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Embrace your inner spender
Tess Vigeland Dec 23, 2011
Tess speaks with author James Livingston, who argues that consumer culture is good for the economy, the environment, and your soul.
What's on the menu for next year?
Tess Vigeland Dec 30, 2011
Tess talks with David Lazarus, Kathy Kristof, Liz Weston and Chris Farrell about what we might be able to expect in 2012.
Life insurance and savings
Chris Farrell Dec 19, 2011
I went to a financial advisor in hopes someone else could do more with my money. He suggested that I take full advantage of my employer's 401(k) when I am eligible (next year), but since I have been a good saver and expect an increase in income, I should consider using life insurance as a vehicle for tax-free retirement savings. I have mixed feelings about this. Christina, Atlanta, GA
When to get aggressive with the mortgage paydown
Chris Farrell Dec 15, 2011
My question is, if your mortgage rate is higher than what you could expect from investing, wouldn't it make more sense to pay on the mortgage? This is almost the same as the concept of paying off the credit card with the highest rate first. What are your thoughts on this? John, Rapid City, SD
Good reads
Chris Farrell Dec 12, 2011
Here are some recent stories on a variety of personal finance subjects.
Americans purchase more even as net worth shrinks
Gregory Warner Dec 10, 2011
From July to September, American families purchased more, even as their net worth shrank faster than it has at any time since the worst of the financial crisis.
Focusing on debt, but which one
Chris Farrell Dec 6, 2011
My husband and I have extra money each month, a healthy emergency savings account, and we save for retirement through our work plans. (I should point out we are in our 20s.) We recently bought a home and now have a mortgage of $130,000 at 4 percent interest. We also have approximately $80,000 in student loan debt for our graduate degrees at 6.8 percent interest. With our extra spending money each month, should we tackle the student loan debt first? Pay down the mortgage? Both? Or some other option? Carolyn, Duluth, MN
The argument against thrift
Tess Vigeland Dec 23, 2011
Author James Livingston discusses why he's against thriftiness, and how more spending would benefit our economy and souls.
Working toward financial flexibility
Chris Farrell Nov 22, 2011
I max out contributions to my workplace 401K and a traditional IRA (I no longer qualify for a Roth). Should I be doing more to save for retirement? Are there other retirement vehicles available to me or should I continue investing in non-retirement accounts (e.g., direct purchase of mutual funds and/or stocks through my brokerage account)? Sandra, Silver Spring, MD
Stick with low risk
Chris Farrell Nov 21, 2011
Our primary aim is to have a deposit for a house in 3 years. We have saved a reasonable sum of money but did not want it to linger in a current or savings account for 0.75%. We are deciding either investing at low risk or paying off mortgage. We have to sell our current house to buy a new house. My mortgage rate is 4.99%, so after tax rebate it is about 3.99%. Most investing opportunities are giving us about 2% at low risk and 3-5% at medium risk. After tax one would have to take another 1.25% off the return. We would like some advice. Thanks, Tom and Anne, Boston, MA
