Stocks

Japan isn't the only place where the stock market is booming right now. Markets in the U.S. and even Europe are up as well.

How do you get rid of a worthless stock? Is life insurance for seniors a good investment option? What ever happened to the paper U.S. Savings Bonds? CBS Money Watch editor-at-large Jill Schlesinger answers listeners' personal finance questions.

The basement vault of the Depository Trust & Clearing Corporation holds 1.3 million shares of stock, bonds and foreign securities. And it was flooded by Superstorm Sandy.

I'm an individual self-taught investor who has just lost a LARGE sum of money investing in a company whose stock (of course) went immediately downhill after I bought it. Rather than becoming afraid of stocks, I am sure there is a lesson to be learned here. I'm just not sure what it is. What tips could you give for people who lose large amounts of money but want to keep investing? Brian, Miami, FL

Safe stocks? Risky bonds? Chris Farrell looks at a new investing paradigm.

"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.

My problem is that my brother (in his late 20s) is super lazy and would never do any financial planning on his own. I've been trying to get him to open a Roth IRA for a while, but no chance. So now I'm thinking of starting one for him for his birthday and setting it up so a certain portion of his paycheck will transfer automatically. But there's no way he will ever be motivated/responsible enough to do his own investing. I'm not sure what strategy to follow because I don't want to do his investments for him. Is it worth hiring a professional? Do the major online trading sites (Etrade, Vanguard, ScottTrade, etc.) offer some kind of package where you just add some money and it is professionally invested for you? Any advice you have would be greatly appreciated!! Thank you! Laura, Chicago, IL

I don't think investors should fear the march of time. The specter of a baby boomer-driven stock and bond market implosion seems implausible to me largely because of the move toward market economies around the world. By the time retiring boomers are selling in earnest, markets will be even more global than they are now. There are a lot of foreigners to buy U.S. assets.

We now want to invest some of our emergency fund that we believe is a little inflated, due to fears of the economy. I've looked around at fee-only advisers, but they all state that you should have at least $100,000 to start investing; otherwise, they don't feel like you are qualified to work with. What should we do with our money? We have about $15,000-20,000 that we want to invest, but we want to do the right thing. Could your staff help with some options? Thank you, Joshua, Riverside, CA