Earlier this week I noted that it's getting harder to find banks that don't charge for checking accounts. Here are the names of several MA banks that still offer full-service checking accounts for free. Read the full article

According to a recent AARP poll, 71% of 401(k) plan participants believe that they don’t pay any fees in their company’s plan. In fact, most do, but the fees are not disclosed or are so deeply buried in plan reports that most employees are blissfully unaware of what the actual costs are. New Labor Department regulations will change that next year. Read the full article

A number of banks are developing annoying new checking account fees. What’s a consumer to do? Read the full article

In response to increases in the cost-of-living index, the IRS announced today that adjustments that will be made to contribution limits for some types of retirement plans. Read the full article

The Social Security Administration announced yesterday that there will be a cost-of-living increase in monthly Social Security benefit checks next year. There were no increases in 2010 and 2011 because the cost of living calculated by the Bureau of Labor Statistics hasn’t increased since the third quarter of 2008.

Starting in January of 2012, Social Security beneficiaries will receive a 3.6 percent benefit increase, and SSI benefits will increase similarly on December 30, 2011. Read the full article

Quite a few taxpayers did Roth conversions last year, taking advantage of the change in conversion eligibility rules. But for some of them, now might be the time for a do-over. Read the full article

It’s unclear whether significant tax reforms will be enacted for 2012, so year-end planning could be tricky this year. Still, there are some tax strategies that should at least be examined for possible implementation before 2011 ends. Read the full article

For most Americans, the European Debt Crisis is anything but riveting. Sure, Wall Street has been bouncing up and down in response to news about the Euro bailout fund, but Greek sovereign debt is a pretty esoteric subject for almost everyone else. Yet the cover of this week’s Economist magazine advises, “be afraid.” What are they worried about? Read the full article

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