Market and Economy Watch
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August 3, 2002
This week we take a look at the latest economic news and how it affects the market, investing, and retirement planning.

• INTERVIEW #1: Michael Farr, president and majority owner of Farr, Miller & Washington, LLC comments on this week's economic and financial news.
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• INTERVIEW #2: Dallas Salisbury, president and CEO of the Employee Benefit Research Institute, talks about how pensions and retirement plans will change in the wake of corporate accounting scandals.
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• INTERVIEW #3: Certified Public Accountant Twila Slesnick, retirement planning expert, talks about how investors nearing retirement should handle the market's recent performance.
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• COMMENTARY: Writer Will Hermes says it's important not to spend too much time worrying about your retirement portfolio.
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• INTERVIEW #4: Attorney Stephen Elias talks about the bankruptcy bill that nearly passed the house last week.
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• LISTENER QUESTIONS: Chris Farrell answers listeners' questions. Is it time to covert an IRA to a Roth IRA? Find out the answer to this question and more.
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• ERICA TELLS IT LIKE IT IS: This week, our in-house investments expert Erica Whittlinger explains why short-selling is hot in a volatile market.
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• THE NEWS AND VIEWS WITH CHRIS FARRELL: Don't Chase the Housing Market
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• BEST RATES: Best Credit Card Rates This Week
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• RESOURCES: Books and Web sites mentioned on this week's broadcast
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War and the Economy
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August 10, 2002
Tune in to Sound Money this week to learn about how war with Iraq would affect the economy. We'll explore whether President Bush's signature on a corporate fraud bill means your investments are safe. Author Cliff Feigenbaum joins us to talk about socially responsible investing. And we'll get tips from the Federal Trade Commission on protecting yourself from identity theft. Join us for these stories and answers to your financial questions.

• INTERVIEW #1: We'll take a look at the week's economic news and how our foreign policy, particularly talk of war with Iraq, affects the markets with Walter Russell Mead, author and senior fellow for U.S. Foreign Policy at the Council on Foreign Relations.
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• INTERVIEW #2: Shareholder activist Robert Monks talks about whether enough is being done to reduce corporate fraud.
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• ERICA TELLS IT LIKE IT IS: Our in-house investment counselor takes the pulse of people in Europe having returned from a conference in Oxford, England.
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• INTERVIEW #3: Cliff Feigenbaum is the editor of "The Green Money Journal," a newsletter about investing in socially and environmentally responsible businesses. He talks about investing using your values as a guide.
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• LISTENER QUESTIONS: Chris Farrell answers listeners' questions. Who should buy an annuity? And should interest rates rise? These are just some of the questions Chris answers during this week's segment.
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• INTERVIEW #4: Joanna Crane, program manager for the Federal Trade Commission's Identity Theft Program talks about how to avoid the growing problem of ID theft.
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• THE NEWS AND VIEWS WITH CHRIS FARRELL: The Estate Tax Revisited Market
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• BEST RATES: Best Credit Card Rates This Week
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• RESOURCES: Books and Web sites mentioned on this week's broadcast
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• Exchange: Discuss ethical investing.
• Exchange: Have you been a victim of ID theft?

Rebalancing
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August 17, 2002
This week on Sound Money, we'll take a look at how the Federal Reserve's decision to leave rates unchanged will affect the markets. We'll also talk with Robert Shiller, author of the well-known book Irrational Exuberance, about why consumers simultaneously worry about their financial situation and yet continue to overspend. And if you're feeling overwhelmed by work, family obligations, or the upcoming school year, we'll have tips to help you rebalance your life.

