http://topics.cnn.com/topics/feeds/rss/Personal_InvestingFind stories, videos, and photos about Personal Investing from CNN.com.en-usCable News Network LP, LLLP.Thu, 26 Nov 2009 03:27:53 GMT5http://i.cdn.turner.com/cnn/.element/img/1.0/logo/cnn.logo.rss.gifhttp://topics.cnn.com/topics/feeds/rss/Personal_Investing14433Find stories, videos, and photos about Personal Investing from CNN.com.http://money.cnn.com/2009/11/09/pf/Make_money_investments.moneymag/index.htmhttp://money.cnn.com/2009/11/09/pf/Make_money_investments.moneymag/index.htmWith the market up more than 60% since March, you're probably feeling a lot better about your portfolio lately than you did a year ago. The worry for 2010: Will the runup run out of steam?Thu, 12 Nov 2009 14:24:00 ESThttp://money.cnn.com/2009/11/05/pf/expert/retirement_stocks.moneymag/index.htmhttp://money.cnn.com/2009/11/05/pf/expert/retirement_stocks.moneymag/index.htmQuestion: I'm nearing retirement, but would like to continue investing in stocks and bonds. My question: Should retirees continue to put money into the markets even after they have retired? --Lee Benge, Charlotte, North CarolinaThu, 05 Nov 2009 09:27:00 ESThttp://money.cnn.com/2009/10/20/pf/expert/retirement_income.moneymag/index.htmhttp://money.cnn.com/2009/10/20/pf/expert/retirement_income.moneymag/index.htmQuestion: The 4% rule seems to have become the conventional wisdom for drawing money from your savings in retirement. But I believe the rule is flawed. I think it might make more sense to choose a percentage of your savings that you will withdraw annually and then just apply that percentage to your savings balance at the beginning of each year so you would have more money to spend in years when investment returns are good and less to spend in years when returns are bad. What do you think? --E. W., East Lansing, MichiganTue, 20 Oct 2009 17:33:00 EDThttp://money.cnn.com/2009/05/28/pf/expert/stocks_funds.moneymag/index.htmhttp://money.cnn.com/2009/05/28/pf/expert/stocks_funds.moneymag/index.htmQuestion: I'm planning to invest some money in the stock market, but I'm wondering whether I should buy mutual funds or individual stocks. Which do you think is better? And in the event I decide to go with stocks, which ones do you think are really good buys now? --Monique ThompsonTue, 02 Jun 2009 21:22:00 EDThttp://money.cnn.com/2009/05/19/pf/expert/retirement_income.moneymag/index.htmhttp://money.cnn.com/2009/05/19/pf/expert/retirement_income.moneymag/index.htmBefore the market imploded last year, turning your nest egg into steady income for 30 or more years of retirement seemed pretty straightforward. Just follow the old 4% rule: Withdraw that much of your portfolio's value initially and then boost that dollar amount annually for inflation.Wed, 20 May 2009 10:00:00 EDThttp://money.cnn.com/2009/02/23/retirement/retirement_rescue.moneymag/index.htmhttp://money.cnn.com/2009/02/23/retirement/retirement_rescue.moneymag/index.htmWill I ever be able to retire now? That's a question you're likely asking yourself these days. After a year in which your 401(k) has been hammered by the biggest stock losses since the Great Depression, your home equity has been whacked by the collapse of the real estate market and the specter of being laid off looms larger every day, no one can blame you for being skeptical.Tue, 14 Apr 2009 14:09:00 EDThttp://money.cnn.com/2009/03/20/pf/bond_portfolio.moneymag/index.htmhttp://money.cnn.com/2009/03/20/pf/bond_portfolio.moneymag/index.htmThere's an old saying that goes, "You make your money in stocks but keep your money in bonds."Wed, 01 Apr 2009 17:26:00 EDThttp://money.cnn.com/2009/03/10/pf/funds/etf/REITS_funds.moneymag/index.htmhttp://money.cnn.com/2009/03/10/pf/funds/etf/REITS_funds.moneymag/index.htmQuestion: I've been told real estate investment trusts offer great diversification. But do they really? Last year REITs lost 38% - that's a bit worse than the S&P 500. --Brian M., Greenwich, Conn.Wed, 11 Mar 2009 