Microsoft said Wednesday it would cut 7,800 jobs and write down about $7.6 billion related to its Nokia handset business, which it acquired in 2014. Most of the job cuts will be in the phone hardware business, underscoring the company's shift from hardware to its core software business. Microsoft was widely expected to write off all or part of the $7.2 billion it paid for Nokia's handset unit, a deal that left the company with a money-losing business and only 3 percent of the smartphone market. Microsoft (MSFT) shares rose about 1 percent in early trading. The latest round of job cuts is on top of the 18,000 job cuts the company announced last year. Microsoft, which had more than 118,000 employees worldwide as of March 31, said it would take a restructuring charge of about $750-$850 million. The company said it would record the charge in the fourth quarter.
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How to Pick the Best Credit Union for You


The nonprofit, member-owned financial institutions often have lower rates on loans and credit cards, higher rates on savings and fewer fees for checking accounts. To some, they also seem friendlier. "I enjoy the small, personal touch that they give," says Ron Lau. Lau is one of an estimated 100 million members of the nation's 6,557 credit unions that hold more than $1 trillion in assets. With so many choices, how do you pick the credit union that's right for you? Compare rates and fees, of course, but you should check out these criteria, too: 1. Can I join? Anybody can join a credit union, but not necessarily any credit union. Each credit union serves its "field of membership," a common bond among members, says myCreditUnion.gov, the website of the National Credit Union Administration. Eligibility may be based on: Employer: Many employers sponsor their own credit unions. Location: Many credit unions serve anyone who lives, works, worships or attends school in an area. Family: Most credit unions allow members' families to join. So if someone in your family is a member of a credit union, you may be eligible, too. Group membership: Church, school, alumni, labor union, homeowners' association are among groups that may define a bond. For example, BECU in Washington state was founded in 1935 by 18 Boeing employees, but now it is 900,000 members strong, has more than $13 billion in assets and is open to all state residents and students attending Washington colleges and universities.
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Hack My Debt: Paying Off $10,000 of Card Debt in a Year


I've always been the kind of person who believed in taking hold of my happiness -- a conviction that led me to leave a comfortable career for more artistic pursuits. Three years ago I quit my $87,000-a-year job at an educational nonprofit in San Francisco to pursue the theater life. I'd dreamed of writing and acting in plays since I was in high school, and with 30 fast approaching, I felt like the time was right to make my move. So I applied to a Master of Fine Arts program on the East Coast, and once I got in, I made it official by announcing it on social media. If only Facebook "likes" equaled dollars -- because, unfortunately, I didn't have too many of those. Despite my high salary I'd never made saving a priority, so within two months of starting school, I bulldozed through what little I had stashed away. View all Courses On top of food and rent, there were school-related expenses I hadn't factored in, like networking events, audition travel and developing an online portfolio. And it didn't help that I still spent as if I had a salary. Old habits, such as dining out when I was stressed, telling myself I needed those shoes, and splurging on a daily Oprah Chai tea latte from Starbucks -- how does one channel her inner greatness without it? -- were hard to shake. As a result, I racked up $10,000 of credit card debt -- and that was on top of my $30,000 in student loans.
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Trade Deficit Widens; Weakness Abroad Fuels Drop in Exports


he U.S. trade deficit widened in May, fueled by a drop in exports that could heighten concerns over weak overseas demand and a strong U.S. dollar. The Commerce Department reported Tuesday that the trade gap grew $1.2 billion to $41.9 billion. That was less than the $42.6 billion deficit expected by analysts and suggests Wall Street economists may slightly raise their forecasts for economic growth in the second quarter. But the drop in exports in May highlights a change in the tenor of economic growth since the United States exited the 2007-2009 recession. The economy relied more on export-led industries such as manufacturing early in the recovery, but growth is increasingly coming from domestic drivers like construction and services as the economic cycle matures. Exports fell $1.5 billion, or 0.8 percent, to $188.6 billion in May, led by a drop in overseas sales of U.S.-made capital goods. Imports fell by about $300 million, or 0.1 percent, to $230.5 billion. Prices for U.S. Treasuries rose after the data, while U.S. stock index futures were unchanged. The dollar gained against a basket of currencies. Since the middle of last year when the Federal Reserve made clear it was planning to raise interest rates to keep the economy from eventually overheating, the dollar has strengthened, making U.S. exports less competitive.
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How to Pick the Best Credit Union for You


