Personal finance news - CNNMoney.com

3 ways to dodge rising fees

Fri, 26 Jun 2009 06:16:44 EDT

Why fees are up: President Obama just signed off on major reforms. Card issuers aren't happy. They're doing everything they can to make money off you before the regs kick in next year. What you're getting socked with: Up to 3% extra for foreign goods you buy in dollars (such as a ticket on Air France). Balance-transfer fees are up too: Several issuers have raised them as high as 5%.

States fire shots in Internet sales tax war

Thu, 02 Jul 2009 11:07:25 EDT

Read full story for latest details.

Retired? Flex your investing muscle

Thu, 02 Jul 2009 04:30:48 EDT

Question: What is the most aggressive asset allocation that a 70-year-old retiree should have? --Martin Reynoso, Albuquerque, New Mexico

Visa's surprising resilience

Thu, 02 Jul 2009 10:06:30 EDT

"More people go with Visa" -- the company's slogan may hold true for credit card holders, but it's a tougher sell for stock pickers who wonder how safe the business is during a recession.

The trouble with annuities

Wed, 01 Jul 2009 10:17:31 EDT

With the uncertainty of the market these days, a lot of investors are running for cover with their retirement funds. No wonder sales of fixed annuities surged 74% for the first three months of 2009, according to research association LIMRA.

Historic sites struggle during downturn

Thu, 02 Jul 2009 13:35:22 EDT

As the recession continues and Americans look for cheaper local summer getaways, historic sites are seeing visitor traffic tick up, and hope attendance will help them offset the painful drop in donations.

How does your net worth stack up?

Tue, 30 Jun 2009 09:21:04 EDT

Question: Where can I see how my net worth compares to that of other people my age? --Luke, Fort Worth, Texas

10 best stocks for 2009: Doing fine

Fri, 26 Jun 2009 11:46:52 EDT

So far, so good.

Coming out of retirement at 62

Thu, 25 Jun 2009 06:06:52 EDT

Name: Robert Bertrand

A warning bell on California muni bonds

Thu, 25 Jun 2009 14:21:15 EDT

Known for his early warnings on Bear Stearns and Lehman Brothers, analyst Martin Weiss of Weiss Research is now sounding the alarm about state of California municipal bonds.

Invest for the rest of your life

Thu, 25 Jun 2009 06:05:05 EDT

Question: I'm a 56-year-old teacher and my husband recently passed away. I don't own a home or have a pension or any investments, but I will receive a considerable sum from my husband's life insurance policy. My question is how should I invest this money? A financial adviser at my credit union wants me to put it into a variable annuity, but I've heard that this type of annuity is good only for the person selling it. What should I do? --Val, California

Plenty of savings, no investing strategy

Thu, 25 Jun 2009 04:45:44 EDT

The Aquinos live by a simple rule: "If we can't pay for something, we don't buy it," says Liz, 34. In the eight years she and Tony, 36, a systems engineer, have been married, the couple have socked away more than $400,000.

Do the right thing in a recession

Thu, 25 Jun 2009 07:15:22 EDT

In a tough economy you may face some hard decisions when it comes to money and your relationships with family and friends. Our ethics experts weigh in on how to handle some particularly thorny dilemmas.

What a drop in Treasurys means for stocks

Wed, 24 Jun 2009 11:58:15 EDT

The conventional wisdom about stocks and bonds is that when one goes up, the other goes down. In other words, rising treasury yields -- meaning lower treasury prices -- should spell trouble for equities.

Betting your retirement on real estate

Wed, 24 Jun 2009 11:17:38 EDT

Question: I'm 52 years old and think I might get laid off soon. If I do, I'm thinking of rolling over the $250,000 in my 401(k) into a self-directed IRA that I would invest in real estate and try to make money in foreclosures, rental properties, etc. Do you think this is a good idea? --Larry C., Eldersburg, Maryland

Retirement: How much should you save?

Tue, 16 Jun 2009 13:39:51 EDT

Question: Should I contribute more to my 401(k) than I have to in order to get the company match? --Terry, Kennett, Missouri

A report card for your 401(k) plan

Tue, 19 May 2009 04:14:38 EDT

Question: Is there a listing that would allow me to see how my 401(k) plan compares with other companies' 401(k)s? --Debbie W., Mount Laurel, New Jersey

Stress-test your retirement

Wed, 13 May 2009 07:42:40 EDT

The economy is in shambles, and the stock market is in the tank. If you're entering the waning years of your career - or if you've already retired - that's more than enough to suck the joy out of retirement. If you let it.

Find a financial adviser you can trust

Tue, 05 May 2009 06:07:48 EDT

Question: I was laid off recently and have been approached by several financial advisers who all want me to roll over my 401(k) into an IRA. Sometimes I feel like everyone is out to make a commission off my misfortune. Who do I trust? --Marcy, Hutchinson, Minnesota

'Lock in losses'? Go for it

Tue, 24 Mar 2009 14:02:09 EDT

Question: . I was laid off recently and want to roll over the substantial balance in my 401(k) into an IRA. But I don't know whether to do the rollover now and risk locking in losses or wait until the market recovers and then roll it over. What do you think? Steve, Wichita Falls, Texas