09:58:00 EDThttp://money.cnn.com/2009/02/11/pf/expert/diversify_portfolio.moneymag/index.htmhttp://money.cnn.com/2009/02/11/pf/expert/diversify_portfolio.moneymag/index.htmQuestion: I want to better diversify my portfolio. So I'm thinking of getting rid of some funds that focus on specific industries or geographic areas and investing in funds with broader holdings. The problem is that the funds I want to get rid of tanked hard in 2008. Would it be better for me to hold onto them until the sector recovers? Or should I sell them and create a more diversified portfolio right now? Josef Werne, Duluth, MinnesotaThu, 12 Feb 2009 09:41:00 ESThttp://money.cnn.com/2009/02/10/pf/expert/selling_stocks.moneymag/index.htmhttp://money.cnn.com/2009/02/10/pf/expert/selling_stocks.moneymag/index.htmQuestion: I've been sticking with my investments in the hopes that the market will recover, but I'm tired of seeing the value of my portfolio continue to drop. Should I just sell everything, put the proceeds into money-market funds and bonds and wait until we see an upturn before getting back in the market? Or should I hang in there with my present portfolio of stocks and mutual funds? Eric Rosenberg, Little River, South CarolinaTue, 10 Feb 2009 11:01:00 ESThttp://money.cnn.com/2009/01/26/pf/expert/diversification.moneymag/index.htmhttp://money.cnn.com/2009/01/26/pf/expert/diversification.moneymag/index.htmQuestion: All the financial gurus tell me to diversify my investments. But if I am making money on some investments but losing on others, how is this a great investment plan? Why not just buy a CD and not worry? --John D., Idabel, OklahomaWed, 28 Jan 2009 22:38:00 ESThttp://money.cnn.com/2009/01/20/pf/Mole_rebalancing.moneymag/index.htmhttp://money.cnn.com/2009/01/20/pf/Mole_rebalancing.moneymag/index.htmQuestion: I'm 57 and planning to retire at 66. Before this year's stock market turmoil my 401(k) was balanced at 70% stock mutual funds and 30% bond funds. Now it's 59% stock and 41% bonds. To take advantage of very low stock prices I was thinking about re-balancing to 75% stocks and 25% bonds. Does this sound like a good plan or should I just re-balance to 70% and 30%?Wed, 21 Jan 2009 13:55:00 ESThttp://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/12/16/coffee.madoff/index.html#cnnSTCTexthttp://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/12/16/coffee.madoff/index.html#cnnSTCTextSeventy years ago in 1938, Richard Whitney, the chief executive of the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE), was sentenced to 40 months in Sing Sing for embezzling funds from clients, including the widows and orphans benefit fund of the NYSE.Wed, 17 Dec 2008 12:36:00 ESThttp://money.cnn.com/2008/06/12/pf/inflation_portfolio.moneymag/index.htmhttp://money.cnn.com/2008/06/12/pf/inflation_portfolio.moneymag/index.htmHow bad is inflation for your portfolio? Let us count the ways.Fri, 13 Jun 2008 14:36:00 EDThttp://money.cnn.com/2008/03/12/pf/ask_the_mole.moneymag/index.htmhttp://money.cnn.com/2008/03/12/pf/ask_the_mole.moneymag/index.htmQuestion: I have a continuing debate with a classmate of mine regarding why a financial adviser does not include calculations/spreadsheets when determining asset allocation. My classmate claims it is trade secrets. I claim that the adviser doesn't know how to do/explain the calculations and blindly plugs the client's financial information in a system and reports the answer. Who do you think is right?Thu, 13 Mar 2008 15:12:00 EDThttp://money.cnn.com/2008/01/14/pf/expert/expert4.moneymag/index.htmhttp://money.cnn.com/2008/01/14/pf/expert/expert4.moneymag/index.htmQuestion: Is now a good time to move more of my portfolio from domestic mutual funds into international funds? - Brett PhillipsTue, 15 Jan 2008 14:20:00 ESThttp://money.cnn.com/2007/12/03/pf/expert/expert.moneymag/index.htmhttp://money.cnn.com/2007/12/03/pf/expert/expert.moneymag/index.htmQuestion: I know I can protect my portfolio against inflation by