Chris Farrell

Chris Farrell is economics editor of Marketplace Money, a nationally syndicated one-hour weekly personal finance show produced by American Public Media. Chris is also economics correspondent for Marketplace, the largest business program in broadcasting and chief economics correspondent for American RadioWorks, the largest producer of long-form documentaries in public radio. He is also contributing economics editor at Business Week magazine. He was host and executive editor of public television’s Right on the Money. He is the author of two books: Right on the Money: Taking Control of Your Personal Finances, and Deflation: What Happens When Prices Fall. Chris is a graduate of Stanford and the London School of Economics.

Latest from Chris Farrell

May 9, 2012
A startling health-care bill
The mutual fund giant Fidelity calculates that a 65-year-old couple retiring in 2012 will need around $240,000 to cover medical expenses through their retirement. Ouch!
Read More
May 8, 2012
Setting up a rollover IRA
My wife will soon lose her job after several years working in non-profit. I am confident in her ability to find another job, but in the meantime, we have been told that she will have to take money out of her 403(b), totaling about $45,000. What should we do with it? Roth IRA? Something I don't know about? James, Louisville, KY
Read More
May 7, 2012
Unforeseen retirement expenses
When estimating expenses in retirement, it's good to think about family and friends, as well as the mortgage, utilities, food, clothes, and other financial-planning staples.
Read More
May 7, 2012
The complex universe of retirement savings plans
Why can I put more money each year into a 401(k) than I can an IRA? This is stupid. I'm currently a contract employee and can only put $6,000 a year into an IRA, since I'm 50 and can use the catch-up provision. Last year, as an employee of a company that offered a 401(k), I saved more than $12,000. Plus, my company matched very generously. Thanks, Ernie, Sunnyvale, CA
Read More
May 4, 2012
Is the 401(k) still the best retirement plan?
Fidelity said this week that our 401(k) account balances were up 8 percent on average in the first quarter of this year. But the major stock market indexes were up even more than that. So are 401(k)s really the right ticket to a happy retirement?
Read More
May 4, 2012
The hazards of active trading
If watched closely, is it wise to jump between aggressive stock funds and bond funds during market runs such as the bull run so far this year? The year-to-date return is 18 percent for my strategy. My Fidelity account has rules regarding moving between funds, so I have to navigate those rules also. Marty, Cincinnati, OH
Read More
May 3, 2012
Overdraft America
Bank overdraft rules are poorly understood, especially by two groups: the young and low-income consumers.
Read More
May 3, 2012
Grandparents, 11 grandchildren and college savings
What instruments do you recommend for saving for our 11 grandchildren's postsecondary education? We have recently sold a property and intend to invest $10,000 per child, ranging in age from less than 1 year to 15 years of age. Thanks, Pat (Grandmommie), St George Island, FL
Read More
May 2, 2012
An age gap and retirement portfolios
How do you plan your investments when you're planning for people of different ages? If a family has one person who is of retirement age and another who's much younger, how should common investments be allocated? Conservatively (keeping in mind the older person) or aggressively (in the interests of the less old person)? Thanks!!! Rina, Bronx, NY
Read More
May 1, 2012
The risks of buying with no money down
I recently was accepted to grad school, and my wife and I will be moving from Michigan to New Mexico. We are having a debate as to whether we should buy a home. After I finish my degree, I would like the freedom to leave New Mexico, if necessary, without having to worry about selling a home. My wife doesn't like the idea of paying rent and getting nothing back from it. Any and all advice would be much appreciated.
Read More