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Marketplace Money for Friday, September 27, 2013
Sep 27, 2013

Marketplace Money for Friday, September 27, 2013

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Set a budget. Save for retirement. Plan for college savings. But how do those rules fit with your circumstances? This week, we feature conversations that go beyond the fine print of personal finance. What type of college savings account works best? A look at the differences between a Roth IRA and a 529 savings plan. When should you think about buying a home? How does that influence what you save for retirement? Plus, prepare yourself for a fee battle. What you can do to get the upper hand on hidden costs.

Segments From this episode

The housing market: Back from the brink?

Sep 27, 2013
The housing market is showing positive signs with prices climbing back up. But is now the time to buy?

Self-employed and looking for health care

Sep 27, 2013
The new health care exchanges will create even more options for consumers in an already crowded market. One group likely to shop around: self-employed workers.

Comparing the federal budget to the household budget

Sep 27, 2013
Whenever debates over the budget rage in Washington, leaders can't help but say the government should balance their budget as well as a household. But that analogy might not always hold water.

So you don't understand that medical bill fee...

Sep 27, 2013
L.A. Times consumer columnist David Lazarus answers listener questions about health care cost-shifting, whether account monitoring services are worth their costs, and what to do when you don't trust the bank you've got a home loan through.

529 college savings plans: What you should know

Sep 27, 2013
Answering listener questions about 529 college savings plans -- and 10 tips on things you should know about them.

Set a budget. Save for retirement. Plan for college savings. But how do those rules fit with your circumstances? This week, we feature conversations that go beyond the fine print of personal finance. What type of college savings account works best? A look at the differences between a Roth IRA and a 529 savings plan. When should you think about buying a home? How does that influence what you save for retirement? Plus, prepare yourself for a fee battle. What you can do to get the upper hand on hidden costs.