Rising income inequality is starting to hit home for many American households as they run short of places to reach for a few extra bucks. As the gap between the rich and poor widened over the last three decades, families at the bottom found ways to deal with the squeeze on earnings. Housewives joined the…
With the end of the year just days away, some small businesses may be putting the final touches on their health care plans for 2014. One option they no longer have is to quickly sign up online for the Small Business Health Options Program (SHOP) Marketplace. Created under the Affordable Care Act, the SHOP exchange…
Early retirement often seems impossible. It’s difficult enough these days to retire at age 65, so the thought of retiring early is a pipe dream for most people. Yet somehow this dream has become a reality for some diligent savers. In extreme cases, a few people have retired at an age when most of us…
It’s counter-intuitive: This time of year we should be taking time to enjoy life, but for many entrepreneurs, it’s the busiest season of the year. And that’s not just for those who work in retail. We’re busy with holiday party obligations, buying client gifts, volunteering, sending cards…the list goes on and on. I’m in favor…
Whether you are partial to iOS, Android or even BlackBerry for your mobile computing needs, you’re likely faced with an embarrassment of riches when it comes to apps. To put it in perspective, Apple announced in October that its App Store now boasts 1 million apps. And the average U.S. smartphone user downloads 25 apps and spends two hours daily using…
Holiday shopping season is in full swing, and smartphones, tablets, and other electronic devices once again top many shoppers’ gift lists. Given how expensive many popular gadgets have become, one big question many shoppers are facing is whether or not to tack on an extended warranty to protect themselves should their electronic devices come to…
Are your passwords as strong as they can be? For many users, self-created passwords are not nearly as secure as they should be. Trustwave, a Chicago-based information security firm, recently revealed that a massive security breach compromised nearly 2 million websites and social media accounts in more than 100 countries. In the breach, 1.58 million website login…
I had an unusual experience this morning at my local cafe. While sipping my latte, I overheard an elderly couple at the next table discussing Twitter’s market cap and what Twitter’s future revenue opportunities are. Twenty-four months earlier, that very same couple may not have even known what Twitter was, let alone how they intend…
Amazon.com Inc. (AMZN) is testing drones to deliver goods as the world’s largest e-commerce company works to improve efficiency and speed in getting products to consumers. Chief Executive Officer Jeff Bezos unveiled the plan on CBS’s “60 Minutes” news program in the U.S., showing interviewer Charlie Rose the flying machines that can serve as delivery vehicles. Bezos said the gadgets,…
