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4A Daily News – Wednesday, February 1, 2012 Commerce business It's become rather obvious that marriage has lost some of its luster in America. According to 2010 census data, the number of adults aged 18 and older that are married has dropped from 72 percent in 1960 to just 51 percent in 2010. And not only are people opting out, but those who do marry are waiting longer before they walk down the aisle. According to a Pew Research Center study released in December, the average age at first marriage for both men and women has risen significant- ly, from the early 20s in 1960 to upwards of 27 for both sexes (higher for men) in 20111. Alan Foley Why the delay? Finances often play a significant role in the decision to wed or wait. Presumably, money has always had some influence in timing of matrimony for younger couples. The surprising news is that all age groups face financial roadblocks that may have implications for a marital com- mitment. Following are five financial circumstances that may influence the timing of when people decide to tie the knot. 1) The debt downer. Taking time to improve a personal balance sheet is a good reason to wait before getting mar- ried. If the bride or groom is saddled with hefty college loans or maxed-out credit cards, the "honeymoon phase" may be over in a hurry. For example, an individual who has a strong credit history might also be less willing to & commit financially to spouse with a recent bankruptcy on the books. 2) Job insecurity. Unemployment rates are still high, which can create anxiety about exchanging vows. It's hard to plan for the future when the here-and-now is unpredictable. Lack of a regular paycheck, or the likelihood of job loss, can affect the ability to make other commitments that often go hand- in-hand with marriage, such as signing a lease on an apartment, purchasing a first home or starting a family. 3) Health insurance quandaries. Health insurance is costly, but increas- ingly critical to have in order to avoid financial turmoil in the event of a cata- strophic illness. It's a factor that needs to be addressed when two households become one. Fortunately, with the new healthcare reforms, adults 25 and under can still be covered under their parent's plans — even if they are oth- erwise independent (and married). In fact, health insurance may provide an incentive to get married, when one party has a good health insurance plan that becomes available to the other only through marriage. 4) Child and spousal support. A marriage can render alimony payments null or void, and may affect other financial agreements for a previously single parent such as child support. According to a University of Michigan study, a divorced parent who remarries may see a substantial drop in child sup- port payments2. That's enough to give some pause before taking a leap into marriage. 5) Sticker shock. The cost of a wed- ding can push marriage plans far into the future. Even a barebones wedding can easily cost $5,000, and it's not unusual for the tab reach $25,000 or more. Costs add up quickly when you consider the expense of the rings, fol- enterprise Top 5 financial reasons for delaying marriage lowed by invitations, the wedding gown, tuxedos, photography, plus the reception and all it entails. If the bride and groom have their hearts set on a long guest list and pricey affair — and mom and dad aren't prepared to chip in —it may take time to accumulate the funds for the wedding. The other side of the coin While many of the reasons to delay marriage have merit, following through with it isn't all bad for our pocketbooks. The Pew Research Cen- ter also reported that the household income of married folks is significant- ly higher than their unmarried counter- parts. That's true for both college-edu- cated and non-college educated cou- ples. This may in part be a result of the federal tax benefits that apply to mar- ried couples filing jointly, but it's quite possibly more than that. Couples who enter into the legal contract of marriage may take the step because they feel that it will lead to more stable circum- stances that will contribute to their income-earning potential. They also may have more incentive to pool their resources and therefore may do so more efficiently, helping them to acquire a better financial position. Say 'I Do" to financial planning If you're thinking about marriage, include financial planning as a couple on your list of to-dos. Have a conversa- tion about what kinds of things each of you plans to do, and what your finan- cial situation is like. Since money is often a leading cause of discord between couples, it's wise to pay spe- cial attention to the role it may play in your relationship. A financial advisor can help you and your future spouse explore your individual attitudes about money develop a plan that reflects your shared goals, so you are better able to make the most of your lives together. Corning Chamber • Corning in the Morning – Thursday, Feb. 9, the Corning Friends of the Library will host the Corn- ing in the Morning at 8 a.m. at the library, 490 Third Street. There will be breakfast food and bev- erages and a chance to win a door prize so bring your business card. • Monday, Feb. 13, the Los Molinos Chamber of Commerce invites the public to its Installation Din- ner at the Los Molinos Veterans Memorial Hall, 7980 Sherwood Blvd. Los Molinos. There will be a no-host reception at 6 p.m. and dinner at 7 p.m. There is a choice of prime rib or chicken. The Corning Chamber has reservations. Reservations should returned by Friday, Feb. 3. Cost for the din- ner is $25. For more information call Betty Morales, 384-1706. • Tehama County Arts Council Student Art Con- test for 2012 is underway. The theme is "Under the Sea". The contest is open to all students in Tehama County, grades K-12. There is a $50 "Best of Show" cash award. Entries will be displayed at the State Theatre for the Arts in association with the Missoula Children‚s Theatre on Saturday, March 24. There will be a Young Artists‚ Reception with refreshments and