Tips, Tricks and Links

Learn to use the Internet. It is a super valuable resource to your financial education. 

I'll list a few of the sites but this area changes so drastically that I suggest you go SURFING!

Go to any search engine and  just type in retirement.  You be amazed at how many sites will be listed. I performed a search in October of 2000 and over 16,750 sites were listed. I reviewed about a 100 listings before I gave up!   I performed the search again in September 2004 and over 550,000 possible sites were listed!

On this  site, you can also go to the links page where some additional links can be found              LINKS

Biblical Stewardship Links
On each of the sites listed, you can also look for links or leads to other related sites that may be of help to you. Generally, I think this is the easiest way to search the internet because each site’s author has already looked at the linked sites.  Sometimes, these sites change or go out of existence so if you can’t find one, just go on to the next site.

Lots of links to other Christian Sites can be found here:

Crown Ministries—crown.org 
Larry Burkett's Christian Financial Concepts and Howard Dayton's Crown Ministries merged and you can find the site at   www.crown.org This is an awesome program for on-going stewardship and money management lessons. I highly recommend it.                 

Retirement Internet Sites:

Retirement Analyzers and information sources:

www.analyzenow.com  The mission of Analyze now is to disseminate inexpensive retirement planning tools that accommodate the particular situations of each user and provide a conservative response. Has a retirement computer software package for sale but I haven’t reviewed it.  Let me know if you buy it and like it.    

Seniorresource.com  This site specializes in senior housing issues and availability. Some financial planning and estate planning material that is a must read. Great materials on aging in place, hiring an in house assistant, remodeling for senior’s lifestyles and more. This site is a must for those who are considering “staying” where they are at.  Also has some good materials on retirement and estate planning.  Has a nice article on living trusts. Read all you can find!  Each time you do, the education increases but also your understanding goes way up. Remember, you don’t have to understand it the first time you read it! It usually takes me at least three times to really understand the material I’m reading. This site is a must read! Check out all of the subjects.

vanguard.com  Mutual fund family but the planner is heralded by many writers as being one of he best!

FDIC: Consumer Booklets. www.fdic.gov

Product Reviews and Buying Guides: Whatever You are Buying. Do search for " PRODUCT REVIEWS _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ "  and see how many sites come up.

asec.org American Savings and Education Council. Has a great ballpark estimator for retirement and some retirement worksheets and tips. Try their retirement personality quiz!

financialengines.com   Some costs to this site but it is being really touted as the best for retirement and portfolio analysis.

morningstar.com  Both fund and stock market analyzer plus more material than we could outline here.  

schwab.com   Great retirement calculator plus general brokerage services. Also has a great mutual fund section that rates mutual funds.

For a really good article on the top five retirement, investing sites ask your library for a copy of the September, 2000 issue of  the magazine, Mutual Funds. This article lists all of the site references noted here but sometimes a word explanation may help you get on the right track or investment methodology. 

Consumer Information Center: Federal Government Runs this so there is some real good materials available at low or no cost. Call 1-888-828-3256

Mutual Fund Investments and Research: 

brill.com  Mutual funds interactive site. Great articles on 401ks and a class for mutual funds called Mutual Funds 101—take this tutorial! 

thestreet.com  More stock market news but check for some good articles on investing and retirement.

cbs.marketwatch.com Timely business news and unequaled commentary.

www.moneycentral.msn.com Has just about all you'll need! 

indexfunds.com- tracks index funds. Informative articles, discussion group and information on over 200 index funds. Index funds are similar say to the SP 500 and other indexes. These funds attempt to buy the same stock that is in the index that they are trying to match.

maxfunds.com  dedicated to small new and little-known funds. Clever fund rating system that does not rely on past performance.

fundalarm.com  Looks for sites that are potentially in trouble. Here's a quote from their site:  FundAlarm is a free, non-commercial Website. Our view of the mutual fund industry is slightly off-center. We help you decide when it's time to sell a fund, instead of when it's time to buy. The mutual fund industry is full of broken promises, arrogance, greed, hypocrisy -- the list goes on. We try to shine a light in the darker corners, and poke holes in balloons that could use some poking.

Mutual Fund Investors and Education Center. www.mfea.com Trade association of no load funds. Nice tutorial!

Stock investing and researching  sites:        

hoovers.com   The business site for research and stock analysis.

zacks.com      Empowering and Educating the individual investor. 

National Association of Investors.  Fees are involved. Quote from their site:  
NAIC members know the value of doing their own research. The new NAIC Stock Prospector helps self-directed investors unearth great stocks for study.

Financial Planning sites       

directadvice.com Annual fee but some say it is the strongest planner on the net, still need some humane interaction but this is a great way to start.

quicken.com  I use this site as it ties into my Quicken Accounting Program.

smartmoney.com  The nets neatest interactive fund and stock tools, with some super analysis.