investing in TIPs and against market volatility by diversifying my investments. But how can I hedge against adverse U.S. dollar movements? - Brian Canes, Scarsdale, N.Y.Mon, 10 Dec 2007 14:28:00 ESThttp://money.cnn.com/2007/11/01/pf/daredevil.moneymag/index.htmhttp://money.cnn.com/2007/11/01/pf/daredevil.moneymag/index.htmThe stock market got a nice bump Wednesday following an interest rate cut by the Federal Reserve. On Thursday, the market gave back all those gains - and then some.Thu, 01 Nov 2007 21:29:00 EDThttp://money.cnn.com/2007/10/25/pf/expert/expert.moneymag/index.htmhttp://money.cnn.com/2007/10/25/pf/expert/expert.moneymag/index.htmQuestion: I contribute 15 percent of my salary to my 401(k) and put money into an IRA and a taxable investment account, but I don't have much investing experience. I've heard that I should rebalance my portfolio each year, but I'm not sure how to do that.Fri, 26 Oct 2007 11:27:00 EDThttp://money.cnn.com/2007/10/15/pf/daredevil.moneymag/index.htmhttp://money.cnn.com/2007/10/15/pf/daredevil.moneymag/index.htmAfter years of watching stocks go almost straight up, it became pretty easy to forget how temperamental the market can be. Until mid-July, when the subprime mess gave Wall Street its worst scare in nearly five years, stocks were basking in the glow of the second-longest uninterrupted bull run in history.Tue, 16 Oct 2007 12:26:00 EDThttp://money.cnn.com/2007/09/24/pf/expert/expert.moneymag/index.htmhttp://money.cnn.com/2007/09/24/pf/expert/expert.moneymag/index.htmQuestion: I need to rebalance my portfolio and move some money out of stocks. I don't want to touch the total stock market index fund in my 401(k), so I'm thinking of selling individual stocks I own in tax accounts that aren't doing as well as I would like. But I don't want to take a huge tax hit. What should I do? -Linda, Dover, N.J.Tue, 25 Sep 2007 02:43:00 EDThttp://money.cnn.com/2007/08/29/pf/expert/expert_thursday.moneymag/index.htmhttp://money.cnn.com/2007/08/29/pf/expert/expert_thursday.moneymag/index.htmQuestion: I'm 34 and am concerned about how to invest my retirement savings in this market. I currently have 100 percent of my portfolio in a mix of funds that invest in large-to-small-cap stocks as well as international funds. But I'm wondering how much I should change that mix given these turbulent times. What do you suggest? - Brian, Mitchell, South DakotaThu, 30 Aug 2007 10:42:00 EDThttp://money.cnn.com/2007/08/13/pf/expert/expert.moneymag/index.htmhttp://money.cnn.com/2007/08/13/pf/expert/expert.moneymag/index.htmQuestion: I've read that if I withdraw roughly 4 percent of my retirement savings each year to live on, my money will last virtually forever. But does this 4 percent include the money my portfolio already kicks off in dividends and interest? Or is the 4 percent withdrawal on top of that? - Doug Martin, Syracuse, New YorkThu, 16 Aug 2007 08:15:00 EDThttp://money.cnn.com/2007/08/10/pf/downturn_your_portfolio/index.htmhttp://money.cnn.com/2007/08/10/pf/downturn_your_portfolio/index.htmYou're no hedge fund trader or big-time lender, but the subprime mortgage fallout is putting a dent in your portfolio, too.Mon, 13 Aug 2007 03:21:00 EDThttp://money.cnn.com/2007/08/07/pf/expert/expert.moneymag/index.htmhttp://money.cnn.com/2007/08/07/pf/expert/expert.moneymag/index.htmQuestion: In a world of globalization, should you invest a larger portion of your assets in foreign equities? I'm in my mid-40s and currently have about 40 percent of my money in both international and emerging markets, but I wonder whether I'm taking too much risk. - Hung Lee, Annandale, VirginiaThu, 09 Aug 2007 11:50:00 EDThttp://money.cnn.com/2007/07/27/pf/saving/toptips2/index.htmhttp://money.cnn.com/2007/07/27/pf/saving/toptips2/index.htmThis past Thursday was the second worst day of the year for the Dow Jones Industrial Average. But remember, it was just a week ago today that the Dow closed above 14,000 for the first (and only) time.Fri, 27 Jul 