At the beginning of 2009, the rich looked doomed. Getty Images The population of U.S. millionaires shrunk more than 15% in 2008. With Lehman Brothers Holdings having collapsed, 2009 was shaping up to be even worse. Stocks were falling, along with...

Real-estate deposits are typically fairly straightforward. When you sign a purchase contract, you put down 10% (more or less) as a pledge of commitment. If you back out, you lose it. AFP/Getty Images The villa of Leopolda, in August 2008. Unless you...

Private-jet travel may be making a comeback, but the in-flight food is still in recession. (Courtesy of the Bombardier Web site) “Turkey again?” According to an article on gather.com, some of the nation’s private-jet caterers are seeing a noticeable...

The sub-prime crisis has turned into the super-prime crisis. Homeowners with mortgages of more than $1 million are now defaulting at nearly three times last year’s rate, according to a Bloomberg article. Payments on about 12% of mortgages exceeding...

United For a Fair Economy, the left-leaning policy group, held a press call Tuesday to argue for preserving the estate tax before it temporarily expires in 2010. Bloomberg News No such thing as self-made During the call, Vanguard-founder Jack Bogle...