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

Apr 30, 2012
Federal student loans at death
I've got a fair amount of student loans. I've also got a good job as a college professor, and I will be able to pay them off eventually. But I'm concerned about my wife. If something should happen, do student loans transfer to a spouse or do they stick with me? Rudolf, Providence, RI
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Apr 27, 2012
Stocks vs. bonds
Safe stocks? Risky bonds? Chris Farrell looks at a new investing paradigm.
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Apr 27, 2012
Retirement savings is gone. Now what?
Hi. I'm 53 years old and have had to go through the little bit of my retirement savings. Now, I have $5,000 to start something, as far as retirement goes. What should I do? I do not have anything through work. Actually, my workplace is on brink of closing right now. Lisa, Louisville, KY
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Apr 26, 2012
To buy or to wait
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
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Apr 25, 2012
It’s all about you — really
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
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Apr 25, 2012
More elderly Americans living poor
The poverty rate among older Americans is up, with the highest rate among the "oldest old."
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Apr 24, 2012
Advice on getting a credit card
My friend is 24 and a young mother. She has never had a credit card and she wants to build her credit. Her income is somewhat limited at the moment because she has a new baby and only works part-time, but she wants to be able to pay for small daily expenses with a card that she can pay off in full every month. She is not seeking a large credit line. Even $100 would be sufficient. Can you provide some advice on what kind of card and where to start for someone looking to build good credit? Should she try prepaid credit cards? Any advice would be most sincerely appreciated. Esmeralda, Marlborough, MA
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Apr 24, 2012
Putting Social Security’s deteriorating finances in context
Social Security's shortfall is manageable, but it's also real.
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Apr 23, 2012
Guides for a personal finance novice
I am 50 years old, and unfortunately, a bit of a financial novice. I have never invested, never budgeted and never really had my money work for me. I am a professional, in my own private practice and earn close to or more than $100,000 a year. I am looking for some good source(s) that may, by reading or watching videos, make me a more informed steward of my money. Ed, Cardiff, CA
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Apr 20, 2012
Financial literacy: No time like the present
Commentator Chris Farrell thinks there's no time like the present to get smart about your finances.
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