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To buy or to wait
Chris Farrell Apr 27, 2012
My wife and I are having a disagreement and I hope you can help settle it. We're looking at houses below $100,000. After having looked at our options, I want to wait a year and build up our savings so we can put enough money down without completely wiping out our savings. My wife is concerned that, due to a recovering housing market, it will be more expensive in the long run if we wait, and that will be worth the short-term risk. Should we wait or go for it now? Andrew, Milwaukee, WI
It's all about you -- really
Chris Farrell Apr 25, 2012
I'm putting the max allowed in my retirement accounts, and it's invested fairly conservatively in index funds. I lost a bunch of money in the tech stock crash in the early 2000s, which makes me hesitant to dump more money in the stock market. I own an apartment and don't really want more exposure to real estate, either. I'm starting to build up enough cash that I don't want to just leave it in my savings account. The only debt I have is my mortgage, and while I have decreased the balance on it, the interest rate is so low that it seems like there must be something better I can do with the cash. Any suggestions? Kira, Washington DC
Financial literacy: No time like the present
Chris Farrell Apr 20, 2012
Commentator Chris Farrell thinks there's no time like the present to get smart about your finances.
Where today's Americans are investing their money
Frank Newport Apr 19, 2012
Hint: It's not the stock market.
Surprising new emerging market investment destinations
John Dimsdale Apr 13, 2012
A new report says that countries like Mexico, Nigeria and Turkey are joining China, India and Brazil as the hottest countries for emerging private equity market investment.
Getting Personal: Health care, nursing, and investing
Tess Vigeland Mar 30, 2012
Host Tess Vigeland and David Lazarus from the L.A. Times answer your personal finance queries.
What goes up must come down
Chris Farrell Mar 22, 2012
"What goes up must come down" was true with dot-com stocks and the residential housing market. Investors should understand that the same fate lies ahead for corporate profits, argues James Montier of the investment management firm GMO.
The role of a fiduciary
Paddy Hirsch Mar 23, 2012
Sr. Producer Paddy Hirsch explains the responsibilities of a fiduciary with a taxi metaphor.
Slow and steady returns
Tara Siegel Bernard Mar 26, 2012
An investment portfolio owes its comeback to diversification and time.
Broken trust: A Ponzi scheme victim bounces back
Paul Sullivan Mar 22, 2012
After falling victim to Ponzi schemer Allen Stanford, Carol Lovil is getting her life back on track. But she worries she may never be able to trust anyone again.