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You may have heard that many people like credit unions better than banks. The nonprofit, member-owned financial institutions often have lower rates on loans and CREDIT CARDS, higher rates on savings and fewer fees for checking accounts. To some, they also seem friendlier. "I enjoy the small, personal touch that they give," says Ron Lau. Lau is one of an estimated 100 million members of the nation's 6,557 credit unions that hold more than $1 trillion in assets.With so many choices, how do you pick the credit union that's right for you? Compare rates and fees, of course, but you should check out these criteria, too: 1. Can I join? Anybody can join a credit union, but not necessarily any credit union. Each credit union serves its "field of membership," a common bond among members, says myCreditUnion.gov, the website of the National Credit Union Administration. Eligibility may be based on: Employer: Many employers sponsor their own credit unions. Location: Many credit unions serve anyone who lives, works, worships or attends school in an area. Family: Most credit unions allow members' families to join. So if someone in your family is a member of a credit union, you may be eligible, too. Group membership: Church, school, alumni, labor union, homeowners' association are among groups that may define a bond. For example, BECU in Washington state was founded in 1935 by 18 Boeing employees, but now it is 900,000 members strong, has more than $13 billion in assets and is open to all state residents and students attending Washington colleges and universities.
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Growth in U.S. Services Firms Rises in June


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U.S. service firms grew at a slightly faster pace in June, as business activity and new orders increased. The Institute for Supply Management said Monday that its services index edged up to 56 in June from 55.7 in May. Any reading over 50 indicates that services firms are expanding. Steady hiring over the past year has fueled a consumer spending rebound from a winter slump. Many economists say the economy will expand at an annual rate of 2.5 per cent in the second quarter, after shrinking during the first three months of 2015. This was a mixed but still decent report on the U.S. economy. Still, the index's hiring component slipped in June to 52.7 from 55.3 in May, which indicates that the rate of job growth might slow. "This was a mixed but still decent report on the U.S. economy," said Jennifer Lee, a senior economist at BMO Capital Markets. The report corresponds with economic growth of around 3 percent annually in the second quarter, Lee said. The ISM is a trade group of purchasing managers. Its survey of services firms covers businesses that employ 90 percent of workers, including retail, construction, health care and financial services companies.
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Greece Looks to Reopen Bailout Talks as Euro Future in Doubt


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Greece and its membership in Europe's joint currency faced an uncertain future Monday, with the country under pressure to reach a bailout deal with creditors as soon as possible after Greeks resoundingly rejected the notion of more austerity in exchange for aid. With Greek banks running out of cash and facing the danger of collapse within days without new aid, the government in Athens is racing against the clock. In an effort to facilitate negotiations on a new aid program, Finance Minister Yanis Varoufakis, who had clashed with European officials in the bailout talks, announced his resignation Monday. But Greece and its creditors, who will meet again Tuesday to discuss how to keep the country in the euro, remain far apart on key issues, particularly the notion of debt relief. The negotiations are complicated for the European creditors by Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras' triumph in Sunday's referendum. More than 61 percent of Greeks backed his call to vote "no" to budget cuts the creditors had proposed in return for rescue loans the country needs -- even though those proposals were no longer on the table. The vote was painted by opposition parties and many European officials as one on whether Greece should remain in Europe's joint currency. In the aftermath, many officials softened their tone and said talks would resume, though Greece's chance of staying in the euro was looking increasingly shaky.
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The country's banks remain shut for a sixth working day ...


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The country's banks remain shut for a sixth working day the government tries to limit a drain of deposits despite limits on cash withdrawals at ATMs. All eyes now turn to whether the European Central Bank will increase the amount of credit the banks can draw on to make up for the cash drain. Analysts expect the ECB to not provide more emergency assistance on Monday, meaning Greece might have to tighten its limits on cash withdrawals and transfers from the current 60 euros ($67) a day. If the ECB doesn't increase its help to the banks, it will be impossible for Tsipras to keep his pledge to quickly restore Greece's banking system. The Greek government has vowed to quickly restart negotiations with creditors in other eurozone countries and with the institutions that oversaw the country's bailout: the ECB, European Commission and International Monetary Fund. First Casualty Varoufakis appared to be the first casualty of the vote's fallout. With his brash style and fondness for frequent media appearances, Varoufakis had visibly annoyed many of the eurozone's finance ministers during Greece's debt negotiations. Varoufakis said in a statement he was told shortly after the referendum result that some other eurozone finance ministers and the country's other creditors would appreciate his not attending the ministers' meetings.
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Greece Looks to Reopen Bailout Talks as Euro Future in Doubt


