Green Investing

Eco-minded individuals are putting their money where their conscience is -- into "green" investments that support the environment. As a result, there are now hundreds of public companies that tout their greenness, dozens of green mutual funds, and even a handful of green stock market indexes. Is  green investing right  for you?

Joining an Investment Club

Investment clubs are groups that meet regularly to learn about investing, analyze investment options, and, in many cases, buy and sell investments as a unit. Though members certainly welcome profits, the real focus of investment clubs is education. More than 10,000 investment clubs exist across the country. How do you decide whether or not to join one of these groups, start your own club, or go it alone?

Financial Advice for Young Adults

Recent college or high school graduates entering the workforce for the first time often question what they should be doing with their money  -- paying down debts, investing in retirement funds, buying a home? How do you prioritize your debts and what investments should you make? Here is some guidance on how to manage your money as you enter the working world.

Personal Finance for Women

Though men and women are more similar than different when it comes to managing money, there are a handful of personal finance challenges that are unique to women. From staying on top of your personal finance situation (whether you are single or partnered) to surviving a divorce or the death of your spouse to planning for a longer life, women should learn how to prepare for a financially secure future.

FDIC Insurance: How Safe Is Your Money?

When the economy slumps and financial institutions fail, savers begin to worry about the stability of their own bank. Luckily, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) insures customers' deposits in most U.S. banks and savings associations. To avoid having your money at risk, learn exactly which accounts the FDIC insures, how much protection the insurance provides, and how you would recover your money if your bank failed.

What Happens to Your Money If Your Financial Institution Fails or Is Acquired?

Don't panic if one of the financial institutions you do business with is struggling. In many cases, consumers are protected from financial loss, up to certain limits, when a bank, credit union, brokerage, or insurance company fails. To make the best choices -- and avoid unnecessary worrying -- understand what assets and policies are protected and how you can maximize your money's security.

Money Market Deposit Accounts and Mutual Funds

Money market deposit accounts and mutual funds are a safe place to park your cash for a short period of time. But before you put a chunk of money into either one, make sure you understand the difference between the two, whether your money is insured or guaranteed, what types of returns you should expect, and which type of money market is best for you.

Teen Jobs: Paying Taxes & Saving for Retirement

If you are the parent of a teen who has just landed his or her first paying job, you have a great opportunity to teach your teen about money management, spending, saving for retirement, and taxes. But the financial world is more complex now than when most parents were kids -- so where do you start? Here's a primer on teen taxes and retirement saving that will help steer your kid through his or her first teen job.

Medical Expense Accounts: FSAs, HRAs, HSAs, and MSAs

Four types of tax-advantaged accounts help individuals and families save and pay for medical expenses that are not covered by their health insurance: flexible spending arrangements, health reimbursement arrangements, health savings accounts, and medical savings accounts. Learn the basics about these types of accounts.

Ways Kids Can Make Money

Encouraging your children to earn their own money is a great way to foster creativity and innovation, promote independence, and begin to teach them about key financial skills like budgeting, saving, managing money, and investing. If your kids are too young to enter the workforce, you can help them find creative ways to earn cash.

How to Diversify Your Investments -- An Easy Rule of Thumb

When it comes to investing, you should diversify your investments --  that is, spread your money around. That protects you from losing all your assets in a market swoon. But in order to diversify correctly, you need to know what kinds of investments to buy, how much money to put into each one, and how to diversify within  a particular investment category.

Education Saving Plans for Your Child

All parents want their children to achieve their fullest potential -- and most agree that education is the key. Education, of course, comes with a price -- and a hefty one at that. From preschool through graduate school, education bills will be among your heaviest financial burdens as a parent. Fortunately, there are a number of strategies that you can use to maximize the savings you sock away for your child's education.