Personal Finance Daily: 10 years of stupid investments

	Personal Finance Daily DECEMBER 13, 2012 Thursday's Personal Finance Stories By MarketWatch Don't miss these top stories: A plan that forces you to save for retirement Why credit bureaus fail to fix errors Foreclosure starts lowest since 2006 7 really stupid investments Columnist Chuck Jaffe has been writing his Stupid Investment of the Week column for nearly 10 years, and as the column ends its run he's compiled a list of some of his favorite stupid investments. His top seven range from investment seminars seen in late-night infomercials to bad insurance polices. See the entire list on MarketWatch today. Also in today's Personal Finance pages, learn why credit bureaus fail to fix errors, catch up on the latest foreclosure data, and read why one author and investor is advocating for the U.S. to create a mandatory, defined-contribution plan that forces you to save for retirement. —Amy Hoak , assistant editor 7 really stupid investments Commentary: Highlights from a decade of bad investment ideas. 7 really stupid investments. Don't be a stupid investor Commentary: Sometimes it's not the investment — it's you. Don't be a stupid investor. A plan that forces you to save for retirement It's time for the U.S. to create a mandatory, defined-contribution plan, not unlike those in other parts of the world such as Australia or the United Kingdom. Or so says Meir Statman, author of "What Investors Really Want" and a professor at Santa Clara University. A plan that forces you to save for retirement. New health-care fee draws fire Insurers, government squabble over whether a provision of the new health law will hike premiums. New health-care fee draws fire. Why credit bureaus fail to fix errors Trying to fix a mistake in your credit report by providing a detailed set of documents to credit bureaus could be a waste of time. Why credit bureaus fail to fix errors. Can Better Business Bureau help investors? The nonprofit is teaming up with a foundation run by the brokerage industry's self-regulator. Can Better Business Bureau help investors? Foreclosure starts lowest since 2006 The number of homes entering the foreclosure process in November was at its lowest level since December 2006, according to data released on Thursday by RealtyTrac. Foreclosure starts lowest since 2006. Encore: Muni-bond tax break could go off 'cliff.' A tax compromise could affect the status of municipal-bond interest income, a longtime staple for retirees. Encore: Muni-bond tax break could go off 'cliff.' Encore: Why do GOP voters start saving sooner? Differences in ideology, education, and even attitudes to tidiness may shape savers' approaches to retirement. Encore: Why do GOP voters start saving sooner? ECONOMY AND POLITICS Volcker rule may hurt mutual funds, investors: ICI A proposal set up to implement the Volcker rule is intended to limit speculative activity of big banks but actually may cause problems for many mutual funds, a top lobbyist for the fund industry tells lawmakers. Volcker rule may hurt mutual funds, investors: ICI. Boehner presses White House for spending cuts House Speaker keeps calling for administration proposals on spending cuts, resisting a request to give the president unlimited authority to increase the debt ceiling. Boehner presses White House for spending cuts. U.S. wholesale prices tumble in November U.S. wholesale prices fell sharply in November as the cost of gasoline tumbled again. U.S. wholesale prices tumble in November. Jobless claims drop below pre-Sandy levels The number of people who applied for new U.S. unemployment benefits last week fell below Pre-Sandy levels and were near a four-and-a-half-year low. Jobless claims drop below pre-Sandy levels. U.S. retail sales rebound in November American consumers didn't go shopping much in October, but they made up for it in November. U.S. retail sales rebound in November. Fed, central banks extend dollar swap lines The U.S. Federal Reserve moved to ward off any liquidity crunch in financial markets by extending measures to make it easier for foreign banks to obtain dollars Fed, central banks extend dollar swap lines. INVESTING Bowles, Simpson have overstayed their welcome It's time for Erskine Bowles and Alan Simpson to retire from the public scene, and take their ill-fated deficit plan with them, writes Darrell Delamaide. Bowles, Simpson have overstayed their welcome. Right-to-work comes just in time for Michigan The right-to-work law comes none too soon to stem Michigan's economic decline. Michigan has the sixth highest unemployment rate in the nation, and likely would have lost more business to other right-to-work states if the legislation had not passed, writes Diana Furchtgott-Roth. Right-to-work comes just in time for Michigan. Euro zone readies for bunga bunga dance Does the fate of history's boldest experiment in political and economic integration now rest on the travel habits of a shapely young belly dancer? Euro zone readies for bunga bunga dance. 'Seinfeld' masters a new domain: Twitter A Twitter account spoofing episode ideas in the present-day for the 1990s sitcom Seinfeld 'Seinfeld' masters a new domain: Twitter. Get the latest news on our mobile site: http://www.marketwatch.com/m MarketWatch has sent you this newsletter because you signed up to receive it. 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