metlife

Unclaimed Property: Is Missing Money Looking for You?

There's a lot of "lost" money out there in America waiting for people to find it: Some $33 billion in unclaimed property and cash, in fact. And whether it comes a from relative who left an unclear will, a long-forgotten 401(k), or a disused bank account, some of it could be yours.

Found Money: Life Insurers Start to Seek Out Missing Beneficiaries

Odd thing: Just being the beneficiary of a life insurance policy doesn't mean you'll get the money when the policyholder dies. Turns out, you have to ask for it. And people failing to ask has led to as much as $1 billion going, not to people's heirs, but to the states. Thankfully, that's changing.

Teaching Doctors to Diagnose a Grandma Money Scam

The elderly can be easy prey for financial scammers, and it's up to their families to help keep them safe from cons. But a new program is putting another group of defenders onto the front lines: medical professionals.

Social Security Going Bust? That's the Small Problem

The woes Social Security faces have generated plenty of worried talk lately, but even if nothing changes, it'll be solvent until 2036. But Medicare, the other major government program that retirees rely on, is on course for financial disaster years sooner. That program, of course, is Medicare, and the funding situation for the portion of its benefits that retirees receive looks even scarier than Social Security's prospects right now.

5 Things to Watch This Week

There's never a dull moment on Wall Street, especially when new tablets and old banks are in the way. Let's go over some of the items that will help shape the week ahead once Monday rolls around.

MetLife Sells Bank Unit to Avoid New Fed Regulations

In order to avoid new federal rules and heightened scrutiny from regulators, MetLife has decided to sell its banking unit. That's a smart move for the nation's largest life insurer, and keeps it on a level playing field with its competitors.

Bank of America's $8.8 Billion Black Eye

"The largest loss in Bank of America's history." That's the sound bite from the bank's second quarter earnings report, which disclosed an $8.8 billion bottom-line loss. But now that BOA is atoning for its mortgage-related sins, there's a chance its stock may be undervalued.

Don't Let Nana Drive You Into Bankruptcy

For children, excursions with grandmother are an adventure. As time passes, however, the ride into the golden years can get bumpy; if you're financially unprepared, it can take a dramatic turn for the worse, and even drive you and your family into bankruptcy. Here are some steps you can take to prevent that.

Treasury's Big Stake Weighs on AIG's Stock Price

During the past month, AIG stock fell nearly 10% drop after an announcement that the government would sell some of its stake in the insurance giant. The Treasury's ownership in the company has declined from 92% to 77%, but the prospect of its future sell-offs are holding the stock down.

Reverse Mortgage Alternatives For Cash-Strapped Seniors

The two biggest banks in the reverse mortgage business are getting out of it. Now, Bank of America and Wells Fargo accounted for less than half of the reverse mortgages in America, and other lenders are still writing them. But seniors in financial trouble should explore theses alternative ways to stay in their homes.

Six Financial Myths Your Father May Have Taught You

You love your dad, but you don't have to buy everything he taught you about money. DailyFinance celebrates Father's Day by debunking six financial myths he might have held held true. He still deserves the socks and the cologne. Just don't necessarily trust him with your portfolio.

Caring for Aging Parents Will Cost Boomers $3 Trillion

You would probably do anything for your mom and dad, but the cost of caring for them in their old age can be crippling. A new study shows that the nearly 10 million Americans who are providing care for their aging parents will lose an estimated $3 trillion to do so.

Elder Abuse: How to Keep Grandma Safe From Con Men

Who would pick the pocket of your grandma or grandpa? Apparently, a lot of people: Older Americans are losing $2.9 billion annually to elder financial abuse, up 12% from 2008, according to The MetLife Study of Elder Financial Abuse. Here's how to protect your older relatives from becoming victims.

Why Single People Need Life Insurance Too

Despite some common misconceptions, life insurance isn't just for those of us who are married with children. If you're a single, you can benefit from it, too -- first, because you're probably more connected to people than you may think, and second, because it can be a great investment.

Renters Beware: You Need to Buy Insurance Too

Everyone realizes that homeowners need insurance policies, but many renters overlook the fact that they need coverage too. The average tenant has a lot to lose if they fall victim to a fire, flood or other disaster, which means they have a lot to gain from buying a low-cost renters policy.

Legal Briefing: Fraud Suit Against AIG Gets the Go-Ahead

AIG's successful run of getting lawsuits against it dismissed has ended. On Monday, U.S. District Judge Laura Taylor Swain gave the green light to a securities fraud class action case regarding AIGs credit default swap portfolio and its actions in the subprime mortgage market.

Hurricane Season 2010: Bracing for the Worst

With the season now officially underway -- and predictions call for a doozy -- coastal regions along the Gulf and the Atlantic are facing the potential for major losses. State-run insurers could feel the most financial pain.

AIG's Alico Deal With MetLife Could Be a Win-Win-Win

The sale allows MetLife to expand into Japan, Europe and the Middle East, helps AIG continue its radical restructuring -- and lets the U.S. government recoup some more of the $130 billion in bailout funds it fronted to AIG. Investors seem to like the transaction, too.

Stocks in the News: AIG, MET, HPQ, MCD

Shares of AIG are on the move Monday after the insurer agreed to sell its Alico unit to MetLife for $15.5 billion. The deal is AIG's second major asset sale this month as it attempts to whittle down its bailout tab. Click inside to see what other news is influencing Wall Street today.

Just How Risky Is MetLife's Bid for AIG's ALICO Unit?

An S&P credit warning and two investment firm stock upgrades of MetLife this week highlight a difference of opinion in the investment community about the acceptable level of risk involved in a merger that could make the insurance giant a lot bigger but perhaps a lot more indebted.