Table Of Content

Kiplingers PERSONAL i FINANCE INDEX OF ARTICLES 2003 A BANKING Electric cars July 26 COMPUTERS AND Radio-frequency ID tags ATM deposits June 21 Hybrids Oct 104 TECHNOLOGY Sept 21 and brokerage accounts, Luxury cars, leasing Cellcams Oct 102 Shopping bots June 93 combined July 44 April 98 Children’s software June 100 Shopping-cart computers Security screening, Motorcycles April 104 College students Feb 28 new accounts Oct 28 Redesigned models June 99 laundry schedules, online Smart bricks Oct 26 Speed monitor March 26 May 32 Sonogram snapshots Aug 26 CAREERS AND JOBS Test-drive how-to Dec 96 virus-free PCs Dec 28 Spam fighters Feb 32, May EBay entrepreneuJrus/ y 72 Tires, buying online Nov 1173 Digital conversion Sept 98 92, Nov 28 Franchises Oct 72 2004 models, preview Digital photography Thin-and-light notebooks Nurses, shortage of Jan 22 April 100, 102 disposable cameras Nov 24 Aug 121 Privacy-protection jobs image software July 94 Wireless home networks Feb 26 CHARITIES AND E-commerce April 25 March 98 Professional résumés Nov 42 VOLUNTEERS Floppy disks May 27 Temporary jobs May 82 Postwar relief, Iraq July 28 Hand-held GPS devices CREDIT Unemployment April 85 Nov 110 Credit cards COMMUNICATIONS Internet Blue Cash card Aug 104 CARS AND OTHER Cell phones budget dial-up Nov 96 collection scores April 30 VEHICLES bans on May 28 dating Feb 108 currency conversion and Auto loans price war Avg 104 fraud Dec 22 May 92 refinancinJga n 111 College students, long-dis- high-speed access direct-deposit rebates zero-percent Feb g1 tance options for Sept 87 July 28 June 84 Buyer’s guide for 2004 Deals for phone and Internet public access at electronic statements Dec 92 service, online May 94 McDonald's Sept 24 May 32 Buying tips June 98 No-call lists Jan 21, April Macintosh, switching to Fleet Bank Savings Bond Certified used vehicles 89, July 24, Sept 83 Feb 104 card Jan 92 Aug 118 Phone trees Feb 76 NEC fuel cell Dec 22 insurance on March 94 Convertibles May 100 Portable numbers Ju/y 28, Personal digital assistants late fees June 26 Crash data recorders Oct 26 Dec 26 Jan 108, Aug 122 MBNA April 84 2003 Index minimum-payment private loans Apri/ 30 Prescription drugs Jan 24 increases March 94 professional application affordability Sept 22 premium hike Feb 89 preapproved offers help Jan 74 from Canada Feb 84 rental-car coverage Sept 28 specialty schools Nov 79 July 84, Dec 86 savings-bond perks, student-loan consolidation HEALTH INSURANCE specialized policies end of Nov 87 June 86 AND DISABILITY July 91 virtual card numbers withdrawal strategies INSURANCE Homeowners March 95 Aug 103 Consumer-driven health-care coverage crisis July 62 zero-percent balance Seminars for corporate plans Oct 81 rental policies Nov 95 transfer Feb 90 directors July 24 Long-term care March 24, umbrella policies Nov 88 Credit counseling July 85 May 86, Sept 26 Life Credit reports Dec 88 ESTATE PLANNING Medical coverage cash value versus term Debit cards Capital losses, how to handle for college grads May 93 June 76 annual fees Jan 22 unrealized Jan 95 private universal April 26 for children May 95 bounced-check charges Executor how-to Dec 66 problems with Sept 74 falling rates Oct 21 March 91 