Author: Ring of Fire Staff

With the economy on the upswing, companies are beginning to tweak their 401K’s for a host of reasons. No matter the reason for the change, now is the time for investors to reevaluate their 401K plans and decide what is best for them. This year, IBM made an odd adjustment and decided to make their 401K matches on December 31. The significance is two-fold; workers, who leave during the year except for in retirement, forfeit their contribution match for that year. Further, any interest that may have been accrued during the year is foregone. IBM is an outlier in...

Following a sharp increase in employment at the end of 2012, Alabama’s “coincident index” score rose substantially, indicating positive economic growth in the state.  The index looks to total jobs, unemployment, total wages and hours worked in manufacturing to calculate overall economic health. how to get out of debt Despite Alabama leaders’ relentless gloom and doom attacks on President Obama’s economic policies, these latest numbers suggest Alabama is currently basking in economic glory.  In fact, Alabama had more growth than at least 45 other states during the same time frame. Mo Brooks, R-Huntsville, who has repeatedly blasted the legislative...

A new study published in January in the Annals of Family Medicine brings attention to a serious health issue that is likely being overlooked.  The issue, excessive alcohol intake, may be missed in 75% of the patients who over consume. “Heavy” alcohol use is defined by the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism as more than 14 drinks per week for men and more than seven drinks per week for women.  Consuming that much alcohol is characterized as “risky” behavior and jeopardizes the patient’s health.  It could also pose a hazard to others if driving automobiles, operating heavy...

At least three people were injured on Tuesday when shots were fired at a community college in Houston, Texas. Officials announced an evacuation at 12:52pm on its website. The evacuation cited an incident involving “a couple of armed suspects”.  Authorities have detained a person of interest. The school’s official Twitter feed said the shooting was between two people and that the situation was under control.  Students reported that they heard what sounded like fireworks exploding on campus. The Lone Star College System has an enrollment of 90,000 students and six college campuses, according to its website. It is the...

Despite the continued standoff in Congress regarding gun control, the fact remains that violent  crimes in America are on the rise. The FBI recently released their early crime statistics report for the months of January 2012 through June 2012. The report contains information from more than 13,300 law enforcement agencies across the country. According to statistics from the Preliminary Semiannual Uniform Crime Report, the number of violent crimes reported by law enforcement increased 1.9 percent when compared with figures from the same period in 2011. The number of property crimes increased 1.5 percent overall. Violent crime increased in each...