Stock markets are stuck in neutral today as good economic data and earnings reports cancel out the bad. The Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJINDICES: ^DJI ) has hovered near flat most of the day and is down 0.11% as of 3:15 p.m. EDT, while the S&P 500 (SNPINDEX: ^GSPC ) is off 0.23%.
The bad economic news was a jump in new unemployment claims from 328,000 to 360,000 last week. This was worse than expected, but we're still well below the unemployment claims we saw last year, if you're looking for a silver lining. Meanwhile, April building permits rose to a seasonally adjusted 1.02 million, ahead of estimates, though housing starts declined to a seasonally adjusted 853,000 compared with 1.02 million in March. The housing market -- particularly new-home construction -- is key to an economic recovery. Add these figures to other economic indicators, and investors didn't see much reason to buy or sell today.
The positive earnings news came from Cisco Systems (NASDAQ: CSCO ) , which has shot 13% higher. Revenue rose 5.2% to $12.2 billion, and earnings of $0.51 per share beat estimates by $0.02. Yesterday, IDC predicted that IT spending will slow from 5.6% a year ago to 4.9% this year, and competitor Juniper Networks recently reported weaker-than-expected results. That put a negative sentiment in investors' minds, so the earnings miss today was a big surprise.
Once a highflying tech darling, Cisco is now on the radar of value-oriented dividend-lovers. Get the lowdown on the routing juggernaut in The Motley Fool's premium report. Click here now to get started.
Hewlett-Packard (NYSE: HPQ ) bounced back from a loss yesterday to post a 1.9% gain. The company is getting favorable reviews for its 13-inch Split x2 and 10-inch SlateBook x2, which are intended to straddle the line between tablet and notebook. Investors seem to seesaw on this stock every day, depending on the mood of the market and reports from the PC industry. The bottom line with HP is that its businesses are in a tough strategic position, which makes investing in its stock a crapshoot right now.
The bad earnings news today came from Wal-Mart (NYSE: WMT ) , whose stock is down 2.2%. The company reported a 1% increase in revenue to $114.2 billion, but analysts had expected $116.3 billion. On the bottom line, a profit of $3.78 billion, or $1.14 per share, also fell short of estimates, and the sell-off was on. Same-store sales excluding fuel were only up 0.2% as consumers, pressured by higher taxes, spent less during the quarter. Wal-Mart was hit harder than most retailers by the increase in payroll taxes in the first quarter, because its customers tend to have low to middling income and therefore feel the pinch more than higher-income earners.
Stuart Scott's moving speech about his cancer NEW YORK (CNNMoney) Stuart Scott was the sports broadcaster that an entire generation of aspiring reporters wanted to be. 
Cultura RF/Getty Images Whether it's getting fit, eating better, traveling to new places, experiencing different things, making progress in a career or relationship -- we all have a few ways we'd like to take action to make the next year even better than the last. When you're thinking about the goals you'd like to set and reach in 2015, don't forget to consider how you'd like to improve your personal finances and create a better situation for yourself. Not sure where to start? Try incorporating one of these five financial milestones to reach in 2015 into your new year's resolutions. 1. Learn More About Personal Finance Did you find yourself wanting to learn more about your retirement accounts but didn't know who to ask? Have you been curious about HSAs or not sure what a certain investing term means? Did you want to learn more about money, but didn't know what questions to start asking? Make 2015 the year to increase your financial knowledge and get the answers to the questions you've been asking (or figure out the right questions to asking!). Read some general personal finance blogs like MoneyUnder30 -- and then look for other sites that talk about specific topics or issues you relate to (DailyFinance, of course, is a great start). Check out books at the library on financial planning. Tune in to financial podcasts. Book a call with a financial planner to see how a professional could help develop an action plan for your money goals. And mark your calendar for the fall of 2015. In October, you can attend Financial Planning Days. These events allow you to book a free session with a financial planner to answer questions you have about your personal finances. You can attend classroom-style informational lectures, too. To reach this milestone of continuing your financial education, make a list of three to five of your most pressing financial questions. Make it your mission to find the answers -- and take action on your new knowledge. 2. Boost Your Income If you're happy in your current position and want to continue progressing in your chosen career path, it's time to think about boosting your income. Make it a goal to negotiate a raise in the new year. Your first step: ensuring that you've actually that raise. Consider your strengths and look at the value you've provided to your company over the last six months to a year. When it's time for your performance review, explain to your boss how you go above and beyond and back up your claims. Not quite there yet? Ask for additional responsibilities. Knock your next project out of the park. Look for innovative ways to get work done and provide solutions to common problems in your position. Taking action now can help you earn more from your job before the end of 2015. 