The idea of "maintaining a certain standard of living" has become a foundation in our society today. Americans, in general, have come to believe they are "entitled" to a certain type of house, car, and general lifestyle which includes NOT just the basic necessities of living such as food, running water, and electricity, but also the latest mobile phone, computer, and high-speed internet connection. (Really, what would be the point of living if you didn't have access to Facebook every two minutes?) Like most economic data, you have to dig behind the numbers to reveal the true story so let's do that, shall we?

Knowing when the U.S. economy is heading for recession is paramount to successful investment decisions and our weekly Business Cycle Index would have provided early reliable warnings for the past seven recessions. [What's it saying these days? Read on!]

The following infographic details how some of the biggest financial bubbles in history have formed and then burst. Check it out to make sure you don’t fall victim to the hype of “the next big thing.”

It’s impossible to look at global debt stats & facts, or a single country’s national debt, in complete isolation. There are many factors to examine to best understand the impact of global debt on the economy and this infographic provides a clear-cut analysis of important global data, and it shows you the specifics of how much different countries of the world owe compared to their GDP. It’s simple, it’s straightforward, and it gives you everything you need to know.

Loll in the lap of inexpensive luxury at any one of International Living's 10 best retirement destinations: North America (1); Central America (2); South America (3); Europe (2); Asia (2) Words: 1155

There may be a case where a reverse mortgage makes sense in very unique circumstances but, in real life, I’ve not seen one yet. If someone you know is considering taking out a reverse mortgage, send them this article and suggest that they get a second opinion.

The all-encompassing, deceptively brief infographic presented here by Fortunly includes specific examples of taxes around the world and how different conceptions of taxation are evolving in the digital era. No one enjoys paying taxes, but we hope you will enjoy learning about them here.

It's hard to know what to buy or sell let alone just when to prudently do so. Thank goodness there are indicators available that provide information of stock and index movement of a more immediate nature to help you make such important decisions. This article describes the 6 most popular Momentum Indicators.

Are you way behind in saving for retirement, or haven't started at all? Good news: There's a way out of your predicament! Follow these three basic principles religiously and, along with a little luck, you still should be able to achieve your long-term financial goals.

How does your household income compare on a percentage basis to others in the U.S.? Are you in the top 2%, 10%, 50%? This calculator shows you exactly where.