Losing your job is emotionally and financially draining. Figuring out how to keep your head above water until you find a new one is overwhelming. ...more

April 18, 2009

I thought I'd answer a few more of your questions: Jaclyn in Cleveland asks: My husband and I are 33 with two small children. With an income of $230,000, we max out our TSP and 401(k) plans. Each month we save $250 to a 529, $200 to IRA and brokerage accounts, and $50 to an ING savings account. Given that we are 30 years to retirement and 15 years from college tuition bills, is it smart to maintain our current savings patterns or is it better to adjust according to the economy? ...more

March 15, 2009

Women lately appear willing to buy things for themselves at HSN Inc., just not on something "selfish." ...more

March 4, 2009

With unemployment numbers soaring, people who lost their jobs last year might have a lot of questions about how that will impact their tax return. ...more

February 27, 2009

When did you last check the balance of your 401(k)? Many workers have seen their 401(k)s plummet, and some have decided the best way to deal with it is not to look. ...more

February 10, 2009

Millions of American workers lost an average of 27 percent of their 401(k) retirement savings in 2008, according to a study released Wednesday by Fidelity Investments. ...more

February 1, 2009

After all these years, discovering the secret to happiness in life came as something of a surprise. ...more

January 23, 2009

In recent years the average family of four has spent more than $5,300 on food, nearly $3,000 on gifts, $2,100 on clothing and $3,000 on recreation. That's all well and good when you're spending money that you have, but what about if you're watching your pennies because of a layoff or a plummeting 401(k) balance? ...more

November 9, 2008

With the upheaval convulsing Wall Street this week, many average investors have spent the last several days wondering what they should do with their 401(k)s, money market accounts and other important investments. To help guide readers as they review savings and investment portfolios this weekend, we interviewed Gary Stempinski, a financial adviser with Raymond James Financial in Tampa, for top things to keep in mind and questions to ask your financial adviser. ...more

September 20, 2008

This economy has left people behind on credit card bills, short on mortgage payments and low on cash to cover basics such as gas and food. Those are gaps in the budget that have to be filled, and too often, people are raiding their 401(k) to come up with the extra money. ...more

August 31, 2008