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Personal Finance Articles

  1. How Do Your Finances Stack Up?

    We look at the average consumer numbers, so you can get some perspective on how you spend your hard-earned dollars.
  2. Money Market Mutual Funds: A Better Savings Account

    An good alternative to the traditional savings account is the money market mutual fund. It's easy, safe and has better returns.
  3. Tips For Getting Out Of A Cell Phone Contract

    How do you get out of a cell phone contract early without paying an expensive early termination fee?
  4. How To Rent Out Your Spare Room

    If you have extra space in your house, why not rent it out, especially during the school term, to help pay the mortgage?
  5. Just How Smart Is Wall Street?

    With a history of big-money mistakes, investors would be wise to rethink the wisdom of the smart money and trust themselves.
  6. Tips For Face-to-Face Buying And Selling

    Be aware of these dangers when buying or selling goods in person.
  7. Junk Bonds: Everything You Need To Know

    Don't be fooled by the name - junk bonds may be for you if you know how to analyze them.
  8. Patent Wars And Their Effect On Your Wallet

    How can patent wars, and patent trolls, affect new businesses?
  9. Top 3 Retirement Savings Tips For 55- To 64-Year-Olds

    Find ways to save money and increase your nest egg for the fast-approaching golden years.
  10. Best Loyalty Programs For 2011

    What makes Discover, Ebates and other companies stand out?
  11. Valuing Startup Ventures

    Valuing a company is a difficult task, regardless of the size of the business - but these methods can help.
  12. How To Ask Your Employer To Fund Your Education

    If you can get your education paid for by your company it is a win-win for both parties.
  13. 4 Billionaires That Were In The Right Place At The Right Time

    These billionaires made all the right decisions, and had a bit of luck, too.
  14. How To Protect Your Assets In A Post-Downgrade Economy

    Economic times may be tough, but investment opportunities are available and assets may be protected in a variety of ways.
  15. 6 Employment Perks And How To Get Them

    Find out how to get more than money from your employer.
  16. An Introduction To Perkins Loans

    Check out the eligibility and repayment options, and how you can get this loan forgiven.
  17. The Value Of An Ivy League Education

    Does an Ivy League education give you a better chance of landing a high-paying job?
  18. The Cost Of Unemployment To The Economy

    Unemployment carries many costs, both obvious and hidden, for an economy.
  19. 6 Things To Buy In August

    Looking for the best deals of the month? From laptops to landscaping, here are the best bets on good deals.
  20. Who Will Be The Next Warren Buffett?

    These five financial heavy-hitters might have the track records and mindsets to become the next Warren Buffett.
  21. How The Credit Rating Downgrade Affects the U.S. Economy

    With the S&P downgrade, investors liquidate and global perception is that the U.S. is in financial trouble, but there are still those who remain cautiously optimistic.
  22. 5 Unconventional Jobs With Great Benefits

    Not every career is a nine-to-five desk position - these five tread off of the beaten path.
  23. Top 5 Luxury Retirement Locations

    These opulent retirement destinations allow retires to relax in luxury.
  24. Job Hunting While In School

    How to balance a job search with the heavy demands of college life.
  25. The History Of Insurance In America

    Insurance was a latecomer to the American landscape, largely due to the country's unknown risks.
  26. What You Should Know About Inflation

    Find out how this figure relates to your investment portfolio.
  27. 6 Niche Graduate Programs That Meet Market Demand

    A niche degree is something that you can leverage, especially if the skills that you'll develop are in high demand.
  28. Can The U.S. Remain Risk-Free?

    Without reform, the U.S.'s lauded social safety net could be the undoing of the world's largest economy.
  29. 5 Elite Companies Worth The Same As Social Media Firms

    The valuations on Facebook and others have put them above many elite and highly profitable companies.
  30. Ensuring That Your Trust Is Trustworthy

    There are many cases of trusts being mismanaged, so find out how to make sure yours is on the right track.
  31. 3 Social Media Companies Ready To Go Public

    These sites are expected to go for outrageous prices, but are they worth the hype?
  32. 10 Bank-Breaking Money Myths

    Just because a belief is common, doesn't mean that it's true. Here we separate fact from fiction.
  33. Questions For Warren Buffett

    What would you ask this legendary investor, especially if you were told you could only ask five questions?
  34. Top Five Mistakes Made When Submitting Your Resume

    If your resume is not getting the response you would like, these helpful suggestions could make all the difference.
  35. The Series 79 Exam: What It Is And When You Need It

    If you're getting into the field of investment banking, you'll need to know all about the Series 79.
  36. How To Handle A Wrongful Termination

    From the moment you lose your job to finding your next one, how do you handle being wrongfully terminated?
  37. Do e-Textbooks Help Students Save Money?

