Week of November 4th, 2013

I've been getting a lot of these solicitations from my bank about free Group Accidental Death and Dismemberment Insurance. I can get $3,000 in free coverage. Getting "free" money or protection always seems like a good idea but, I wonder what the bank is getting out of it. Is the bank taking life insurance out on me too or is there anything else I should worry about before I take this freebie?

This weekend, newly minted Marketplace Money expert Carmen Wong Ulrich looks ahead to the holidays, gives listeners guidance, and even holds up to a lightning round of personal finance questions. Five minutes of fast and furious answers about paying off debt, buying a home, and starting a small business. We hear from a professor who went undercover as a worker in check cashing branch and what she learned from the experience. Carmen hosts a roundtable with a rabbi and Christian woman about what the relationship between money and religion is, and what it should be.  Plus, Vanguard Founder John Bogle shares how his family shaped his money philosophy. 

Expert says the current woes of the Affordable Care Act's website are just the beginning.

Blockbuster's parent company said this week it will be shutting down its last remaining retail locations. But why do companies like Blockbuster hang on for so long?

The unemployment rate ticked up to 7.3 percent in the Labor Department’s latest jobs report. In the data, there was good news — more jobs — and bad news — long-term unemployment. But beware:  The report is a mess of bad data and false indicators and we shouldn’t rely on this months report. Also, new federal rules requiring health insurers to cover mental health and addiction could mean a flood of money to therapists, clinics and rehab centers. Plus, the airlines have been a little slow to get into the Big Data game. But it looks like they’re moving in that direction now. Welcome to being a totally captive audience at 30,000 feet. Finally, we talk to two of our regular guests about the week that was on Wall Street.

Catherine Rampell and Felix Salmon join Kai Ryssdal to recap the week in business and finance.

And they can start by sending Kai Ryssdal a check for $5,940.

As more and more consumers lodge complaints against big banks for their higher fees and lower customer service, some startups are looking to sidestep all that legacy banking.

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Here at Marketplace Money we get way more questions than we could ever hope to answer.

The documentary series Frontline uncovered video related to Steven A. Cohen and SAC Capital's fine of $1.2 billion.

A look at what the future of banking will look like, plus personal finance stories from around the country.

The CIA is said to pay AT&T more than $10 million a year for access to phone records.

The government just reported the labor market in October was much stronger than expected, but how reliable is the data for a month when the government was shut down for half of it? And, imagine finding a job after being unemployed for months, only to have to look for a second to pay off your newly acquired debts.

We talk to a Nevada woman who needs a second job to pay for a stretch of unemployment.

The airlines have been a little slow to get into the Big Data game. But it looks like they’re moving in that direction.

New federal rules requiring most health insurers to cover mental health and addiction could mean a flood of money to clinics and rehab centers.

Veterans Day isn't one of the most widely-commemorated holidays, but many businesses use it to reach out to vets.

Secretary of State John Kerry and others are discussing lifting some sanctions against Iran.

204,000 jobs were added, while the unemployment rate ticked up to 7.3 percent in the Labor Department's employment report for October.

Chinese leaders are meeting this weekend to hammer out economic policy for the next 10 years.

The government just reported the labor market in October was much stronger than expected, but how reliable is the data for a month when the government was shut down for half of it?

What’s a stake in the battle between Washington and Wall Street?

Pinterest, digital home of scrap-bookers, window-shoppers, curators and hobbyists, is on many tech-watchers list of potential IPOs. But do investors think it’s too focused on female users?

On his way back from Israel, Secretary of State John Kerry is stopping in Geneva for negotiations with Iran. At issue are Iran's nuclear program and economic sanctions.

68 miles above the Earth, 300 stores, $300, 100 million people: Can you guess what these numbers mean?

The online trackers used by advertising companies may be a thing of the past.

A deal seems to be coalescing in which Iran would back off its nuclear program in exchange for the easing of economic sanctions. U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry and his French counterpart are due in Geneva today to work out details. Israel had been pushing for tougher sanctions and the emerging news  has angered Israel. Twitter’s stock went up 72.7 percent on its first day of trading yesterday, and other social media companies would like that kind of infusion of capital. Pinterest comes to mind. Pinterest is backed hundreds of millions in venture capital and the company says it doesn’t plan to go public, however, they must have watching Twitter in the last 24 hours. And, a top U.S. Treasury official is expected to step down today amid reports she’s next in line for a spot on the Federal Reserve Board. The Fed’s Board is facing  three vacancies, setting up another round of lobbying in behalf of their favorites by Wall Street. 

It’s Friday and that means Silicon Tally time. This week’s guest is Gizmodo Staff writer Leslie Horn. And, Twitter’s stock may have jumped over 70 percent when going public yesterday, but Facebook also had some key growth this week in Cambridge Massachusetts. The company has confirmed that it’s opening a Boston area office not far from the spot it was born those many moons ago in a Harvard University dorm room.

Gun sales are on the decline, but why?

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The BBC's Justin Rowlatt has a new series that looks at the economics behind chemical elements.

