Recession nearing?, staying happy as you age & home loans harder to get - Today in Money & Finance - 8/6

Is a Recession Nearing?
Most economists say an economic downturn in the U.S. is unlikely, but the stock market looks very worried.
The Street's Recession Fears - BusinessWeek


Mortgage Crisis: Home Loans Are Harder to Get
Wake-up call! If you're ready to buy or refinance a home, the turmoil on Wall Street may be further hurting your chances of getting a loan. Some lenders are shutting down and leaving buyers in the lurch. Interest rates and the terms of loan offers are changing daily. And borrowers with tarnished credit are facing deal-killing loan terms -- if they can find a loan at all.
Mortgage crisis: Home loans are harder to get - USATODAY.com
Also: Lenders More Patient With Borrowers to Avoid More Foreclosures

Retirement Living: Staying Happy as You Age
More people in their 60s and 70s report they're content with their lives than people in their 40s. Here's their key to happiness.
Here are the key ingredients to staying happy as you age - MarketWatch


One-Stop Shopping for Retirement
For baby boomers struggling with questions about how to manage their retirement savings, target-date mutual funds have been a welcome innovation. The category has boomed on the promise of safe diversification wrapped in a single mutual fund. But investors who pursue this one-stop-shopping route need to pick a fund carefully.
Do Target Funds Hit the Mark? - WSJ.com


Protecting Your Child's Identity
Your child's identity is a hot commodity for thieves. Here's how to protect it.
Protecting Your Child's Identity - SmartMoney.com


Inside Story of the World's Richest Man
How did the son of a Mexico City shopkeeper build a staggering $59 billion fortune and replace Bill Gates as the wealthiest person in the world?
Carlos Slim, the richest man in the world - FORTUNE


Millionaires Who Don't Feel Rich
Their lives are rich with opportunity. They are amply cushioned against the anxieties and jolts that worry most people living paycheck to paycheck. But many such accomplished and ambitious members of the digital elite still do not think of themselves as particularly fortunate, in part because they are surrounded by people with more wealth -- often a lot more.
In Silicon Valley, Millionaires Who Don't Feel Rich - New York Times
Also: Making Do, With $10 Million - New York Times
Also: Living Modestly Despite a Nice Nest Egg - New York Times


Which Actors Are Worth the Money?
Hollywood studios routinely shell out $20 million paychecks and serve up rich percentages of a film's revenue to A list stars like Will Smith, Tom Cruise and Johnny Depp on the premise that their famous faces ensure packed movie houses around the world on opening weekend. But are these superstars worth it? As it turns out the movie stars who earn the most bang for the buck aren't the top earners. Matt Damon, the soft-spoken leading man in box office winner The Bourne Ultimatum, turns out to be Hollywood's best investment. For every dollar Damon got paid for his last three roles, his films returned $29 of gross income. And, surprisingly, former Friends star Jennifer Aniston is Hollywood's most profitable actress, despite duds like Rumor Has It. At the very bottom of Forbes' list is Russell Crowe whose standing in Hollywood has shrunk in recent years.
Ultimate Star Payback - Forbes.com