2007 09:36:00 EDThttp://money.cnn.com/2007/07/16/pf/expert/expert.moneymag/index.htmhttp://money.cnn.com/2007/07/16/pf/expert/expert.moneymag/index.htmQuestion: About six months ago, I invested a chunk of money into four separate mutual funds. When would you recommend adjusting the balances so each fund is back to its original percentage of my portfolio? - John R., Arlington, VirginiaTue, 17 Jul 2007 09:43:00 EDThttp://money.cnn.com/galleries/2007/moneymag/0705/gallery.portfolio_timebombs.moneymag/index.htmlhttp://money.cnn.com/galleries/2007/moneymag/0705/gallery.portfolio_timebombs.moneymag/index.htmlThese common mistakes could send your retirement savings up in smoke. Find a better way to divvy up your investment pie.Wed, 16 May 2007 21:36:00 EDThttp://money.cnn.com/galleries/2007/moneymag/0703/gallery.financial_records_organizing.moneymag/index.htmlhttp://money.cnn.com/galleries/2007/moneymag/0703/gallery.financial_records_organizing.moneymag/index.htmlFive simple strategies will get your financial papers organized. Now's your chance to end the chaos forever.Wed, 28 Mar 2007 20:19:00 EDThttp://money.cnn.com/2007/03/05/pf/expert/expert.moneymag.moneymag/index.htmhttp://money.cnn.com/2007/03/05/pf/expert/expert.moneymag.moneymag/index.htmQuestion: I often hear that you shouldn't withdraw more than 4 percent a year from your 401(k) after you retire. But if your account is growing at 8 percent a year and you take out only 4 percent, wouldn't your account value just keep growing?Mon, 05 Mar 2007 13:38:00 ESThttp://money.cnn.com/magazines/moneymag/moneymag_archive/2007/03/01/8400904/index.htmhttp://money.cnn.com/magazines/moneymag/moneymag_archive/2007/03/01/8400904/index.htmIF YOU HAVEN'T TAKEN A PEEK AT YOUR portfolio for several years, chances are it's taken on a shape you don't even recognize. The tiny slivers of international stocks you bought a few years ago are ... Thu, 01 Mar 2007 05:01:00 ESThttp://money.cnn.com/2007/02/28/pf/saving/toptips/index.htmhttp://money.cnn.com/2007/02/28/pf/saving/toptips/index.htmStocks plunged Tuesday with the Dow Jones Industrials losing more than 400 points. It was the worst day in 5 years. Markets stabilized Wednesday morning, but the drop is still a loud wake-up call to investors. We'll tell you how to protect your investments if the stock market does tank.Wed, 28 Feb 2007 15:14:00 ESThttp://money.cnn.com/2007/02/13/magazines/moneymag/asset_allocation.moneymag/index.htmhttp://money.cnn.com/2007/02/13/magazines/moneymag/asset_allocation.moneymag/index.htmIf you haven't taken a peek at your portfolio for several years, chances are it's taken on a shape you don't even recognize.Tue, 13 Feb 2007 14:18:00 ESThttp://money.cnn.com/2006/12/19/pf/expert/expert.moneymag/index.htmhttp://money.cnn.com/2006/12/19/pf/expert/expert.moneymag/index.htmQuestion: I'd like your view on what percentage of pay I should be putting in my 401(k) for retirement. I'm currently saving 15 percent of my annual salary of $74,000 a year, and have accumulated $392,000 so far. There is no company match in my company plan, nor any pension beyond the 401(k). I have another $46,000 in mutual funds and own a home that's worth about $320,000, although I owe about $95,000 on a home equity loan.Tue, 19 Dec 2006 15:00:00 ESThttp://money.cnn.com/2006/10/16/pf/expert/expert.moneymag.moneymag/index.htmhttp://money.cnn.com/2006/10/16/pf/expert/expert.moneymag.moneymag/index.htmQuestion: I cashed in my investments to raise a 25% down payment to buy a house. I'm thinking of taking out a home equity line of credit, borrowing against it and then investing the loan proceeds. I figure this would be a good way to rebuild my investment portfolio. What do you think? - JamesMon, 16 Oct 2006 13:50:00 EDThttp://money.cnn.com/magazines/moneymag/moneymag_archive/2006/10/01/8387531/index.htmhttp://money.cnn.com/magazines/moneymag/moneymag_archive/2006/10/01/8387531/index.htmYou saved diligently throughout your career, plowing as much as you could