What the experts say

Stocks: When to pull the plug

Sure, the market has staged an impressive comeback, said Janice Revell in Money. But there’s still a “strong case for doing at least a little selling” this year, even if it’s at a loss. This is especially true with the “year-end tax-selling season” approaching. It’s human nature to want to hold out until you make back everything you lost in last year’s crash. Don’t. “The market doesn’t care whether you made or lost money in a stock.” Instead, look closely at how a stock’s price-to-earnings ratio compares to that of its peers. Then ask yourself whether you’d buy these shares “anew” at their current price. “At the very least, make sure the reasons for liking a stock are still there.” If you can’t bring yourself to “pull the plug” on all these investments at once, plan to gradually pull out of the position. “Unloading, say, a fourth of your position every quarter removes the fear of missing out on a rebound.”

A guide to health-care accounts

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Just because you have employer-sponsored health care doesn’t mean it’s cost-free, said AnnaMaria Andriotis in SmartMoney. Higher health-care costs and corporate belt-tightening have led many companies to plan stingier health-care benefits for 2010—all the more reason to choose carefully when you’re filling out enrollment forms from HR. In particular, understand the difference between a flexible spending account and a health savings account. A flexible spending account lets you set aside pretax money to help defray high out-of-pocket expenses. Just don’t sock away more than you expect to spend in a year, since you’ll lose what you don’t use. If you’re relatively healthy and want to save on premiums, consider a high-deductible plan and a health savings account—which lets you keep what you haven’t spent by the end of the year.

The barter economy

Camille Tominaro put out the welcome mat for some men looking for a free vacation rental, said Jonnelle Marte in The Wall Street Journal. They happened to be the painters and carpenters who helped revamp her Hunter Mountain, N.Y., home. Tominaro is one of a growing number of “cash-strapped consumers” now bartering for goods and services. Indeed, in online listings at such sites as Craigslist.org and

U-Exchange.com, cash often is no longer the only currency accepted as payment. To take things further, join a barter-trade exchange to earn credits toward the products or services offered there. Be warned: When it comes to taxes, Uncle Sam treats barter income the same as any other income.