Devil in the Details

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• Zicam Makers Strike Back

  By Kathy Kristof | Nov 20, 2009 | 0 comments

  The makers of Zicam cold remedies turned their battle with the Food and Drug Administration public this week, filing a 33-page letter with securities regulators that discloses details of its long-running dispute. Now Zicam's parent company, Matrixx Initiatives, is asking that the FDA provide information about why it banned the product or rescind the ban.

• The Dangers of Using a Debit Card

  By Kathy Kristof | Nov 18, 2009 | 1 comment

  Debit cards can be downright dangerous during the holiday season, exposing you to greater risks from identity theft, according to a top privacy expert. Here's why.

• Is Your 401(k) a Dog or a Darling?

  By Kathy Kristof | Nov 17, 2009 | 2 comments

  A fledgling web site can allow you to see how your company's 401(k) stacks up when compared to others. And it can give you the sickening news of what it costs when your plan is poorly operated.

• Programmers Took Hush Money to Help Madoff Swindle

  By Kathy Kristof | Nov 13, 2009 | 0 comments

  Two computer programmers were charged today with creating the "sophisticated, credible and entirely phony" trading records that were critical to helping Bernard Madoff pull off his $65 billion fraud.

• Arbitrary Tax Laws Steal from Peter to Pay Paul; Leave Millions Out in the Cold

  By Kathy Kristof | Nov 12, 2009 | 6 comments

  Prospective home buyers and Realtors gave a collective cheer when the government extended and expanded the home buying tax credits. But this law and other recent breaks are turning the tax system into a lottery, providing windfalls to some and costs to others.

• Zicam Addicts (and Shareholders) Were Ripped-Off

  By Kathy Kristof | Nov 9, 2009 | 43 comments

  A Los Angeles lawyer and self-described "Zicam addict" decided to investigate the science behind the FDA's warning against the product. He found dismissed lawsuits and what he describes as "junk science."

• Health Reform: How to Make it Cheaper

  By Kathy Kristof | Nov 4, 2009 | 10 comments

  An analysis of health insurance premiums in states that mandate coverage gives a glimpse of how rates might change under health reform. The results of this analysis aren't pretty.

• Refi Ripoffs: How to Cut Bank Fees

  By Kathy Kristof | Nov 3, 2009 | 4 comments

  Paying close attention to fees--particularly for title insurance--when refinancing a home mortgage, can save hundreds of dollars. Here's a guide to shopping and negotiating your fees.

• How to Steal Grandma’s Home Equity

  By Kathy Kristof | Oct 30, 2009 | 11 comments

  Scoundrels are prowling the so-called reverse mortgage market, attempting to steal your grandparent's home equity. Here are the warning signs that your senior is a target.

• Do Your Friends a Favor and Give Cash, Not Gift Cards

  By Kathy Kristof | Oct 26, 2009 | 3 comments

  Many gift cards come with a passel of fees, unbeknownst to both givers and recipients. If you want to do your friends a favor, give cash instead.

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