    How does the price of an electronic textbook rental compare to the price of other options for acquiring the book?
  38. 3 High-Pressure Home Improvement Sales Tactics

    Vendors selling products related to the improvement of your home can be some of the most challenging salespeople to deal with.
  39. The Economics Of A Backyard Garden

    Growing your own vegetable garden is a hobby that may keep some money in your wallet ... or not.
  40. 6 Branding Tips For Small Business Owners

    One of the most important areas for all businesses to utilize is branding.
  41. 5 Steps To A Retirement Plan

    These considerations will help you make a realistic and thorough retirement plan.
  42. Cover Your Company With Liability Insurance

    Every business is susceptible to legal action. Find out how to protect yours.
  43. The Best And Worst Times (Financially) To Get Divorced

    Divorce is rarely financially advantageous to either party. There are times, however, when it can have an even deeper impact on your personal economic situation.
  44. Streamlining Tips For Small Business Owners

    Templates for accounting, proposals and correspondence; email templates and auto-responders; proposal request forms, questionnaires, grouping tasks and other tips for streamlining your business.
  45. 5 Renovations That Are Cheaper In The Summer

    Ideas for projects that can be completed more efficiently in the summer and may save you time and money along the way.
  46. Budgeting While You're In College

    Test your money management skills as you work your way through university.
  47. LTC Annuities: 2 Safety Nets In 1

    Pairing insurance and an annuity sounds good, but do you really need this much coverage?
  48. Betting On The Economy: What Are The Odds?

    Wondering what the odds of a default, recovery or new taxes are? Check out our take.
  49. Buying Power Around The World

    It takes more than just exchange rates to explain the global differences in the price of many goods.
  50. Why Card-Specific Discounts Don't Work

    There is a healthy way to use store credit and debit cards. Read on to find out how.
  51. Is Online Shopping Killing Brick-And-Mortar?

    Online shopping has increased by 20%, much to the detriment of several large retailers; the question is, will there be more casualties?
  52. 5 Careers That Let You Work Longer

    While not everyone is cut out for earning a paycheck into their 70s, there are occupations that allow and even encourage it.
  53. Top 5 Most Expensive Celebrity Weddings

    While you may not have the funds to be as lavish as these weddings, they may give you some inspiration for your own.
  54. Advertising, Crocodiles And Moats

    Memorable advertising is a brick in the fortress that keeps competitors at bay.
  55. Beginner's Guide To Tax Efficient Investing

    Find out how to manage your portfolio to minimize your tax burden.
  56. 5 U.S. Cities Too Expensive To Buy A House In

    Whether it's the lifestyle or career opportunities, these cities continue to attract people putting pressure on available land and housing.
  57. The Executor's Checklist: 7 Things To Do Before They Die

    Being an executor comes with a lot of responsibility, and these tips will reduce the complications that can come with the job.
  58. 10 Considerations For Using Your Credit Card Abroad

    Credit cards can be the best item you pack when traveling, just make sure that you are taking the right card that suits your needs.
  59. 5 Successful Companies That Survived The Dotcom Bubble

    These companies did what many others could not - survived the dotcom bubble.
  60. What's Your Online Couponing Personality?

    Discover your couponing habits and learn to make the most of them and save more.
  61. Real Estate Indicators For Prospective Homebuyers

    If you want to buy a home but you’re holding out until market conditions show signs of improvement, housing indicators can help point the way.
  62. Charity CEOs: Are They Being Paid Too Much?

