Fantasizing about retirement is a favorite past-time for just about anyone who has ever held a 9-to-5. But that dream of what lies ahead is starting to look a whole lot different these days.

How I was Looking at Retirement

I used to look at the end goal of retirement as something off in the distance. Something that would happen around the age of 65, and maybe, just maybe, if I was a good little worker, maxed out my 401K every year, and played all my cards right I could get lucky and bump that up 10 years or so.

But then I started to think… OK, so I work and save and retire and then sit around. Is that what I really want? T

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Terence H. Campbell and Liane Jackson bought a four-bedroom, 3.5-bath home at 2242 W. Melrose St. in Roscoe Village from Matthew R. Phelan and Nicole M. Debruin for $910,000 on Jan. 6.

Phelan and Debruin bought the property for $912,500 in July 2007. The 2,132-square-foot house was built in 1911.

Campbell is a partner and attorney with Cotsirilos, Tighe & Streicker, Ltd. in Chicago. His practice areas include federal criminal defense, civil litigation and appellate work. He joined the firm in 1995.

He obtained a B.B.A. from the University of Notre Dame and a J.D.

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Yesterday’s $9 per share bid from Simon Property Group (SPG), even if it does not materialize, is very good for General Growth Properties’ (GGWPQ.PK) shareholders and for GGP to remain as a standalone independent entity.

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On Tuesday, Brown president Ruth Simmons explained that the decision as to whether she should continue to sit on the board of Goldman Sachs (GS) was a complex one which would not be taken lightly:

If Simmons were to leave Goldman’s board, she said, she does not think she would join another board…

One reason Simmons cited not to seek out new positions was that the seniority she now enjoys on Goldman’s board allows her to advocate for programs to help women and minorities.

Simmons said that, as with her retirement from Pfizer’s board three years ago, when to call it quits with Goldman will not be a decision she makes by herself, but rather in cooperation with the Corporation, the University’s highest governing body, with which she meets regularly to evaluate her actions.

“I feel very strongly that I don’t know enough as an individual — a sole individual — to make that decision alone,” she said.

On the other hand, it seems that complex decisions on such matters can still be taken quickly. Goldman put out a p

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How to Find a Good Contractor & Save Money

If you’re like me, your home is your baby. You wouldn’t hire the first babysitter that you found in an ad without first asking some questions and doing a little research, would you? So why do the same with your home?

When you hire out a contractor to do work on your home, you want things done right and at a reasonable price. Over the years, I’ve seen a number of people get screwed by hiring a ‘jack of all trades handyman’ who said they could just about everything. In reality, they could do a lot…. of destruction, that is (oh snap)!

No, really folks – to protect yourself from getting ripped off by a contractor, make sure you take these steps:

1. Verify the Co

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Though some consumers may be trying to avoid using their credit cards, a recent report indicates they may have also been more likely to get an offer for an account at the end of last year.

According to Synovate, a market research firm, providers of credit cards increased mailings by 46 percent in the fourth quarter of 2009. In all, mailings amounted to 398.5 million offers, an increase from the 272.5 million seen the quarter prior.

Though the numbers of mailings were up in the last quarter of 2009, they are still lower when compared to the year before. Read more…

The holiday season has left many Americans unsure about their security, according to a survey released Tuesday by financial service provider Country Financial.

While the company’s Security Index showed improvement at the end of 2009, it fell by 3.2 points in February. This decline is often witnessed early in the year, when credit card bills from the holidays start coming in, according to Keith Brannan, vice president of financial security planning for Country Financial.

“This year’s decline is more severe, however, and probably represents the struggle to remain patient with our nation’s financial recovery,” Brannan said. Read more…