into your 401(k) and other retirement accounts. Now you're looking forward to kicking back and relaxing, secure in the know... Sun, 01 Oct 2006 04:01:00 EDThttp://money.cnn.com/magazines/moneymag/moneymag_archive/2006/10/01/8387535/index.htmhttp://money.cnn.com/magazines/moneymag/moneymag_archive/2006/10/01/8387535/index.htmWHEN YOU'RE SAVING FOR RETIREMENT, YOU FACE A timeline measured not in years, but in decades. How do you find investments that can go the distance, so that you don't have to keep worrying about you... Sun, 01 Oct 2006 04:01:00 EDThttp://money.cnn.com/2006/09/11/pf/retirement/retire0610_sivy.moneymag/index.htmhttp://money.cnn.com/2006/09/11/pf/retirement/retire0610_sivy.moneymag/index.htmWhen you're saving for retirement, you face a timeline measured not in years, but in decades. How do you find investments that can go the distance, so that you don't have to keep worrying about your portfolio and making constant adjustments to your holdings, a practice that, study after study shows, lowers your returns?Mon, 11 Sep 2006 14:28:00 EDThttp://money.cnn.com/2006/09/11/pf/expert/expert.moneymag/index.htmhttp://money.cnn.com/2006/09/11/pf/expert/expert.moneymag/index.htmREADER QUESTION: In the past, you've said that investors shouldn't try to time their investing so they get in just before the market soars. While most of my investments are in stock funds, I have some cash parked in a money-market fund waiting for lower stock prices. I almost moved some of this cash recently when the Standard & Poor's 500 declined to around 1220, but I really want to invest at an S&P of 1200. Meanwhile, the cash is earning 5 percent. What's wrong with this approach? - Alan S., Silver Spring, MarylandMon, 11 Sep 2006 12:21:00 EDThttp://money.cnn.com/2006/09/07/pf/retirement/retire0610_updegrave.moneymag/index.htmhttp://money.cnn.com/2006/09/07/pf/retirement/retire0610_updegrave.moneymag/index.htmYou saved diligently throughout your career, plowing as much as you could into your 401(k) and other retirement accounts. Now you're looking forward to kicking back and relaxing, secure in the knowledge that your nice plump portfolio will carry you comfortably through retirement.Thu, 07 Sep 2006 17:18:00 EDThttp://money.cnn.com/2006/08/04/pf/expert/expert.moneymag/index.htmhttp://money.cnn.com/2006/08/04/pf/expert/expert.moneymag/index.htmQUESTION: Why do you advise people planning for retirement to figure on living to 90 or beyond? I hope to retire at 57, but I'm not going to plan on living beyond 85. That just seems iffy at best. -- Paul, Bridgeport, ConnecticutFri, 04 Aug 2006 13:58:00 EDThttp://money.cnn.com/2006/06/30/pf/expert/expert.moneymag/index.htmhttp://money.cnn.com/2006/06/30/pf/expert/expert.moneymag/index.htmQUESTION: I'm about six months shy of 62 and expect to be laid off soon. I'll have enough savings to hold me over until I begin collecting Social Security, and after that I'll have Social Security plus about $320,000 in an IRA rollover. Of course, I'll also have to pay for medical insurance until I hit 65, when I can enroll in Medicare.Fri, 30 Jun 2006 14:16:00 EDThttp://money.cnn.com/magazines/moneymag/moneymag_archive/2006/03/01/8370210/index.htmhttp://money.cnn.com/magazines/moneymag/moneymag_archive/2006/03/01/8370210/index.htm1) Like professors and therapists, financial advisers list their credentials after their names. Three of these are legit. Which isn't? Wed, 01 Mar 2006 05:01:00 ESThttp://money.cnn.com/2006/02/24/pf/expert/ask_expert/index.htmhttp://money.cnn.com/2006/02/24/pf/expert/ask_expert/index.htmI sold a commercial property I owned and after paying off the mortgage on my condo I expect to have about $500,000 left over. Is it possible to live off the interest from $500,000? I'm single and 57 years old.Fri, 24 Feb 2006 15:20:00 ESThttp://money.cnn.com/2006/01/20/pf/expert/ask_expert/index.htmhttp://money.cnn.com/2006/01/20/pf/expert/ask_expert/index.htmI'm in my early 30s and have about two-thirds of my