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Greece and its membership in Europe's joint currency faced an uncertain future Monday, with the country under pressure to reach a bailout deal with creditors as soon as possible after Greeks resoundingly rejected the notion of more austerity in exchange for aid. With Greek banks running out of cash and facing the danger of collapse within days without new aid, the government in Athens is racing against the clock. In an effort to facilitate negotiations on a new aid program, Finance Minister Yanis Varoufakis, who had clashed with European officials in the bailout talks, announced his resignation Monday. But Greece and its creditors, who will meet again Tuesday to discuss how to keep the country in the euro, remain far apart on key issues, particularly the notion of debt relief. The negotiations are complicated for the European creditors by Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras' triumph in Sunday's referendum. More than 61 percent of Greeks backed his call to vote "no" to budget cuts the creditors had proposed in return for rescue loans the country needs -- even though those proposals were no longer on the table. The vote was painted by opposition parties and many European officials as one on whether Greece should remain in Europe's joint currency. In the aftermath, many officials softened their tone and said talks would resume, though Greece's chance of staying in the euro was looking increasingly shaky.
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Can You Pay for College With Scholarships?


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Gwen Thomas started preparing her son for college when he was just 13. Today, after helping him net $500,000 in scholarships for a higher-education experience that spanned some 30 countries, she teaches other parents how to get help sending kids to school. Talk about a smart business idea. According to the College Board, the average cost of tuition and fees for the 2014-2015 school year was $31,231 at private colleges, $9,139 for state residents at public colleges, and $22,958 for out-of-state residents attending public universities. And that's for just one child. For my wife and me, parents of three fast-growing kids and living month-to-month and check-to-check, our best hope of getting them through school is to be like Thomas and help our children chase the right mix of scholarships. The (Green) Paper Chase Replicating even a portion of Thomas' success won't be easy. The key appears to be spending the time and effort required to unearth good opportunities, and then applying for all of them. Here are her three tips for college-bound students seeking financial aid: Start early. Thomas says she began getting her son into various leadership programs at age 13. She also advises parents to assess their children's "strong suits" and place them in programs that allow for unusual extracurricular success, whether that's sports, art, music, or making a significant contribution in a church youth group. Serve often. A service mindset is particularly important for those looking to win top dollars. "Gone are the days that committees simply want academics," Thomas says. "Instead they want to see the grades and the gas spent on getting kids involved in service and volunteering." Leverage the law of large numbers. Thomas started looking into scholarships when her son was in 11th grade. By the time college came around, he had applied for 100 merit scholarships and won 25. The more you apply for, the more likely it is you'll get the financial aid you need to send your child to a good school.
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These Are the Biggest Beer Swilling States


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Although beer consumption has slipped in the United States, many Americans still enjoy cracking open a cold brew or two. The share of Americans' total alcohol intake from beer dropped by nearly 10 percent from 2003 to 2013, while the popularity of wine and spirits has grown, according to 24/7 Wall St. But there are some states where beer continues to fly off shelves. Using data from Beer Marketer's Insights, 24/7 Wall St. found that North Dakota residents are tipping back the most beer (43.6 gallons in 2013) per drinking-age adult in the country. At the other end of the beer-drinking spectrum is Utah, where drinking-age residents consumed a modest 19.6 gallons each in 2013. Low population density was correlated to greater beer consumption rates, 24/7 Wall St. observed: "All but three of the 11 states with the highest beer consumption were less densely populated. [Eric Shepherd, executive editor at Beer Marketer's Insights] suggested there may be fewer entertainment options in rural areas. Not only that, but beer may also be among a shorter list of available beverage options in rural states compared to more urban states." "High per capita beer consumption in a state does not necessarily mean residents drink excessively," 24/7 Wall St. noted. Though the number of people binge drinking is usually elevated in bigger beer drinking states, as is the rate of heavy drinking. I was disappointed -- though not surprised -- to see my home state of Montana on the list, not so much for the drinking but for its drinking and driving. Nationwide, less than 2 percent of American adults admitted to drinking excessively, then getting behind the wheel, 24/7 Wall St. said. In Montana, that number jumped to 3.4 percent, the highest percentage nationwide.
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AT&T Hit With $100 Million Fine for 'Unlimited' Data Plans