3. Track Your Spending and Create a Plan Yes, some people call it a budget, but I like the term "spending plan" because it sounds less restrictive. It's important to know where your money is currently going and then be able to redirect some of it toward your financial goals. In other words, stop keeping every other receipt and calling that good enough, or trying to keep up with your spending and income in your head. Put a system into place and stick with it this new year. Mint.com is a helpful financial tool that syncs up your debit, savings, credit card accounts and even loans you pay. With Mint, you can set a budget, like $200 a month for groceries, and see how much your groceries actually cost you a month. You will know how much you spent without having a running tally in your head. You can also use spreadsheet templates and input information yourself, or use a more complicated software like You Need a Budget. The tool you choose isn't important -- what's important is that you choose something that helps you track your money, spending and goals -- and it's something you'll stick with throughout the year. 4. Increase Your Net Worth You should also be tracking your net worth. Make this a habit in 2015. Your net worth is simply your assets minus your liabilities. Every time you add to your savings, you're building your net worth. That goes for paying down debt, too. The more debt you repay, the higher your net worth rises. Tracking your net worth allows you to see your entire financial picture all on one page. It also enables you to see your progress -- or identify spots where you need to work to make that progress you want to see. Sometimes we make our saving and debt repayment automatic and so it feels like we're not making much progress, but once you check in on your net worth, you'll see how much your plan is paying off! 5. Start a Side Hustle Capitalize on your skills or monetize a hobby to create a side hustle in 2015. Doing so can help you develop extra income -- which you can use to accelerate your progress to other financial goals. This is a financial milestone that everyone should reach, no matter how much you love your current job (or the full-time business you already run). Side hustles allow you to create diverse streams of income and open you up for new opportunities, experiences, and chances to learn new skills and abilities. It's a way of investing in yourself, while making extra money at the same time. Anyone can benefit from side hustling, including people established in their careers. Not sure where to start? Think about what you're good at and what you enjoy doing. Then consider ways you may be able to sell whatever that is to others. If you need some inspiration, be sure to check out Carrie Smith of Careful Cents, who used her side hustle as a freelance writer to pay off $14,000 of debt before turning her side gig into her full time business. Do you maintain the website at your full-time job? Consider taking those skills to a freelance marketplace. Have specialized knowledge? Monetize what you know by offering consulting services. Artistically inclined or talented in a crafty way? Use an online shop platform like Etsy to host and sell what you can make. When you're thinking about resolutions and goals this time of year, don't forget to consider how you can develop a commitment to improving your finances. Reaching some -- or all -- of these financial milestones in 2015 will allow you to feel more empowered and able to manage your money and hit other big goals in the future. More from Sophia Bera
Jason Myers for the Wall Street Journal 
Getty Images The recent spotlight on 401(k) fees is a good wake-up call for employers to improve on the current system. But I worry that all the coverage of how bad many 401(k) fund choices are will simply drive even more people away from saving for retirement using these tax-deferred accounts. Our 401(k) system is far from perfect, but contributing money to these accounts is still one of the best moves you can make for your retirement. Here are some of the many benefits of tax-deferred accounts: Taking money out of a retirement account to spend is much harder. Not being able to access money until you are 59½ without paying a penalty sounds like a bad deal, but it's one of the most powerful features of a tax-deferred account. By forcing you to leave the money in the account and allowing compounding to work its magic, you will be much better off in retirement. You will probably pay less income tax on the money if you defer taxes until retirement. Most people earn more by working than they will in retirement. When you withdraw money from a retirement account it is likely to be taxed at a lower rate than what you would pay now. And with the many deductions available to seniors, many retirees won't pay much tax at all. While there will be a few exceptions for people who have huge retirement account balances, a good portion of the population won't ever pay much in taxes on the dollars they put into a 401(k). You won't have to pay taxes on dividends, interest or capital gains every year. Not many people talk about the yearly tax savings they get from their retirement account, but it adds up. Dividends, interest and capital gains can put a serious dent into compounding growth because you often have to pay taxes on them each year. But you don't have to worry about any of that for investments inside a tax-protected account because no taxes are due until you withdraw the money. The no-tax situation gives you the freedom to make smart investment moves. Some people hold on to a stock because they don't want to pay taxes on the sale, only to see the value of the investment drop like a rock. But within a retirement account you don't have to worry about how various types of investments are taxed, because you don't have to pay annual taxes on it and everything is taxed as income when you take the money out. You're free to select the most appropriate investments, and don't need to worry about the impact on your tax bill until retirement. Moving to a lower tax state in retirement could save you even more. Relocating is a big decision that shouldn't just be based on trying to pay less tax. But moving to a place with a significantly lower cost of living can stretch your retirement budget. And if the state you pick doesn't have an income tax, you will pay even less on your retirement account withdrawals in retirement. Reducing taxes now increases financial security. When you save money in retirement accounts, you are both putting money aside for the future and increasing your take home pay by lowering your tax bill. The higher your income and tax bracket, the more money you can save by contributing money to a tax-deferred 401(k) or IRA. But even people in the lowest tax bracket who save for retirement benefit because they can claim the saver's credit for their contributions. Our tax-deferred retirement system is far from perfect, but the option to defer taxes offers an incredible opportunity for everyone to save for retirement. Using a 401(k) or IRA can allow you to reduce your current income tax bill, avoid paying taxes on the gains each year and potentially pay income tax at a lower rate when you withdraw the money in retirement. There's also a penalty that will prevent many people from dipping into the account too soon, which helps insure that the money will only be used for retirement or true emergencies. The earlier you get money into a retirement account, the greater the benefit you can accrue before withdrawals become required after age 70½, so stop procrastinating and start saving.
