Topic: Personal Investing

Facebook IPO: five things to know before buying the stock

About 1 out of every 8 people on the planet have a Facebook account. Now, with the arrival of a public stock offering, all those people have a chance to be part owners of this social hub. Should you buy? Here are five things to consider.

Seven retirement questions you need to answer

Retirement planning isn't easy. Nearly half of Americans don't feel financially prepared to live to age 75, according to a survey from Northwestern Mutual. But the process is a lot less burdensome if you break the task down into simpler parts. Here are seven questions to ask as you plan for your long-term financial security in retirement.

Can an economy still grow with serious debt?

A country's budget surplus and economic growth generally go hand in hand, but there are some exceptions to the rule.

Stock prices tumbling? Four ways to control your risk.

If the wild plunges and rebounds in stock prices have made a yo-yo of your portfolio, welcome to a very big club. The gyrations in stock markets worldwide have forced investors everywhere to confront an uncomfortable reality: Short of stuffing your money in a bank or under your mattress, you have to cope with volatility and risk. Fortunately, there are ways to tame risk – even turn it to your advantage. Here are four steps that you can take to begin to reduce the risk of falling stock prices for your long-term portfolio:

Top 4 tips to keep your broker honest

Maybe individual investors can’t fix the broad regulatory breakdown that has allowed financial frauds to occur, like dodgy mortgage-backed securities and Bernie Madoff’s pyramid scheme. But they can take steps to protect themselves against unscrupulous financial advisers. Knowledge is the best weapon. The more investors know, the less likely they are to be taken advantage of by a dishonest broker. Here are four ways you can ensure your broker is following the rules:

401(k): Are you saving enough? Run the numbers.

401(k) math is easy with a retirement calculator. Question on 401(k) is No. 7 in the reader mailbag.

If your mutual fund fails, what happens to your money?

The failure of a mutual fund or investment house is usually covered by an insurance fund. Here's what to look for.

Guilty plea in $15 million Illinois Ponzi scheme that scammed 300 investors

William Huber pleaded guilty Tuesday to operating a multimillion Ponzi scheme in the latest example of investment advisers bilking their clients.

Dow correction: How are you adapting?

After a steep drop yesterday, the Dow is officially in correction territory for 2010.

Five reasons to invest in gold (and six ways to do it)

Gold provides safety and diversifies portfolios, but there are risks involved. Read on for a primer in gold investing.

How much risk should a 40-year-old investor take?

Personal finance Q&A with Steve Dinnen.

Is it time to get back into the market?

Shaken investors fled stocks in 2008. Return slowly, advisers say.

Rightsizing your retirement

As the stock market sags, retirement savers must revisit their long-term options.

Financial Q&A: The best places to stash your cash.

Steps for investors to survive a volatile market

The stock market's plunge may require an overhaul of investment strategies.

Financial Q&A: Conversation with financial advisers critical in today's market tumult.

Submit your question to Steve Dinnen at: money@csmonitor.com

Financial Q&A: If a brokerage firm goes broke, will your investments remain safe?

Submit your questions to Steve Dinnen at: money@csmonitor.com