http://www.publicbroadcasting.net/kplu/news/ kplu NewsRoom: Opinion en-us Public Interactive newsroom.NewsRSS via Rome 30 http://www.publicbroadcasting.net/kplu/news.newsmain?action=article&ARTICLE_ID=1345571&sectionID=4 Do you have foreign stocks in your portfolio? Many advisers recommend them, and they've performed well in recent years. But financial commentator Greg Heberlein remains skeptical. He spoke with KPLU's Dave Meyer. KPLU Thu, 21 Aug 2008 15:52:57 GMT kplu http://www.publicbroadcasting.net/kplu/news.newsmain?action=article&ARTICLE_ID=1324737&sectionID=4 When it comes to personal finances, many of us are feeling nostalgic for the summer of 2007. Stocks prices were a lot higher and gasoline cost less than three-dollars-a-gallon. Things have changed quite a bit in the past 12 months. KPLU's Dave Meyer talks to financial commentator Greg Heberlein. KPLU Thu, 24 Jul 2008 05:16:48 GMT kplu http://www.publicbroadcasting.net/kplu/news.newsmain?action=article&ARTICLE_ID=1319950&sectionID=4 Has the economy affected your summer vacation plans? Many people are staying close to home this year. But financial commentator Greg Heberlein says you may want to think twice before committing to a staycation . KPLU Thu, 17 Jul 2008 15:30:28 GMT kplu http://www.publicbroadcasting.net/kplu/news.newsmain?action=article&ARTICLE_ID=1315253&sectionID=4 If you're retired and would like to tap into your home equity, one option is a reverse mortgage. But they aren't for everyone. Financial commentator Greg Heberlein explains the concept to KPLU's Dave Meyer. KPLU Thu, 10 Jul 2008 04:48:03 GMT kplu http://www.publicbroadcasting.net/kplu/news.newsmain?action=article&ARTICLE_ID=1302416&sectionID=4 Next Tuesday, Washington Mutual shareholders meet in SeaTac to vote on a proposal to inject more cash into the company. Financial Commentator Greg Heberlein looks at the deal with KPLU's Dave Meyer. KPLU Thu, 19 Jun 2008 15:40:38 GMT kplu http://www.publicbroadcasting.net/kplu/news.newsmain?action=article&ARTICLE_ID=1297390&sectionID=4 Will the sub-prime loan disaster be followed by a new monetary crisis? Financial commentator Greg Heberlein is worried about the derivatives market. He spoke with KPLU's Dave Meyer. KPLU Thu, 12 Jun 2008 15:14:17 GMT kplu http://www.publicbroadcasting.net/kplu/news.newsmain?action=article&ARTICLE_ID=1282935&sectionID=4 Discount retailers and grocers are usually considered safe-havens in times of economic downturn - their stock goes up when money is tight. But analysts are split on whether Issaquah-based Costco Wholesale is a good stock to hang on to right now. That's the topic of this week's chat with our financial commentator, Greg Heberlein. He spoke with KPLU business and labor reporter Bellamy Pailthorp. KPLU Thu, 22 May 2008 14:49:50 GMT kplu http://www.publicbroadcasting.net/kplu/news.newsmain?action=article&ARTICLE_ID=1278128&sectionID=4 Credit card debt has reached an all-time high in the United States. Financial commentator Greg Heberlein tells KPLU's Dave Meyer it might trigger another financial crisis. KPLU Thu, 15 May 2008 14:16:48 GMT kplu http://www.publicbroadcasting.net/kplu/news.newsmain?action=article&ARTICLE_ID=1273590&sectionID=4 Interest rates for 30-year-mortgages are hovering around 6 percent and real estate prices are lower than they were a year ago. Is this a good time to buy a house? Financial commentator Greg Heberlein tells KPLU's Dave Meyer it's a good idea to wait for prices to drop even lower. KPLU Thu, 08 May 2008 04:20:33 GMT kplu http://www.publicbroadcasting.net/kplu/news.newsmain?action=article&ARTICLE_ID=1261557&sectionID=4 When Washington Mutual shareholders met this week in Seattle, C-E-O Kerry Killinger asked them to show a little faith. Instead, he saw a lot of anger. The nation's largest thrift lost three billion dollars in the past six months, and is expected to lose billions more in the near future. KPLU's Dave Meyer spoke with financial commentator Greg