Getty Images Extended warranties are everywhere. It seems like every retailer is offering them now, even for purchases as small as a $30 toaster oven. And according to research done by Protect Your Bubble, a third-party gadget insurer, 40 percent of U.S. buyers are taking those stores up on the offers. Sales of extended warranties have seen between 15 percent and 20 percent annual growth over the past 3 years. And there's good reason for retailers to push them: Extended warranties are mostly just a high-margin upsell for the companies that provide them. And in almost every case, they are a bad deal for consumers. Why Extended Warranties Get Such a Bad Rap Extended warranties are a form of insurance -- which makes them, at bottom, nothing more than a bet against "the house." "Insurance companies [and extended warranties] only make money if the company collects more money than it pays out," says Professor Bruce Clark of Northeastern University's D'Amore-McKim School of Business. Companies that offer insurance and extended warranties have teams of actuaries who calculate the odds that a consumer will file a claim. And the odds aren't in our favor. It's this entirely accurate impression that we're gambling in a rigged game to buy them that gives extended warranties their bad rap. It's hard to visualize the benefits until you use any form of insurance, and even when you have it, you hope to never need to use it. A Good Buy for Klutzy People Whether or not you should consider extended warranties might be better based on the type of person you are than the types of products you're buying. Are you klutzy? Prone to breaking things? Do you have unusual usage habits for your gear? Then extended warranties may actually be a good fit for you. "A friend of mine bought smartphones for himself and his teenage son, but he only bought the insurance for his son," says Clark. Think about it in the context of your car, for example, he suggests. "If you are an unusually heavy user, for example, driving twice as much as the average person, then an extended warranty based on time [not miles] may make sense." Most of us aren't klutzes, and the way we use our technology is fairly close to the norm. That makes us the type of consumers companies want to sell extended warranties, to because we're unlikely to make claims. When Even You Should Buy a Warranty While it doesn't make financial sense to buy an extended warranty or insurance on a $30 toaster, are there other purchases where it is actually a good idea? "We advise consumers to consider: 'What would my life be like not having this device and what would the cost if I wanted to replace that particular unit be?' " says Stephen Ebbett, president of ProtectYourBubble.com. "So if your TV was to break outside of the manufacturer's warranty, that could be a $3,000 bill or more." Ebbett also recommended that consumers think about what it would be like to be without a critical item or gadget in their life. For example, if you were to loose or break your smartphone, what would that be like? The obvious items that you may want to buy an extended warranty for are laptops, smart phones, and tablets. You may also want to consider an extended warranty for an expensive camera like a digital SLR. How to Avoid Falling for the Extended Warranty Trap One of the best moves you can make is to say "no" at the register when a cashier offers you an extended warranty. But there are a few things you can do if you're nervous about an item breaking. First, review the existing manufacturer's warranty. You may be able to file most claims directly through the manufacturer if you have any issues with an item. It pays to understand the coverage that comes with most products -- its limits, exclusions, and when the coverage expires. Manufacturer's warranties cover most repairs that you might need. You should also understand that many manufacturers' warranties cover you through the expected useful life of that item. If it breaks, that's most likely an indication that the product wasn't built to last much longer anyway, and you simply need a new one. "Just about all manufacturers warranty their purchases for a certain length of time (most do so for the first year) and many credit cards will extend that warranty. In some cases, they double it," says David Bakke, writer from the popular blog Money Crashers. "A few instances where it might make sense to purchase an extended warranty are for used automobiles and older homes. For all other purchases, invest in a quality brand name and you also lessen the chance that your item will break down." If you feel like you to buy an extended warranty, shop around for the best deals. Don't get trapped in thinking that you have to buy the warranty where you buy the gadget. You may find a better deal -- more coverage, fewer restrictions, faster returns, and better service -- from a third-party insurer. Consider Self-Insuring Your Purchases You can also consider self-insuring your purchase. If you are worried about how you'd pay to repair or replace a specific broken item, each month, set aside a small fraction of its cost in a savings account. That will give you a fair amount of assurance that you when it comes time to replace it, you'll be in a good position to do so. And you never need to worry about having wasted your money if it outlasts your self-warranty. For example, if you're buying a brand new refrigerator, look up the expected life span of that model online. Typically, people need to replace refrigerators every 10 years. So, if a refrigerator costs $2,000 and you are worried about it breaking, set aside $17 a month. And, in 10 years, you'll have enough saved for a new one. Of course, this is a simplistic example, but it gives you an idea of how to think of self-insuring your purchases instead of buying an extended warranty for them. Most consumers should skip extended warranties almost all the time. Even when they seem relatively cheap, they're rarely worth the money, because the odds are you won't use them.