prizes for winning entries! Entries are due by 4 p.m., Tuesday, March 6, to Tehama County Department of Education, 1135 Lincoln St. Red Bluff, 96080. For more informa- tion and forms call 200-2661. Website: www.tehmaarts.org, Email: contact@tehamaarts.org. The Corning Chamber of Commerce has entry forms as well. • The Wine, Food and Art Festival is coming up Friday, Feb. 24, from 4-10 p.m., and Saturday, Feb. 25, from noon-9 p.m. at the Rolling Hills Casino Events Center. The tickets are $10 per day which includes a wine glass, first wine tasting drink tick- et and $5 free slot play; Additional tastings are $1 each. There will be wine and beer tasting, clam chowder cook-off, casino chef's cooking demon- strations, and wine tasting experts on hand to answer questions. There will also be outstanding art on display from members of the Red Bluff Art Association, the Tehama County Photography Club and the best art and art craft from Corning High and Centennial High School students. It's the best start for stocks in 15 years. In what was mostly a slow and steady climb, the Dow Jones industrial aver- age rose 3.4 percent in Janu- ary and the Standard & Poor's 500 gained 4.4 per- cent, the best performances YEARBOOK This would probably be it: If Red Bluff had a Red Bluff 2012 A Daily News Publication City Parks and Services Lassen Volcanic National Park North State's Wine Country Red Bluff Round-Up Victorian Charm Hot start: Dow and S&P have best January since '97 Wall Street NEW YORK (AP) — A Daily News Publication Advertising Space Reservation Deadline: Tuesday, February 7 at 5 PM City and County Information Recreation Guide Local places of interest City Map & Street Guide Schools Directory Church Guide Public Services Calendar of Events …and more! Glossy stock Magazine Format 10,000 distribution 7,000 as a special insert to the 3000 print for distribution to visitors, new and prospective residents through Chambers of Commerce, hotels and Information Centers D NEWSAILY RED BLUFF TEHAMACOUNTY 24/7 presence online version on www.redbluffdailynews.com for a full year, with links provided to Chamber of Commerce, RB City and County websites. Businesses: Make sure YOU are part of it! Advertising Representative Today! 527-2151 Call your Daily News Local (530) 529-5154 www.redblufflosmariachis.com 604 Main St. Red Bluff Breakfast: Mon-Fri 9am-11am Lunch & Dinner: Mon-Thurs 9am-9pm Fri-Sat-Sun 9am-9:30pm We're Celebrating 11 years of Business Wednesday, February 1, 2012 Join Us In Celebration! (excludes Seafood) Buy 1 Get One 1/2 OFF! may not be combined w/any other offer for both indexes to open a year since 1997. Investors were encour- aged by modest but wel- come improvement in the U.S. economy, including an 8.5 percent unemployment rate, the lowest in almost three years. Corporate prof- its didn't wow anyone — except Apple's — but they were good enough. ''I don't see anything really glamorous or tremen- dous about the economy or earnings,'' said Jerry Harris, chief investment strategist at the brokerage Sterne Agee. ''But I think they're very acceptable, and things are grinding along.'' An unexpected drop in consumer confidence dragged stocks down on the final day of the month. The Dow Jones industrial aver- age finished down 20.81 points, or 0.2 percent, at 12,632.91. The broader market fared better. The S&P barely finished in the red, declining 0.60 point to 1,312.41. The Nasdaq com- posite index rose 1.90 points to close at 2,813.84. The Nasdaq gained 8 percent for the month, its best January since 2001. In January 1997, the last time stocks had such a fast start, the S&P gained 6.1 percent. Bill Clinton was inaugurated for his second term. An Asian financial cri- sis and ''Titanic'' lay ahead. Later that year, the Dow crossed 7,000 and 8,000 for the first time. This January, analysts said, investors had such low expectations for the economy that it was easy for things to turn out better than expected. ''There are no big sur- prises,'' said Kim Caughey Forrest, a senior equity ana- The North State's premier supplier of stoves STOVE JUNCTION The Over 25 years of experience lyst at money manager Fort Capital Group. ''That's the kind of ho-hum economy that we are in right now.'' The Dow closed at 12,217.56 at the end of last year, then started this year with a pop — a gain of 179.82 points on opening day. It was the kind of big swing investors became accustomed to in 2011. Since then, it's been a quiet ascent: 19 days in a row of moves of less than 100 points. 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They are expected to swap their bonds for new ones with half the face value, plus a lower interest rate and longer term of maturity. Investors are increasingly worried that Portugal may need a similar deal with its private creditors. European leaders insist the Greek reduction is a one-time event. Portugal's borrowing costs have risen to record highs. The Dow lost its gains after consumer confi- dence fell to 61.1 in January, down from 64.8 in Decem- ber. Economists had expect- ed 68. The Conference Board said Americans are more worried about their incomes, gas prices and business conditions. There were also signs that the housing market con- tinues to struggle. Home prices fell in November for a third straight month in in 19 of the 20 cities tracked by the S&P/Case-Shiller index. The biggest declines were in Atlanta, Chicago and Detroit. In the commodities mar- ket, investors worried that the confidence figure was a sign of weaker demand to come, and they sold indus- trial metals that have prices closely tied to the economy. Copper for March deliv- ery dropped 3.65 cents to $3.79 per pound, and March palladium ended down $2.15 at $686.35 per ounce. April platinum fell $28.20 to $1,588.10 an ounce. The metals ended the day down after wild swings. Traders bid up prices in morning trading, encour- aged by news that European officials were making progress to contain the financial crisis there, then sold hard on the confidence number. ''This is a day that every trader takes Tums,'' said George Gero, vice president at RBC Global Futures.