Florida

Hertz Moves Headquarters to Florida

Hertz is moving its headquarters to Florida from New Jersey, trimming corporate expenses after its $2.3 billion buyout of former rival Dollar Thrifty.

The 10 Best U.S. Cities for Retirees

Sunny. Walkable. And a low cost of living. These are the places where retirees can kick back and relax but still engage in a bustling city culture when they want it.

Sinkhole Insurance: If You Need It, You Probably Don't Know

The sinkhole that killed a man near Tampa last week was an extreme case -- sinkholes often cause property damage, but rarely cause deaths. However, Florida is hardly the only place in the country prone to sinkholes, and your standard homeowners policy won't protect you if one opens up under your house.

What's Next for Obamacare Foes Now That Rick Scott Has Caved

On Wednesday, Florida Gov. Rick Scott, one of the most outspoken critics of President Obama's Affordable Care Act -- and the Medicaid expansion it carries with it -- announced that Florida will accept the federal windfall that the program will bring.

The 10 Most Expensive Cities in the United States

The Council for Community and Economic Research just released its sixth annual city cost-of-living rankings. We'll tell you which cities made its top 10 list, plus the average costs of a few ordinary purchases in each one to help put those expenses in perspective.

10 States with the Most People Living on Edge of Financial Ruin

Across America today, millions of people are unable to save for even short-term emergencies -- but in some places, people have it worse than others. Business Insider reveals the states where residents are the least able to cope with unexpected money troubles.

Mickey Mouse Is Watching You: Does MyMagic Know Too Much?

Walt Disney World is about to get a bit more magical, but Mickey Mouse will have to soothe some skeptical privacy advocates along the way. Guests using its new MyMagic wristbands will get a more personalized vacation -- but do you really want Snow White to "magically" know your kid's name without being told?

5 Things You Should Watch in the Stock Market This Week

Internet radio giant Pandora and giant discounter Big Lots report their earnings; in entertainment, Disney is opening a huge new expansion, while Nintendo is thinking small; and some companies just can give money away fast enough -- as dividends.

Are American Shoppers About to Lose a Big Tax Break?

With Black Friday just a few days away, shoppers across the nation are getting their wallets and pocketbooks ready to rumble. What many don't realize, though, is that the federal deduction on sales tax that was part of the shopping equation for them in previous years may disappear come January.

The 10 Best States to Retire In Now

Ask anyone to name the states U.S. retirees are most drawn to, and they'll likely fire off a list of coastal sun magnets. But as today's seniors look toward retirement with nest eggs battered by the recession, more factors than climate will go into their next choice of zip code.

Nate Silver Almost Certainly Has Millions at Stake in Tonight's Election

The other day, Nate Silver proposed a $2,000 bet (for charity) with Joe Scarbrough on the outcome of the election. But let's be honest, the New York Times polling guru has WAY more at stake than that. We're talking millions of dollars on his being right that Obama will stomp Romney in the Electoral College.

Election Day Roadmap: Watching the Results En Route to 270

Here's your hour-by-hour election night guide: when the polls close in the key swing states, and how the results will unfold. Word to the wise: Beware of early exit polls. They got it wrong in both 2000 and 2004, so be patient and wait for the actual votes to be counted.

Election Home Stretch: 5 Things to Watch for Before Nov. 6

With less than a week to go before Election Day, there are usually a few clear indicators that one candidate has momentum, some idea of how the remaining undecided voters are going to break. It was obvious in 2008. Between Barack Obama and Mitt Romney in 2012, that's just not the case.

Unemployment Rates Fall in 7 Swing States

Unemployment rates fell or held steady last month in nine key swing states at the center of this year's presidential election. Rates dropped in Ohio, Florida, Wisconsin, Colorado, Iowa, Nevada and North Carolina. They were unchanged in New Hampshire and Virginia.

Disney's 2013 Theme Park Plan: Keep the Magic Alive Every Week

Disney set up a three-story castle made of ice in Times Square this week to introduce its new Limited Time Magic theme park campaign for 2013: The family entertainment giant plans to kick things up a notch at its Florida and California attractions by offering 52 weekly themed events.

Thousands Fall Victim to Utility Payment Scam

As much as President Barack Obama wants your vote, he won't pay your electric bill. But thousands of Americans have been persuaded otherwise, falling victim to a scam that claims to be part of an federal program to help pay utility bills in the midst of this scorching summer.

Why Spirit Airlines Will Never Be Great Again

Looking at Spirit Airlines' financials, you might think the low-cost carrier is a smart buy. But don't be fooled by the balance sheets: The Spirit business model that generates profits carries the seeds of its own destruction by generating toxic ill will with its passengers.

Disney World Scammers Scored Four Years of Free Vacations

A trio of Florida men have been charged with running an elaborate free vacation scheme in the "Happiest Place on Earth," Disney World. Joseph Geiger, Robert Falk and Steven Nero allegedly spent four years living off the land in Mickey Mouse's backyard.

The 10 States That Pay Out the Biggest Lottery Jackpots

On Friday night, a Mega Millions jackpot of more than $500 million is in the offing. Somebody may win big. Now, the only guaranteed winners of lotteries are state treasuries. But we're betting you're more interested in your own odds of winning a lottery, and where the payouts are best.

America's 11 Most Miserable States Revealed

You might think that with the economy on its slow climb back to health, Americans would have gotten a little bit happier in 2011. In fact, they got a bit more miserable. And some states have more reasons to be down in the dumps than others.

U.S. Homes Lose (Only) $700 Billion in Value in '11

The year-end housing news is sobering: U.S. homes are expected to lose more than $681 billion in value in 2011. But there's an upside: That's 35% less than the $1.1 trillion lost in 2010, according to research from Zillow.

Divorced Mom: How Do I Rebound Financially?

Splitting up makes a mess of your finances, as Lynn, a nurse living in Florida knows all too well. Her 2008 divorce from her husband of 28 years left her in debt, with bad credit, and with limited financial skills. She's already begun to dig out, but she needs a better plan.

Online Pawn Shop Polishes Up an Old Lending Idea

Two-year-old Pawngo bills itself as a more upscale pawnshop for the digital age, catering to a new breed of pawn customer -- not desperate, just temporarily cash-strapped. The company wants to dispel the stereotype of sketchy storefronts dealing in fenced goods -- and so far, it has had a fair amount of success.

Jackpot! States With Biggest Lottery Payouts

Lotteries are big businesses in most states, and they can provide windfalls for both the winning ticket-holders and state coffers. But which states give the most back to ticket-holders and through government services?

False Deeds in Md.: More Foreclosure Fraud Emerges

As if we needed more proof of the outlaw actions of banks and their agents, The Baltimore Sun reports that 1,000 or more Maryland deeds are likely forgeries created by a foreclosure mill. If the accusation is true, the false deeds will create a nightmare for the innocent people who bought the homes.

HSBC's Foreclosure 'Moratorium' Has Big Holes in it

HSBC announced late last month that it had put all of its U.S. foreclosures on hold to review their documents -- back in December. So why are its lawyers still pushing cases ahead? HSBC also says it doesn't robo-sign. So why does its annual report mention foreclosure document problems that sound so much like those caused by robo-signing?