Wills Jan 82, May 90 rising costs of Dec 21 shopping for lower pros and cons Nov 28 Flexible spending accounts premiums Dec 84 Q&A July 80 FAMILY FINANCES June 86, Aug 24, Nov 84 term coverage Nov 41 Debt management Feb 68 Child-care tax breaks Sept 89 Medicare term, money-back- Foreign-exchange fees Dec 24 Money-smart kids bonuses Nov 30 guaranteeJudl y 81 boomerang kids June 80 prescription-drug Premiums, how to reduce THE ECONOMY checking accounts for discount cards Jan 24 June 72, Nov 46 Cash-strapped states Avg 22 teens Jan 86 reform May 88 Wedding coverage June 84 Deflation threat Aug 26 financial skills for young Medigap policies April 78 Falling dollar Avg 21 girls March 86 INVESTING Inflation statisticJsan 70 six basic skills Sept 78 HOMEOWNERSHIP AND SAVING Outlook 2003 Jan 21 surviving holidays Dec 82 Buying and selling Arbitration Feb 56 Postwar growth June 21 strategies Apri/ 66 Aster, Rick (interview) Quirky financial news 2003 FROM THE KIPLINGER Escrow, dropping March 90 Dec 46 Dec 30 LETTER Exterior enhancements Best Web sites Sept 44 Tax cuts April 25 Budget deficit Oct 21 Nov 38 Byrne, Susan (interview) California recall Dec 21 Home makeovers Feb 94 Nov 24 EDUCATION China’s economy Nov 23 Home-price outlook Jan 50 Callable CDs Nov 92 Graduate school, increase in Fannie and Freddie Sept 21 Mortgage CD ladders Nov 45 applicants May 30 Post-Iraq outlook Aug 21 employer benefit Sept 28 CGM Realty Sept 50 Personal-finance seminars, for and home-equity combo Davis, Chris (interview) music students March 26 HEALTH AND FITNESS loans April 26 March 44 Public colleges, best Allergy tests May 30 rate lock-in Jan 94 Dollar-cost averaging values Jan 90, Nov 72 Back-pain treatmenJta n 98 refinancing May 27 Aug 47 Saving for college Carbon-monoxide detectors Natural-gas prices Sept 22 Edward Jones brokerage 529 plans June 85 Jan 26 Tax-free home-sale profits May 48 fund for a nonrelative Flex accounts and OTC Feb 88 Emergency funds Ju/y 23 Feb 90 drugs Dec 28 Urban-home renovation Feinberg, Andrew Jan 63, in a weak economy FluMist Dec 26 April 72 March 52, May 62 May 70 Low-carb products March 26 Vacation homes Avg 100 July 53, Sept 54, Nov 61 independent 529 plan Missed doctors’ appointment Financial advisers April 36, Dec 76 fees Sept 26 INSURANCE Nov 30 last-minute payment Nursing-home report cards Automobile Gregory, Ken, and Savage, strategies May 78 Feb 30 diminished-value claims Steve Feb 60, April 58, June 46, Aug 49, Oct 48, Financial IQ test Oct 66 Weight ETF July 52 REVIEWS Dec 53 Lankford, Kimberly SEC self-regulator April 54 A Mathematician Plays the High yields Feb 38, Oct 84 Aug 105, Sept 84, Oct 79, Templeton Dragon July 59 Stock Market (book) Oct 30 Independent research Nov 90, Dec 85 Triple-digit returns Dec 55 Amazon.com (Web site) March 58 Rental apartments Aug 98 William Blair Small Cap Dec 36 Janus funds June 32 Women’s financial planning Growth N Azg 46 Ask This Old House Kiplinger, Knight Jan 57, May 89 (television) Aug 28 March 62, May 57, MY STORY Before & After (television) July 51, Sept 46, Nov 66 MUTUAL FUNDS Czerny, Robin Sept 108 Aug 28 Low-risk investments All-weather funds Avg 37 Heitmann, Michael (Lt. Col., Born to Steal (book) Sept 30 