Financial Planning

Despite continued minor improvement in the economy, most Americans are still worried and are increasingly focusing on improving their personal finances, according to a new report.

A new survey of the top financial leaders in America's businesses shows that they are becoming more strategic in their decision-making, and also relying more on financial planning when developing and guiding their corporate strategy.

With home ownership, job opportunity and retirement security in decline, an Allstate/National Journal Heartland Monitor poll shows that most Americans agree with what the experts have said. Seven in 10 think that tomorrow’s adults – today’s kids – will have less financial security than adults today.

Mobile credit card acceptance vendor Square has launched a new software partner platform that includes integration with Xero and QuickBooks. The collaboration is focused on building new applications that complement Square’s set of business services.

For the fourth straight year, the New York-based accountancy Anchin, Block & Anchin has again been named the Best North American Accounting Firm in the annual Hedgeweek awards.

Credit and business analysis company FICO has announced a change to the well-known FICO Score, the most commonly-used measure of U.S. consumer credit risk. The new scoring system will be available beginning this summer.

The results show that more than half of small businesses surveyed still use manual processes, such as a spreadsheet or pen and paper, to track finances. In addition, almost 40 percent of these businesses are spending multiple days on tax preparation.

It’s never too late to begin. The sooner you start contributing to your employer-sponsored retirement plan or IRA, the better your chances for building a significant savings cushion.