The Federal Communications Commission said Wednesday that the company misled consumers into buying plans they believed would give them unlimited ability to send and receive data, including Web browsing, GPS navigation and streaming videos. But the FCC said that once the consumer reached a certain level, that data would be slowed down significantly, at speeds lower than advertised. AT&T (T) said it would "vigorously dispute" the fine, which is the largest proposed in FCC history. "The FCC has specifically identified this practice as a legitimate and reasonable way to manage network resources for the benefit of all customers, and has known for years that all of the major carriers use it," the company said in a statement released to reporters. "We have been fully transparent with our customers, providing notice in multiple ways and going well beyond the FCC's disclosure requirements." If AT&T can provide evidence that the FCC allegations are wrong, the fine could be reduced. But FCC officials said they were sure that AT&T was profiting off the deceptive advertising. "Unlimited means unlimited," said Travis LeBlanc, the FCC enforcement bureau chief. "As today's action demonstrates, the commission is committed to holding accountable those broadband providers who fail to be fully transparent about data limits." The hefty fine by the FCC comes on the heels of a federal lawsuit filed against the company last fall. The Federal Trade Commission, which enforces rules against deceptive advertising, said it wants to refund customers who were offered the unlimited data packages, only to be given slower data speeds than advertised. That lawsuit is still working its way through a federal court in California.
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Find deep discounts on power equipment and tools at Sears.


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Find deep discounts on power equipment and tools at Sears. You'll get up to 50 percent off tools, 40 percent off appliance hot buys, and an extra 5 percent off power lawn, and garden and outdoor storage items already marked up to 20 percent off. Update your outdoor patio for less with an extra 10 percent off patio furniture sets already marked as much as 40 percent off. Look to save even more with free delivery options. Through July Fourth, when you order online and choose the in-store pickup, you'll save an additional $50 off your order when you use a coupon. That easily could be worth a short drive. Macy's If you're looking to buy new furniture or upgrade to a new mattress, shop Macy's July Fourth Furniture & Mattress sale. You'll score 50 percent to 70 percent off select outdoor furniture, and get free delivery on purchases of at least $999. Plus, get the lowest price of the season on accent furniture. You'll also save as much as 40 percent on beds, select dining room sets and more. And get a whopping 65 percent off mattress sets from respected brands like Beautyrest, Serta, Sealy, Tempur-Pedic and Stearns & Foster. Through July 5, Macy's also is offering no down payment and 0 percent, 12-month financing on mattress and furniture purchases of at least $499. Those savings add up. Home Depot If you're in the market for a new grill, you'll save 10 percent on select models at Home Depot, plus receive free shipping. Brands include Char-Broil, Char-Griller, Broil-Mate, Blue Rhino, Cuisinart and Coleman. You'll find everything from portable and full-sized propane gas grills to charcoal and even electric options. Home Depot also has up to 25 percent off ceiling fans and lights from Hampton Bay, Hunter and more. Saving on something that'll keep you cool sounds like a win-win.
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8 Sizzling Fourth of July Sales Click here to watch video




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The scorching heat and humidity are reason enough to head indoors and shop the Fourth of July sales. An even better idea? Shop online and completely skip venturing out in the heat. However, determining which stores have the best sales can be a bit tricky, so I've rounded up my favorite holiday sales to help you navigate the crowds and net the most savings. Best Buy If you've been waiting to buy an appliance, now's a great time. Through July 15, Best Buy is running its July Fourth Major Appliance Sale. Get up to 44 percent off French door refrigerators or as much as 33 percent off washing machines and dryers from top brands Samsung, Whirlpool and LG. If you need a stove, you'll save 40 percent on brands like Frigidaire, Amana and GE. You'll also find deals on built-in dishwashers and over-the-range microwaves. Layer a coupon and save even more. Don't forget about Best Buy's free home delivery, haul-away and recycling for purchases totaling $399 or more. If you're looking for financing options, Best Buy also offers 18-month finances on major appliance purchases of at least $599. Overstock Find bargains to help spruce up your home at Overstock's Independence Day Sale. You'll find savings of up to 70 percent on area rugs, memory foam mattresses, furniture and more. If your purchase totals at least $50, your order will ship for free. Make sure you look for coupon codes to maximize your savings.
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Places to Never Use a Debit or Credit Card to Make a Payment



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While carrying around your debit and credit cards to make your daily purchases from coffee to lunch to parking is efficient, the convenience could spell trouble. Using your credit or debit card to pay for your purchases puts consumers at greater risk of identity theft and losing key personal information. Here are seven places you should think twice before swiping your debit or credit card to prevent a hacker from intruding into your finances and potentially affecting your credit score. Online Shopping With the proliferation of discount shopping websites, make sure the online retailer you are purchasing from has a safe website, because many aren't secure. Before you enter your credit or bank card information, look for the green lock icon without any overlays, said Shaun Murphy, CEO of Private Giant, an Orlando, Florida-based company that plans to launch a security app for smartphones. "Some sites, including Amazon, will not show you a lock icon until you log-in into your account or begin the check-out process," he said. "This means anyone can see what you are shopping for while you are browsing." Hidden/Out of View Terminals Be wary of the hidden terminals when you are shopping. It could be the gas pump that is furthest away or an unattended station for automatic checkouts at the grocery store, Murphy said.
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How Much to Save for an Emergency