GDP numbers came in today. They looked good at first glance, but there's a hidden story there. A bad one.

There's a giant name in consumer electronics that's having larger-than-life problems: RadioShack.

Air rights, and zoning rules, are what gives cities like New York their skylines. And air rights are worth big money these days.

Twitter may be a household name — but it’s not used by everyone in every household. What happens when companies launch a product complex enough that they have to explain to potential users how to wade through it? Also, preliminary third-quarter data today suggest that retailers are stocking up on goods, but consumers aren’t buying them. And finally, the FDA says trans fats is officially bad, and that  poses big challenge to makers of processed foods that depend on them for shelf-life, price and taste.

Twitter originally priced its shares at $26.

A dental practice in Phoenix learns it's losing its health-insurance policy for the two dentists and 13 employees.

The FDA says trans fat is officially bad, and that poses a challenge to makers of processed foods that still depend on them.

Twitter may be a household name — but it's not used by everyone in every household.

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If you want to get in on Twitter's IPO today, you probably can't. Can Groupon turn things around? And, an advocacy group says the country need to address racial inequality if we really want the economy to grow.

An advocacy group says the U.S. economy won't thrive unless everyone is included.

If you want to get in on Twitter's IPO today, you probably can't.

John Bogle, the founder of the Vanguard Group of investment companies, talks about how his personal financial views were shaped growing up during the Great Depression.

It's tough for a foreigner to buy a stock in China. But not for much longer.

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau will announce new rules for the debt collection industry.

The Obama administration's tries its hand at a college-ratings plan.

Belieb it or not, J-Biebs is a dynamite venture capitalist with a solid record of investment.

Critics say the company's business model is in trouble.

Other than an elite few, not many people are permitted to buy stock in a Chinese company on the Chinese stock market. But that might change soon. This week, the Obama administration kicked off a series of public forums to talk about a proposed new rating system for colleges. The plan is light on details so far, but the broad brush idea is to grade colleges on criteria like value and affordability — with the hope of forcing colleges to a better job. And, the times are changing for debt collectors. The federal consumer watchdog agency this week put the industry and consumers on alert that, by next year, there will new rules for how we get dunned.

It’s important to remember that in the tech world, venture capitalists come in all shapes and sizes. And a high profile V.C. just reportedly dropped $1.1 million on a new social network for teenagers called Shots of Me. Who is this mystery man? None other than Justin Bieber. Also, this week after months of waiting, Tom Wheeler became head of the Federal Communications Commission. As the new head of the body that regulates all kinds of communication, Wheeler will face some big issues.

Amazon takes a page out of Netflix's book.

Video rental chain Blockbuster is an endangered species. But now, it's getting even closer to extinction.

We often think of the stock market as the province of the machines. But in the Twitter IPO, the pivotal role is played by a human: the designated market maker, who will act as a conduit for all trading in Twitter shares. Marvel is diversifying its stable of superheroes with a new series featuring a teenage Muslim lead character. How much of a role do financial considerations play in creating a new superhero. Finally, Bart Chilton, known for quoting rock-and-roll lyrics in firebrand speeches, is leaving the Commodity Futures Trading Commission. His coming departure and other changes raise the specter that the regulator could soon be well short of its usual five commissioners.

Chicago's new system offers more features for transit riders — when it works. The city's transit agency has delayed the phase-out of the old system.

As the exchanges continue to struggle with technical problems, advocacy groups are hitting the streets in places like Camden, N.J.

Bart Chilton, known as a firebrand and for making all manner of music allusions in his speeches, is leaving the Commodity Futures Trading Commission.

Marvel is diversifying its stable of superheroes with a new series featuring a teenage Muslim lead character.

Higher house prices are often seen as a sign of an improving economy, but they have a downside when incomes don't keep pace.

Twitter's unveils on the stock market. Should you make the plunge?

When a tech company like Twitter goes public, the pressure is on to make money and lots of ideas get tried out. Also, as Twitter prepares to go public, it sets a new target for its stock price.

As Twitter prepares to go public, it sets a new target for its stock price.

Hi, I love your show and never miss an episode! It's a great way to learn something new while I'm working out. I have a question. I'm a 25-year old medical student in my final year of school. I have $100k in school debt, and I have five credit cards with a TransUnion credit score of 771. I've always heard that I shouldn't sign up for too many credit cards because it will ding my credit. Despite those vague warnings, I probably sign up for two per year and cancel them as I go. The terms are just too tempting. I get something like $700 per year in introductory bonuses, 2 to 5 percent cashback on all daily purchases, and other great perks. One of the best perks has been to put daily purchases on credit cards with very long zero percent APR introductory rates, saving me a significant amount of loan interest accrual. I think my credit has not suffered too much, but at the same time I realize that the biggest factor dragging my score down is a short history. I will graduate from school in six months and would like to buy a house/condo perhaps in 18 – 24 months. I have never paid a dime of interest in my life, nor have I ever had a late fee. Is there a major downside to taking advantage of these credit card offers? Additionally, is there a period before buying a home that I should stop obtaining new cards in order to optimize my credit?

