Personal finance news - CNNMoney.com

How to give when the giving gets tough

Mon, 30 Nov 2009 10:05:22 EST

Nancy Mccauley Branstetter, a former communications executive at Ford Motor Co., is passionate about a cause that feels especially urgent lately: helping disadvantaged children and families who live in the economically stricken Detroit area.

Financial planners fight Madoff taint

Fri, 04 Dec 2009 05:54:14 EST

Bernard Madoff's investors aren't the only ones suffering through the aftershocks of his epic fraud. A cloud of suspicion hangs over the financial planning industry, forcing even longtime veterans adjust their business practices and reassure skittish clients.

Making up your employer's match

Wed, 02 Dec 2009 11:57:45 EST

Question: My company currently matches my 401(k) contributions dollar-for-dollar up to 5% of salary. But starting in January my employer plans to do away with the match due to the poor economic conditions. I'm still early in my career and don't want to cut back on my retirement savings, so I plan on picking up the slack. I wonder, though, whether I should contribute an additional 5% of salary to my 401(k) or put the extra savings into a Roth IRA. What do you think? --Wes, Conshohocken, Pennsylvania

Redefining 'emerging markets'

Wed, 02 Dec 2009 10:20:37 EST

The news that Dubai World may default on $60 billion in loans has reawakened investors' suspicion towards emerging markets.

Money's new More Money blog

Tue, 06 Oct 2009 16:48:50 EDT

Credit card rates: Nowhere to go but up

Wed, 02 Dec 2009 10:04:35 EST

For millions of credit card customers, here's the good news: As of Feb. 22, a new law will bar banks from a host of practices that consumer advocates have long blasted as unfair.

Junk mortgages: It just gets worse

Tue, 01 Dec 2009 09:51:13 EST

Back two years ago when the mortgage meltdown was heating up, we wrote an article called "Junk Mortgages Under the Microscope" dissecting a particularly wretched mortgage-backed securities issue peddled by Goldman Sachs.

Bracing for another market crash

Fri, 27 Nov 2009 08:55:27 EST

Question: I'm very worried that we may see another stock market correction. Since the market low of early March, my 401(k)'s value has risen 77%, which seems like an awfully large jump. So last week I moved the majority of my investments into bond and money-market funds, although I did leave 50% of my international holdings intact. Do you think I jumped too soon? --Rick G., Corona, Calif.

Will your hometown be a boomtown again?

Wed, 25 Nov 2009 04:16:01 EST

Since the crash, we've gotten used to thinking of real estate as a market shaped by national forces: Interest rates went down, Wall Street and homebuyers went nuts, regulators fell asleep at the switch, and -- voil� -- we had ourselves a bubble.

When marriage means medical bills

Wed, 25 Nov 2009 10:48:47 EST

Should you be paid for being on call?

Mon, 30 Nov 2009 10:28:50 EST

Dear Annie: Late last year, the software company where I worked as a full-time webmaster had to lay people off, but they kept some of us on as independent contractors. My boss offered me a deal where I would be doing the exact same job as before, only paid by the hour instead of on salary, with no benefits.

Catch a high-flying fund - up 56%

Wed, 25 Nov 2009 10:29:54 EST

When the herd of investors heads in one direction, count on Don Yacktman to steer his fund the other way.

Life at the top: Holiday gift guide

Wed, 25 Nov 2009 10:04:55 EST

You've got enough to worry about. So take the stress out of holiday shopping with our picks for everyone on your list.

5 reasons banks don't get it

Wed, 02 Dec 2009 12:00:12 EST

You might think your bank would be rolling out the red carpet for you right now. Barely a year ago the biggest players nearly obliterated themselves and the economy with freewheeling lending practices and needed your tax dollars to bail them out. And with investment banking and commercial lending shaky for now, banks need your retail business more than ever.

50 Best Jobs in America

Thu, 22 Oct 2009 09:49:56 EDT

Money looked for careers with great pay, superior growth prospects, intellectual challenge, flexibility and more.

Retired early ... and getting scared

Tue, 13 Oct 2009 10:08:20 EDT

Question: I had the good fortune to be able to retire early at age 52, but last year's market meltdown has made me rethink the decision. I may still be okay, but I don't have the same level of certainty I once had. My question is this: How will Social Security be calculated for me and how does the fact that I haven't worked the last few years fit into the calculation? --Jack Ford, West Newbury, Mass.

How much you'll need in retirement

Thu, 08 Oct 2009 10:27:07 EDT

Question: I always heard that you will need 80% or so of your working salary to live on in retirement. But is that a percentage of your gross income or your take-home pay? --Mary Taylor, Chalfont, Pennsylvania

Leaving your job? Don't forget your 401(k)

Tue, 04 Aug 2009 11:04:01 EDT

Question: I'm in my 30's and have a 401(k) from a previous job, 75% of which is invested in a variety of stock portfolios. Although my stock holdings have recovered a bit recently, I'm still down about $7,000 from my peak balance. I'm planning to roll over this old 401(k) into either the 401(k) at my new job or into an IRA account, but I'm wondering whether I should do the rollover now while stocks are still cheap or wait until the market has recovered and then do it. What do think? --Todd Gerecke, Lynden, Washington

Fixing a stock-heavy retirement account

Thu, 20 Aug 2009 12:25:37 EDT

Question: I'm 55 years old and have my entire retirement savings plan at work invested in a total stock market index fund. I'm worried, though, that my account is too heavily skewed toward equities given my age. Any suggestions for how I might take a more balanced approach? --Ray K., Oakland, California

An early start on good saving habits

Thu, 23 Jul 2009 04:18:39 EDT

Question: My 21-year-old daughter makes $80,000 a year working at a large firm. She has very low expenses, so I'd like to see her sock away a huge amount of money. I told her that if you get used to spending a lot each month on "fun" stuff, it will be much harder to save down the road. I'd also like to see her bypass the high-end investment firms in favor of less expensive alternatives. What do you suggest? --Tom F., Chatham, Illinois