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Now, HelloWallet, a developer of personal finance software, has created a tool that can help you nail down the amount that's right for you. At www.hellowallet.com/emergencysavings, you'll enter information including your take-home pay, regular monthly expenses, whether you rent or own your home, and your health insurance policy's annual deductible and out-of-pocket maximum. The tool then estimates the amount of easily accessible savings you should have in the event of a minor emergency, a major emergency or a layoff from work. Starting from the ground up? You can use each figure as an incremental goal toward building your emergency fund. To track your regular monthly expenses, use a budgeting site such as Mint.com so you can link your bank, credit card and other financial accounts. The best place to keep your emergency fund is in a savings or money market deposit account with a high yield and no monthly fee or minimum-balance requirement. (Watch out for fees for leaving the account inactive.) GE Capital Bank, My Savings Direct and Synchrony Bank offer accounts that yield 1.05 percent without minimum-balance requirements or fees (Synchrony will charge you $5 a month if your balance drops below $30). The trick to successful saving is to pay yourself first; schedule automatic transfers into savings from your checking account after each paycheck arrives.
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Study: Even Professional Investors Can't Beat the Market



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Stock-picking is hard, even for the professionals -- and it is only getting harder. A recent study found evidence that it's getting harder and harder for active mutual funds to outperform index funds. Why? Because the mutual fund industry as a whole keeps getting bigger. The more investors there are looking for great investing ideas and exciting, underpriced stocks, the harder it is to find anything the rest of the world hasn't already discovered. In fact, the researchers found that active fund managers are actually getting better: they are more skilled at investing, but it doesn't matter, because the industry is simply getting too big. Managers have to be more skilled just to keep up with the increasing competition. If the pros are getting more and more skilled without getting ahead, then why do individual investors think they can beat the market? Data from San Francisco investment firm SigFig shows that the more individual investors trade, the less they earn. Individual investors also tend to bet too heavily on single stocks: 60 percent of investors have more than 10 percent of their portfolio invested in a single stock. Picking stocks and trading actively in an effort to beat the market simply doesn't work for individuals.sumer Affairs was "gratified" that Whole Foods admitted to issues with its prepackaged food labels.
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Whole Foods Apologizes for Pricing Problems



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Whole Foods Market (WFM) is apologizing to its shoppers for incorrect pricing, a week after a New York investigation found that the natural food grocer routinely overcharged for prepackaged fruits, vegetables and deli meats. "Straight up, we made some mistakes," said co-CEO Walter Robb, as he stood beside co-CEO John Mackey in a YouTube video posted Wednesday. "We want to own that." We apologize to our customers for any discrepancies that may have occurred. Robb and Mackey said that the pricing mistakes were unintentional and that the company will increase its training at stores across the country. Going forward, Whole Foods will give items away for free if customers discover they were overcharged. "We apologize to our customers for any discrepancies that may have occurred," the company said in blog post. Last week, New York's Department of Consumer Affairs said it was expanding its investigation after finding that Whole Foods stores in the city regularly ripped customers off, including overcharging $14.84 for a package of coconut shrimp and $4.85 for eight chicken tenders. The department tested 80 types of prepackaged items and found all of them had mislabeled weights. The investigation focused on eight stores in the city. In a statement, Commissioner Julie Menin said that the Department of Consumer Affairs was "gratified" that Whole Foods admitted to issues with its prepackaged food labels.
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Week's Winners and Losers: Hasbro Plays, Disney World Fades


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There were plenty of winners and losers this week, with a toy giant striking a deal to get another of its playthings turned into a motion picture and the leading theme park operator confirming more attraction closures. One of the lone remaining holdouts among major airlines that don't charge for checked baggage is changing its tune. JetBlue will now be charging as much as $25 for a checked bag, no doubt contributing to the same problem with legacy carriers struggling with overhead cabin space as passengers turn to rolling carry-ons to lug around their travel essentials. Now it's true that JetBlue is lowering its fee for the second checked bag from $50 to $35, but that's not much of a consolation prize. We're still talking about a passenger with two checked bags having to go from paying $50 before to $60 now for those same two bags. JetBlue is doing this at a time when the cyclical industry is at the top of its game, as low jet fuel costs and buoyant bookings are combining for record profitability. The move doesn't make sense. JetBlue now becomes one of the bad guys in the eyes of consumers. Tell me that at least the unlimited in-flight snacks of animal crackers and blue potato chips are still complimentary.
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