Our Associate Producer Rico Gagliano has been spending a lot of time thinking about his retirement... and his economic future in general. But in this month's installment of the Sound Money series "Educating Rico," our protagonist discovers that being financially responsible comes at a cost.

Raise your hand if you know the answer. Which of the following tends to have the highest growth over 18 years: A), a U.S. savings bond; B), stocks or C) a savings account? If you answered B for stocks, you're way ahead of most teenagers in this country. In a recent financial literacy survey of the nation's high school seniors, most of the kids chose a different answer. More than half flunked the test. Work and Family correspondent Sarah Gardner reports on finance lessons for students.

Chris Farrell answers more of your burning money questions. This week, he gives advice on selecting good retirement books, talking to your children about finance, and improving your asset allocation.

It's time once again for our economics editor Chris Farrell is to help you sort out what's smart, what's stupid and what's the "Straight Story." Vice investing is hot, hot, hot. Chris Farrell is ready to extinguish the flame.