July3 4 Best funds for your goals Marine Corps Reserves) Branded: The Buying and Money-market funds, yields May 38 Aug 104 Selling ofa Teenager (book) Jan 93 Best no-load funds Aug 32 Knestout, Tom Dec 132 Feb 34 Outlook 2003 Jan 34 Commodities funds June 49 Schulxz, Louis (Navy The Brand-New House Book Owens, Edward (interview) Expense ratios Sept 40 orthodontisJtu)l y 104 (book) June 87 June 36 Favorite funds Nov 4o Zicarelli, George Nov 116 Building Character (television) REIT rally Sept 49 FBR Small Cap Value Sept 51 Zino, Pamela Oct 110 Aug 28 Rental real estate Dec 40 Fidelity Burn Rate (game) March 30 Savings bonds Apri/ 88, Capital & Income June 50 RETIREMENT The Coffee Trader (book) Nov 39 Leveraged Company Stock Active-adult communities July 30 Siegel, Jeremy Feb 54, June 50 July 83 The Contrarians (book) Jan 30 April 53, June 51, Oct 52, Ginnie Mae funds June 57 Annuities, fixed and variable Currency of the Heart (book) Dec 58 Growth funds Jan 54 Jan 89 Feb 34 Small foreign companies Hall of Shame Apri/ 42 Bear-market strategies Every Tenant's Legal Guide Oct 46 Index funds March 34 March 70 (book) May 96 Stock-market alternatives Jacob Internet July 52 Conseco annuities March 92 FindGift.com (Web site) Jan 46 Late-trading scandal Nov 50, 401(k) plans Dec 36 Tax-free money funds Aug 24 Dec 52 advice Jan 78 The Gatekeepers (book) Jan 30 Tax-free savings plans Legg Mason Opportunity automatic rebalancing Geography of Wealth April 82 July 55 May 28 (documentaryJu)l y 30 Updates Market timers Feb 46, Dec 50 catch-up contributions Givingcenter.com (Web site) “Best Funds You Never Masters’ funds Nov 54 March 22 Dec 36 Heard Of,” “The Check’s New bull market? Aug 42 employer match June 24 High and Mighty (book) in the Mail,” “Stay Close Organize your finances loans Jan 92 April 32 to Home” March 56 Sept 62 simplification of Home Again (television) “$5 Great Personal- Proxy-voting disclosure Nov 23 Aug 28 Finance Ideas” Jan 67 June 22 403(b) plans Oct 82 I Want That (book) March 30 “Trend Spotting” Feb 52 Rankings Investing, in retirement The Laws of Money, The VIP Investor (newsletter) by one-, three-, five-, ten- March 80 Lessons of Life (book) Dec 52 and 20 years Aug 51 IRAs May 34 Wall Street settlement international stock early withdrawals from Monster House (television) July 23, Sept 52 Aug 73 Sept 80 Aug 28 Wartime strategies May 52 taxable bond Avg 76 Roths for kids Nov 43 Morningstar's Guide to Mutual Yields April 63 U.S. stock Aug 61 Pension plans Funds (book) March 30 Royce funds Aug 38 lump-sum payouts Jan 91 The Number (book) June 28 MONEY MANAGEMENT Royce Special Equity safety of Feb 25, Oct 76 Surprise.com (Web site) Bankruptcy legislation April 55 Reverse mortgageJsa n 28 Dec 36 Jan 28 RS Contrarian May 56 Simplified employee pension What Should I Do With Financial FAQs June 60 Rydex S&P Equal plans Nov 44 My Life? (book) Jan 30 2003 Index Worry-Free Investing (book) Upscale-restaurant discounts Lucent Technologies May 66 First-time taxpayers Nov 32 May 111 Men’s Wearhouse March 57 March 88 Valentine's gifts Feb 107 Morningstar ranking system New tax laws Avg 92 SCAMS Vinyl records Nov 43 Jan 60 Q&A April 86 Escrow services, online Whirlpool Personal Valet