• INTERVIEW #1: The Federal Reserve on Tuesday warned economic risks have tilted toward weakness and decided not to change interest rates for now. We talk with former Fed official Lyle Gramley about the decision and how it affects the markets and economy.
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• INTERVIEW #2: (PART ONE) Yale Economist Robert Shiller shares his gloomy picture of the economy. Shiller is also the author of the book Irrational Exuberance.
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• INTERVIEW #2: (PART TWO) Robert Shiller continues.
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• INTERVIEW #3: With a stumbling economy and widespread corporate layoffs, the pressure of juggling work and family tends to feel overwhelming these days. Personal finance author Gerri Detweiler shares tips on how to rebalance your life.
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• ERICA TELLS IT LIKE IT IS: As an investor, do you feel powerless in this era of corporate scandals and restated earnings? Our in-house investment counselor Erica Whittlinger says the proxy statement can be an individual investor's powerful weapon.
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• LISTENER QUESTIONS: Can you trust a financial planner in these uncertain times? And can you legally avoid paying income tax? These are just some of the questions Chris answers this week.
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• COMMENTARY: Business 2.0 editor Eric Schurenberg says biotech stocks are a risky bet for investors.
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• THE NEWS AND VIEWS WITH CHRIS FARRELL: War and the Economy
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• BEST RATES: Best Credit Card Rates This Week
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• RESOURCES: Books and Web sites mentioned on this week's broadcast
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• Exchange: Balancing act

Dot-Com Survivors
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August 24, 2002
This week we take a look at consumer confidence, back to school spending, the health of Internet companies, and financial principles to follow in any market.

• INTERVIEW #1: Rakesh Shankar, an economist who specializes in Internet Companies for Economy.com, provides a closer look at the technology industry. Are Internet companies back in the black? Shankar will give us his analysis.
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• INTERVIEW #2: Richard Curtin, director of The University of Michigan's Consumer Sentiment Index, joins us to talk about how consumers are feeling about the economy.
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• INTERVIEW #3: Consumer Reports Deputy Editor David Heim talks about back-to-school values and must-haves for college students.
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• INTERVIEW #4: Certified Financial Planner Ross Levin reviews investing principles to hold near and dear no matter how the market is performing.
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• LISTENER QUESTIONS: Chris Farrell answers listeners' questions. Does it ever pay to have a credit card balance? Find out the answer to this question and more.
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• ERICA TELLS IT LIKE IT IS: Are you a retiree who would like to get his or her hands on some extra cash? Investment expert Erica Whittlinger shares her strategies.
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• THE NEWS AND VIEWS WITH CHRIS FARRELL: 'Tis the Season to Budget?
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• BEST RATES: Best Credit Card Rates This Week
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• RESOURCES: Books and Web sites mentioned on this week's broadcast
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The American Workforce
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August 31, 2002
In celebration of Labor Day, Sound Money examines the ever-changing American workplace from the perspective of business leaders, researchers, and laborers. What issues will business and workers face in the future? And if you've ever dreamed of working for yourself, tune in for tips on starting your own business.

• INTERVIEW #1: Everett Ehrlich, director of research at the business research group the Committee for Economic Development, talks about the issues facing business in the future.
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• INTERVIEW #2: Larry Mishel, president of the Economic Policy Institute, talks about the major issues facing the American workforce in the upcoming years.
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• INTERVIEW #3: John Sweeney, president of the AFL-CIO, talks about the changing face of the American worker.
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• INTERVIEW #4: Each year, 500,000 Americans opens a business. We talk to Ken Yancey, CEO of SCORE, the Service Corps of Retired Executives, about starting a business.
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• LISTENER QUESTIONS: Chris Farrell answers listeners' questions: Explain what a P/E ratio is. How low can interest rates go? Should you invest any extra money you may get by refinancing, or keep paying it towards a mortgage? These are just some of the questions Chris answers during this week's segment.
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• ERICA TELLS IT LIKE IT IS: Investment expert Erica Whittlinger talks about the pros and cons of purchasing a vacation home.
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• THE NEWS AND VIEWS WITH CHRIS FARRELL: Stocks Are No Longer Overvalued
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• BEST RATES: Best Credit Card Rates This Week
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• RESOURCES: Books and Web sites mentioned on this week's broadcast
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