The average American sleeps an hour and a half less per night than she used to — and that's costing employers $63 billion a year.

Incoming New York Mayor Bill de Blasio was elected on a message of repairing income inequality in the nation's largest metropolis. Just how bad is it?

Broadcast networks like CBS have found a new source of revenue in fees charged to cable companies, though consumers ultimately pick-up the added costs.

Under current law, JPMorgan can deduct its $5.1 billion settlement with Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac from its taxes. Some Democrats are trying to change that.

Apple, Inc. is trying to give customers a sense of how often governments around the world officially demand private data.

As Twitter prepares to become a publicly traded company, investors are expecting a lot. But users? That's a different story.

When a tech company like Twitter goes public, the pressure is on to make money and lots of ideas get tried out.

Apple, Inc. is trying to give customers a sense of how often the government officially demands private data. During the first 6 months of 2013, there were 3,500 requests by the U.S. — and those are just the ones Apple is disclosing. Later today, CBS will release its profits report. The broadcaster made headlines in August when it went head-to-head with Time Warner Cable. The standoff may have cost Time Warner more than 300,000 subscribers. But CBS seems to have done better — at least for now. And, there’s a campaign in Washington to block big companies from taking a tax deduction when they settle cases with the government. That comes after JPMorgan Chase agreed to pay a $5.1 billion settlement, all of which seems tax deductible.

In honor of Twitter’s initial public offering, scheduled for tomorrow, today’s show is all about Twitter. Bells will ring, investors will line up and company leaders are hoping that the New York Stock Exchange will not repeat the NASDAQ’s bungling of Facebook’s IPO last year. But it won’t just be Twitter’s employees and potential investors who are watching. A lot of people in the tech world think Twitter’s IPO is signaling an important moment for the industry.

There are mayoral elections in a lot of cities across the U.S. today and one thread that's common to a lot of those city races is the issue of income inequality.

Author Jess Walter takes us back to his first real job in the working world. Checkered tablecloths and all.

Google launches its new video-conferencing advice and how-to service, called Google Helpouts. What calculation did Google make in deciding there’s money to be made connecting users to real people via video for advice? Also, the Department of Justice is talking with American Airlines and US Airways about possibly lifting their anti-trust action against the airlines’ merger if they make concessions on slots at airports. And finally, the case of one 300-pound NFL player bullying another raises the question of why so many workplaces of all kinds tolerate bullying and hazing in their work forces.

A robot that beats you at Rock, Paper, Scissors every time guaranteed. But there's a catch.

A new book out details the sometimes-sordid history of how the social networking company got its start.

If the economy were soaring, bankruptcies might actually spike. Credit standards would loosen and people would take on more risks — and more debt.

Google Helpouts lets you chat live with experts.

In one of the biggest cases of health care fraud ever, J&J is being fined for improperly marketing a drug for treating schizophrenia. When a country doesn't like what the world thinks of it, it turns to the same branding consultants as big companies. And, why Activision is spending millions to market the new "Call of Duty" game.

The Department of Justice is talking with American Airlines and US Airways about possibly lifting its anti-trust action.

Allegations that one NFL player bullied another raise the question of why so many workplaces of all kinds tolerate bullying and hazing in their work forces.

Google launches its new video-conferencing advice and how-to service, called Google Helpouts.

This year, the stock market has been doing great. But what about everyone else?

Quarterly profits were down for BMW.

When a country doesn't like what the world thinks of it, it turns to the same branding consultants as big companies.

In one of the biggest cases of health care fraud ever, J&J is being fined for improperly marketing a drug for treating schizophrenia.

New data from the European Commission point to low growth for the near future.

An advocacy group pushing high-speed rail in the U.S. begins its annual meeting.

Chinese President Xi Jinping ordered government officials to put a stop to lavish banquets. And that had a tremendous impact on sales of baijiu, a Chinese grain alcohol as strong as moonshine. One Chinese company has chosen an American CEO to help resurrect its sales.

The OECD releases its “How’s Life?” study today where it measured the happiness of 33 countries.

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Why so much costly advertising for this game?

New data from Europe show growth has likely slowed in the second half of the year, and that unemployment will likely stay high. Advocates pushing for high-speed rail in America begin their annual meeting in Los Angeles today. The U.S. High Speed Rail Association spends a lot of time dreaming about California. Construction is about to begin on a bullet train connecting LA and San Francisco. But outside California, the shovel-ready projects are tough to find. This coming weekend, Chinese leaders meet to hammer out economic reforms they hope will put the world’s second-biggest economy back on track. On one of the reforms, President Xi Jinping started the ball rolling a year ago, when he ordered government officials to end lavish banquets. That had a tremendous impact on sales of baijiu, a grain alcohol that will knock you flat. But one Chinese company has selected an American to save the day.

“Call of Duty: Ghosts” comes out today. And expectations for global sales of the so-called first person shooter video game are high — like 25 million copies high. But it won’t get there without a big marketing budget spent by publisher Activision. Plus, comparing today’s IPOs to those from six years ago. And, new farming technology.

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