Why you don’t have to keep money in a mattress today
During the Great Depression, people supposedly stuffed money in their mattresses. That may have been wise, since about 9,000 banks failed between 1929 and…
Author: Rick Good
Rick Good spent ten years in the newspaper business, including with The News & Observer (Raleigh, NC) and The Greenville News (Greenville, SC). He co-wrote, with Melinda Coleman, Rutledge to Riley: Governors of South Carolina, 1776–Present (Published by The Greenville News), and is the author of Mind Games Trivia #1 (Amazon). He has recently spent 15 years creating original trivia content through Sounds Good Mobile Entertainment and continues that with his new company, SGME Software. He edits The Smart Reader's money, real estate, and business coverage.
Why Silicon Valley Bank failed
When Silicon Valley Bank (SVB) collapsed, stock markets around the globe went into a tailspin, with some fearing a wider financial meltdown. Analysts also…
Ask the expert
What does Private Mortgage Insurance do for me when I buy a house? Private Mortgage Insurance (PMI) is required when a homebuyer makes a down payment…
Home warranties can be useful when selling
A home warranty can be a useful tool if you want to sweeten a deal for a potential buyer. Home warranties are not the same as homeowners insurance…
The danger of pessimism and how to change it
At both extremes in the continuum between pessimism and optimism, there is trouble. The foolhardy extreme optimist might never save a dime and be defeated…
Exhausted after a family vacation?
Here’s a secret: Going on vacation with the kids is a lot of work. Parents are often exhausted after being full-time nannies, swim or snow board…
Dark retreat: Finding yourself with nothing
Even as you drift to sleep, pinpoint LED lights blink a silent reminder that something around you is computing, consuming, or waiting. When wake, you’ll…
Retirees should prepare for healthcare sticker shock
Retirees now live longer and often enjoy a higher quality of life than in decades past. However, longer lifespans make financial security, especially in…
Celebrate Arbor Day by planting the right tree in your yard
A tree can add beauty to your landscape and value to your home, but choosing its location can be tricky. Consider both the type of tree you want and its…
Here’s how to stretch effectively
Whether you are going to play a sport, lift weights at the gym, or do an exercise routine, you’ll be better at it — and less likely to hurt yourself –…