Municipal bonds Apri/ 60 Saver’s tax credit Dec 79 Feb 28 Feb 30 Penny stocks Feb 50 SUV loophole Sept 107 Moving companies June 78 Portfolios Tax-break cutoffs Aug 86 STOCKS AND BONDS cheap financial stocks Tax cuts, proposed SPENDING Altria June 50 Dec 54 March 21 Bathroom innovations AmerisourceBergeJun/ y 50 cheap international stocks Tax-free savings plans Aug 108 AT&T Feb 59 Feb 58 April 82 Best online stores June 90 AutoZone Dec 56 companies with catalysts Year-end tax strategies Casinos, ATM cards at Bargain stocks Oct 34 for growth April 54 Dec 72 Feb 32 Battered blue-chip stocks companies with temporary Coffee machines July 98 April 50 problems June 48 TRAVEL AND Custom-fitted clothing Blue-chip bonds Nov 48 focus on middle LEISURE June 24 Bond bubble Azg 45 management March 54 Airlines DVD Bonds, corporate vs. large-value stocks Sept 48 airfare bargains June 26 disposable Avg 22 Treasuries Oct 51 small companies with baggage safety April 28 players March 102, Boots & Coots International momentuJma n 56 European discounts Oct 103 Well Control June 50 strong firms that stumble June 102 Emergency food supplies Cable-TV stocks March 55 May 67 upgrading secrets Oct 22 June 22 California munis Sept 59 the three C’s Nov 62 Canadian-border hassles Gift buying, online June 92 CEC Entertainment Preferred stocks Nov 58 Oct 107 Gift cards June 82 July 52 Scholastic Corp. Jan 58 Cruises High-definition TV May 108 Cheap stocks Nov 37 Selling, guidelines for bargain June 103 Holiday gift guide Dec 126 Cumulus Media June 44 July 40 discount Sept 106 Housewares April 96 Dividend payers Jan 42, Small banks April 46 virus outbreaks on Ice cream Feb 25 Aug 95, Nov 48 Steel stocks Dec 60 March 28 Kitchen knives Feb 100 Dogs of the Dow May 60 Tech-stock rally July 48 Fantasy camps Oct 88 Landscaping Sept 92 DRIPs Nov 42 Top picks Sept 34 Frequent-flier limitations Leather chairs Nov 48 for children March 67 Updates Jan 26 Luggage Aug 114 Duke Energy May 59 “$8.99 or Less” June 53 Hotels Mail-order menus Nov 100 EBay June 52 “Healthy Choices” Dec 61 discounts on luxury Men's suits March 104 Electric utilities Jane 4o “Petite, But Packed With July 102 Motorcycles April 104 ETFs Nov 38 Pow,” “Riding the Internet hookups Feb 32 Nostalgia foods May 111 First Command Sept 53 Recovery” April 52 room ozonators Outdoor gear Jan 104 Ford Motor Credit bonds “We Out-Buffett Buffett” March 22 Pens May 104 Feb 64 Oct 51 Last-minute bargains Personal trainers Nov 106 The Gap Nov 64 Water utilities June 42 Nov 39 Pianos June 95 Genentech Sept 52 Weight Watcherjsa n 59 Olympics 2004 Oct 109 Putting greens Nov 46 HCA Nov 63 Wrap accounts Oct 40 Passport problems Ski boots and bindings Oct 98 Helen of Troy April 56 July 26 Small electronics Nov 44 Inflation-protected securities TAXES Priceline Nov 115 Stain-resistant clothes Nov 64 AMT excesses Oct 60 RVs July 88 Feb 111 Insider buying and selling Child-care tax breaks Sept 89 Shoulder season April 92 Tailgate parties Sept 102 March 50 Cut your taxes Feb 80 Song (airline) June 102 Timex Speedpass watch International stocks Jan 38 Electronic filing Feb 87 Train trips Sept 105 March 21 Kodak goes digital Dec 61 Estate taxes Nov 80 Web-site bargains Sept 24 a