    Deciding how much charities should spend on the salaries of their CEOs is more difficult than you may think.
  63. A New Approach To Equity Compensation

    The new financial accounting standard known as FAS 123R could take a bite out of your portfolio. Find out why here.
  64. An Introduction To Student Loans And The FAFSA

    Learn how to fill out the FAFSA form so that it is easier for you to fund your education.
  65. 6 Different Ways To Get Your MBA

    Whether you are a full-time student or are already established in your career, there are several options for obtaining a MBA degree.
  66. Best Back-To-School Deals

    Are students the only ones who can benefit from the back to school deals? Depends on what you're buying.
  67. 7 High-Paid Public Service Jobs

    Some public service jobs pay far above the national average, and also come with good benefits and job security.
  68. 5 Benefits Of Retiring Early

    As tough as it seems in these economic times, there are advantages to stopping work ahead of schedule - especially for those with big plans for their retirement years.
  69. The Cost Of Hiring A New Employee

    Hiring a new employee means more than just a salary ... a lot more.
  70. 7 Unusual Property Ownership Rules

    Unique real estate regulations from around the world.
  71. How To Prevent An Online Shopping Nightmare

    Internet shopping is not like walking into your favorite store, especially if you run into problems.
  72. The Gold Standard Revisited

    Think the value of gold is unshakable? Read this chronicle of its rise and fall.
  73. Long-Term Care: More Than Just A Nursing Home

    Learn what you can do now to keep your options open in the future.
  74. Fix It Or Trash It?

    Four types of household or personal items and whether it makes sense to put money into fixing them or whether it's more financially-prudent to throw them out.
  75. 5 New Ways To Look For A Job

    If traditional methods aren't working for you, these easy tricks can help your job search be more effective.
  76. Make A Risk-Based Mortgage Decision

    Find out how to choose which mortgage style is right for you.
  77. Is Someone Listening To Your Phone Messages?

    Phone hacking is serious, but there are many things you can do to make it harder on a thief.
  78. Are Investing Seminars Worth It?

    A look at two types of seminars and what each has to offer.
  79. Will The Greek Crisis Affect Your Retirement?

    Trouble in Greece will come home to roost in America, but maybe not in the most obvious ways.
  80. The Most Affordable Cities To Live In

    Here is a look at some of the places in the United States where your money will go the furthest.
  81. Top-Earning Superhero Movies

    Four out of 2011's top 10 flicks are superhero movies. Why can't we resist a cape and a mask, and how much money are these movies making?
  82. Getting Accredited For A Career In Credit Analysis

    We go through the education and certifications you need to join this growing field.
  83. The Power Of Branding

    It's the ultimate economic moat, and we look at the approaches and effects of good and bad branding.
  84. How To Become A Self-Taught Finance Expert

    A wealth of information is at your fingertips, and getting started is easy.
  85. The 5 Most Expensive Places To Buy A Home

    Find out what makes these areas so desirable to live in despite the high costs of real estate.
  86. 10 Reasons Why Online Grocery Shopping Is Failing

    Although some companies still continue to develop offerings, observers ponder the question: Why does online grocery shopping continue to fail?
  87. Disclaiming Inherited Plan Assets

    There are some good reasons for choosing not to accept the funds, but be sure you follow the proper process.
  88. Home Organization On A Budget

    These simple steps will keep you on time and efficient without spending a lot of cash.
  89. The Island Approach To Credit Card Use

    The Island Approach can help you get out of debt and maximize your rewards. Find out how you can use this method.
  90. An Introduction To Stafford Loans

    Stafford loans provide student funding that a majority of people can easily access. Find out if you qualify.
  91. Is Your Commute Worth It?

    The extra 30 minutes in the car may be costing you more than you think.
  92. What Strikes Are Costing The Canadian Economy

    Between the postal strike and the Air Canada strike, the costs are starting to add up.
  93. The State Of The 401(k)

    Companies have been slow to restore 401(k) matching, but history says good workers will demand good benefits.
  94. How To Effectively Investigate A Stock

    Before throwing your money away, learn how to pick the right stock for your portfolio.
  95. How Many Credit Cards Should You Have?

    National stats indicate most consumers have three or more cards - are you one of them?
  96. 4 Reasons Not To Refinance Your Home

    Interest rates are still extremely low, but they aren't expected to stay there for long. Should you refinance before it's too late? Not necessarily.
  97. 5 Of The World's Oldest Companies

    Find out which companies have been around the longest - and why they've lasted.
  98. Can You Trust Your Trustee?

    Ignorance and incompetence can cost you money. Make sure your trustee is up to the task.
  99. 5 Signs You're About To Be Fired

    These red flags might mean it's time to start looking for a new job.
  100. Shield Your Portfolio From Inflation For Real Returns

    Inflation-protected securities are part of the equation, but they're not a perfect solution.
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