Senior Sites:   Access America for Seniors. Consumer protection, health, retirement planning and taxes.  Directories on the home page give instant access to federal and state agencies that handle Social Security, Medicare and other programs vital to seniors.  www.seniors.gov. Supported by your tax dollars so use it!

CareGuide.com. Whether you need to locate a geriatric case manager or a skilled-nursing facility, this site can help with a huge, well organized directory. Articles help family members and spouses during this difficult time.  www.careguide.com

ElderNet  www.eldernet.com  Site is extremely useful as it has a lot of links and listings to other online resources.  Elder law, chat groups, senor lifestyle are just a few of the items listed. Site is written and/or supported by an elder care attorney.

Want to start or join an investment club?  National Association of Investment Clubs P.O. Box. 220 Royal Oak, Michigan 48068  

Before you give to an unknown charity check with:  National Charities Information Bureau  19 Union Square West , New York, NY 10003, Ask for, The Wise Giving Guide.    And/or, write to:  Philanthropic Advisory Service  Better Business Bureau  Dept. 023  Washington, D.C. 20042  Ask for ,Give but Give Wisely. Enclose a self addressed Envelope and $1.00   

National Consumers League  815 15 Street NW  Suite 516  Washington, D.C. 20005  

Catalog of publications and services.  Consumer Connection  P.O. Box 97077   Kirkland, WA 98083  206-828-8100   

Mutual Fund Education Alliance  A non-profit trade organization. Offers, at cost, pamphlets, cassettes, video tapes, investor  kits, directories and guides.  1-816-471-1454  or write:

Mutual Fund Education Alliance  1900 Erie St.  Suite 120   Kansas City, MO 64116

American Association of Independent Investors

AARP--American Association of Retired Persons. Ask  for,  A GUIDE TO UNDERSTANDING YOUR PENSION PLAN.  1909 K Street N.W.  Washington, D.C. 20049

SMALL BUSINESS HELP   SCORE  Service Core of Retired Executives  825 Connecticut Ave. Washington, D.C. 20001  202-653-6279

Small Business Publications  from the Small Business Administration  P.O. Box 1000  Fort Worth, TX 76119

Small Business Success  Volumes 1 to 4 are free from the SBA and Pacific Bell Directory. Call 1-800-848-8000

Look Before You Leap James Madison University  Small Business Development  College of Business  5 th Floor  Harrisonburg, VA 22807   Send $6.00 for a workbook that if you complete it will give you a good idea of whether or not  your business will work.

A quiz that helps couples determine their compatibility in money matters.  For Richer or Poorer leaflet. $1.00.  Genesis Press  P.O. Box 678  Tucker, GA. 30085

MONEY MANAGEMENT INSTITUTE OF HOUSEHOLD INTERNATIONAL, a financial services company.

Your Housing Dollar.   Booklet on how to buy a house, financing tips, hiring contractors and work sheets on how much you can spend.  2700 Sanders Road  Prospect Heights, Ill. 60070

INSURANCE QUOTES.   For term insurance price quotes call  1-800-343-1985  www.SelectQuote will send you quotes on five of the least expensive policies from over 20  companies.

Another source of insurance quotes is. Independent Advantage  1-800-829-2887

For all types of insurance quotes, including—Car Insurance, Medicare Supplements, Dental Insurance, Medical Insurance—including groups, call  Quotesmith at 1-800-556-9393 or go to WWW.Quotesmith.com on the internet

Need information on Annuities?  Florida Dept of Insurance  Life Insurance and Annuities Guide  P.O. Box 7117 Tallahassee, Fl 32314-7117

For Financial Planning Helps and to find a Certified Financial Planner in your area:  Ask for ALL CFP'S in your area, not just those registered with the DPA Program. The Institute tries to give out names of those CFP'S who have paid an additional $100.00 a year.  Institute of Certified Financial Planners  7600 E. Eastman Ave.  Suite 301  Denver, Colorado  80231  303-751-7600

Retirement Calculations.  T. Rowe Price offers a Retirement Planning Kit, paper version is free.  A computer software version is $15.00. Call 1-800-541-4041.

Buying US Treasuries?  Buy direct at http://www.savingsbonds.gov/

For some very practical budget tips, write:  The American Financial Services Assoc.   $1.00 copy?  1101 14th st NW.  

Write me with any second opinion questions!  Rick Kornmeier  Email cmm@biblicalstewardship.com

Internet sites and information sources are subject to so many changes that I can’t possibly keep up with. If you note any changes, email them to me. PLEASE! Have any other sources I should list? Email them to me and I’ll include them in the next revision of this booklet.  THANKS FOR YOUR HELP! Others will benefit from your time and efforts.