In the News ;
80The age that 64-year-olds consider to be “old.”
Your ‘Missing’ Money Awaits You
At least $33 billion sits in state treasuries and other agencies waiting to be returned to its rightful owners. And you may be among them.
; This “unclaimed property” is from some 117 million accounts that are inactive or whose owners or their heirs cannot be located—including money
from forgotten bank accounts and insurance policies as well as uncashed
paychecks and dividends. ; By law, financial institutions and other companies are supposed to try to reunite the owners with their lapsed loot. When
they can’t, the money is turned over to the
government of the state in which the account
owner last resided. ; The best way to get any
payoff you’re entitled to is to check www.miss
ingmoney.com or www.unclaimed.org. If you
don’t have a computer, call the state treasurer’s
office. ; Search every state where you’ve lived,
and check maiden names and those of deceased
family members. Avoid private services that
want upfront fees to search or stake a claim on
your behalf. —Sid Kirchheimer
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The ancient Chinese game of mah-jongg is making a come- back, especially among female boomers. ; “It’s caught
on,” says Ruth Unger, president of the National Mah Jongg
League, which governs the rules of the most popular U.S. version. Unger estimates there are 400,000 American mah-jongg
players today, about double the number 10 years ago. ; The
game is similar to gin rummy except it is played with tiles, not
cards, and the familiar suits are replaced with Chinese symbols. ; Elaine Sandberg of Los Angeles began playing 20 years
ago. Now in her 70s, she has written a beginner’s guide to the
game, and has seen many young people hooked on mah-jongg:
“I’d be rich if I had a nickel for every time I heard a woman
express shock at playing their mom’s game.” —Caroline Mayer
Mah-Jongg
Snags
Younger
Players