Free Republic

Have you ever wondered why millions of Americans are secretly addicted to playing the lottery? Even if the chances of anyone actually winning are 1 in 175,223,510? Many of us know at least one person whose religiously dedicated to winning the almighty jackpot–even if they’re aware of the extremely slim odds. Check out our list of the 10 most unlucky lottery winners whose millions tragically changed their lives forever. Seems to us like the old saying, “Money won’t make you happy”, should be changed to, “Winning the lotto won’t make you happy”.

"I'm against most regulation of financial markets and products. The rules never work as advertised and generally make the situation worse than before the rule was enacted. For example, when you try to protect someone from risk, they respond by engaging in riskier behavior. When you expose them to the full brunt of risk, however, they behave the most responsibly. "Protecting" investors actually works against them. With situations like the one my relative found herself in recently, where she paid more in fees than she earned in dividends, it's no wonder so many people throw up their hands and say,...

A delicate balance exists when determining if you parents are capable of continuing to manage their finances. Dementia or medical conditions may be a factor. Other times, parents delay paying bills because it feels like a big task, but a continuous pattern of late payments has consequences, including whopping fees or increased interest rates. Obviously, in times of medical crisis, you have no option but to take over. But don't wait until the crisis arrives to make sure you're authorized to do what needs to be done. While your parent may be able to resume managing finances after recovery, you...

It's a simple calculus, kids and money: From birth until college graduation, children consume dollars like they're chicken nuggets. For those of us who aren't independently wealthy, that puts unrelenting pressure on the family pocketbook. The financial demands of raising a child require that money you otherwise might use to prepare for retirement, or to save for a nicer house, a sportier car or a swankier vacation, must, out of necessity, be earmarked for Lego sets and pediatrician visits and school uniforms and Christmas toys and a college savings account and a minivan and a trip to Disneyland ... and...

This is a type of training material flagged by securities regulators in Massachusetts. (Courtesy of the Massachusetts Security Division) GENERATIONS Seniors Should Take Care in Seeking Specialized Investment Help BY MICHELE M. MELENDEZ   As the nation ages, the investments industry is clamoring for the senior market. But older adults face an alphabet soup in seeking financial advice. Most would recognize Jane Johnson, M.D., as a doctor and Joe Jones, Esq., as a lawyer. Decoding the letters after investment professionals' names, on the other hand, can be overwhelming.       Patricia D. Struck, Wisconsin securities administrator and president...

Couple nickel-and-dime it after their lottery windfall Financial security a foremost concern, despite win of millions 05/08/2002 By MARY JUDICE / The Times-Picayune NEW ORLEANS - Since winning the $48.1 million Powerball jackpot last month, Jerry Berggren of Kenner, La., has come to know the upside and some of the downside of becoming an instant millionaire. There's the new fishing boat he'll soon have at his back door and the wedding cruise he and fiancee Cathy DeMuynck will take to Alaska with friends and family. Mr. Berggren immediately gave up his business as an appliance repairman. Ms. DeMuynck, a...