Heberlein. KPLU Thu, 17 Apr 2008 04:52:57 GMT kplu http://www.publicbroadcasting.net/kplu/news.newsmain?action=article&ARTICLE_ID=1257814&sectionID=4 Seattle-based Washington Mutual has been hit hard by the sub-prime loan crisis. The bank lost more than a billion dollars to bad loans in the first quarter of this year, and more losses are expected. The company is closing all 186 of its home loan centers around the country and cutting three-thousand jobs. WaMu holds its annual shareholder meeting next Tuesday. Financial commentator Greg Heberlein would love to ask a few questions at that meeting. He shares them with KPLU's Dave Meyer. KPLU Thu, 10 Apr 2008 04:53:53 GMT kplu http://www.publicbroadcasting.net/kplu/news.newsmain?action=article&ARTICLE_ID=1246820&sectionID=4 Now that most analysts seem to agree the United States economy is in a recession, financial commentator Greg Heberlein says it's time to think about the unthinkable. Is a Depression possible? Greg spoke with KPLU's Dave Meyer. KPLU Thu, 20 Mar 2008 05:49:10 GMT kplu http://www.publicbroadcasting.net/kplu/news.newsmain?action=article&ARTICLE_ID=1231462&sectionID=4 Around this time last year, KPLU financial commentator Greg Heberlein spotted the first warning signs of the sub-prime loan debacle. Now, he's seeing an alarming trend in the world of municipal bonds. He spoke with KPLU's Dave Meyer. KPLU Thu, 21 Feb 2008 15:15:50 GMT kplu http://www.publicbroadcasting.net/kplu/news.newsmain?action=article&ARTICLE_ID=1212737&sectionID=4 Will there be a recession this year? The economy appears to be on shaky ground these days. KPLU's Dave Meyer talks to financial commentator Greg Heberlein about planning for the possibility of hard times ahead. KPLU Thu, 17 Jan 2008 06:58:27 GMT kplu http://www.publicbroadcasting.net/kplu/news.newsmain?action=article&ARTICLE_ID=1209414&sectionID=4 2007 was a rough year on Wall Street. The broader market showed modest gains for the year, but Northwest stocks lost ground. KPLU's Dave Meyer looks at the numbers with financial commentator Greg Heberlein. KPLU Thu, 10 Jan 2008 07:53:32 GMT kplu http://www.publicbroadcasting.net/kplu/news.newsmain?action=article&ARTICLE_ID=1201191&sectionID=4 If there's a direct correlation between politics and the economy, investors should expect to do well in 2008. Financial Commentator Greg Heberlein explains the Presidential Cycle to KPLU's Dave Meyer. KPLU Thu, 20 Dec 2007 16:33:00 GMT kplu http://www.publicbroadcasting.net/kplu/news.newsmain?action=article&ARTICLE_ID=1197522&sectionID=4 It's been a turbulent week on Wall Street. Actions by the Federal Reserve caused markets to rise and fall. KPLU's Dave Meyer tries to make sense out of it with financial commentator Greg Heberlein. KPLU Thu, 13 Dec 2007 15:20:39 GMT kplu http://www.publicbroadcasting.net/kplu/news.newsmain?action=article&ARTICLE_ID=1193541&sectionID=4 Structured Investement Vehicles are playing a big role in the credit crunch. Many government entities have money in them, including King County. What is an SIV? Financial commentator Greg Heberlein explains the concept to KPLU's Dave Meyer. KPLU Thu, 06 Dec 2007 09:23:54 GMT kplu http://www.publicbroadcasting.net/kplu/news.newsmain?action=article&ARTICLE_ID=1190057&sectionID=4 When planning for retirement, you need to decide when you want to start collecting Social Security. Should you go for a smaller benefit at an early age or wait for the maximum payments at age 70? KPLU's Dave Meyer goes over the options with financial commentator Greg Heberlein. KPLU Thu, 29 Nov 2007 15:59:01 GMT kplu http://www.publicbroadcasting.net/kplu/news.newsmain?action=article&ARTICLE_ID=1187142&sectionID=4 It's been a rough ride on Wall Street this fall. Stocks hit record highs in early October but have been sliding in recent weeks. How can you know when it's safe to get back into the market? KPLU's Dave Meyer talks to financial commentator Greg Heberlein. KPLU Thu, 22 Nov 2007 06:10:42 GMT kplu