portfolio in stock mutual funds. I'm considering also investing in Treasury Inflation-protected securities (TIPS) and real estate investment trusts (REITs). Do you think that's a good idea and, if so, how much of each should I own?Fri, 20 Jan 2006 19:45:00 ESThttp://money.cnn.com/magazines/moneymag/moneymag_archive/2005/11/01/8217799/index.htmhttp://money.cnn.com/magazines/moneymag/moneymag_archive/2005/11/01/8217799/index.htmt balance between maximizing return and minimizing risk, and you're well on your way to reaching your goals. ...Mon, 12 Dec 2005 21:39:00 ESThttp://money.cnn.com/magazines/moneymag/moneymag_archive/2005/11/01/8217793/index.htmhttp://money.cnn.com/magazines/moneymag/moneymag_archive/2005/11/01/8217793/index.htmYou've probably given a lot of thought to what your dream retirement will look like. But here's what you really need to think about: How are you going to pay for it? Mon, 12 Dec 2005 21:39:00 ESThttp://money.cnn.com/2005/12/02/pf/expert/ask_expert/index.htmhttp://money.cnn.com/2005/12/02/pf/expert/ask_expert/index.htmMy wife and I are both 62 and retired. We receive Social Security and have a $400,000 stock portfolio that generates income of about $500 a month. Would it make sense to take money from our stock portfolio to purchase a fixed income annuity so we can increase our monthly income for life?Fri, 02 Dec 2005 15:02:00 ESThttp://money.cnn.com/magazines/moneymag/moneymag_archive/2005/12/01/8362009/index.htmhttp://money.cnn.com/magazines/moneymag/moneymag_archive/2005/12/01/8362009/index.htmMutual fund companies are slapping the word dividend on seemingly every new fund they trot out these days. It's easy to understand why they think the funds will sell: For five years, stocks that pa...Thu, 01 Dec 2005 05:01:00 ESThttp://money.cnn.com/2005/11/11/pf/expert/ask_expert/index.htmhttp://money.cnn.com/2005/11/11/pf/expert/ask_expert/index.htmI'm 60 years old and have an IRA worth about $700,000. I'd like to start withdrawing $15,000 a year after taxes in about four years. If I do this, how long can I reasonably expect my portfolio to last?Fri, 11 Nov 2005 13:23:00 ESThttp://money.cnn.com/2005/11/08/pf/expert/ask_expert/index.htmhttp://money.cnn.com/2005/11/08/pf/expert/ask_expert/index.htmThe balances of our IRA and regular taxable accounts have grown large enough that a severe market downturn would be devastating for me and my wife. How can we protect our retirement savings? Should we consider derivatives and options, or is there something else we can do?Tue, 08 Nov 2005 14:24:00 ESThttp://money.cnn.com/magazines/moneymag/moneymag_archive/2005/11/01/8358893/index.htmhttp://money.cnn.com/magazines/moneymag/moneymag_archive/2005/11/01/8358893/index.htmWhether or not success in life is about just showing up, as Woody Allen claimed, success in retirement investing is about proper asset allocation. Divide your retirement savings to strike the right...Tue, 01 Nov 2005 05:01:00 ESThttp://money.cnn.com/2005/10/07/retirement/dreamretire_stocks_0511/index.htmhttp://money.cnn.com/2005/10/07/retirement/dreamretire_stocks_0511/index.htmWhether or not success in life is about just showing up, as Woody Allen claimed, success in retirement investing is about proper asset allocation. Divide your retirement savings to strike the right balance between maximizing return and minimizing risk, and you're well on your way to reaching your goals.Fri, 07 Oct 2005 15:42:00 EDThttp://money.cnn.com/2005/10/07/retirement/dreamretire_pay_0511/index.htmhttp://money.cnn.com/2005/10/07/retirement/dreamretire_pay_0511/index.htmYou've probably given a lot of thought to what your dream retirement will look like. But here's what you really need to think about: How are you going to pay for it?Fri, 07 Oct 2005 15:42:00 EDThttp://money.cnn.com/2005/09/16/pf/expert/ask_expert/index.htmhttp://money.cnn.com/2005/09/16/pf/expert/ask_expert/index.htmI work for a major financial services firm that allows us to buy company stock once a quarter at a 15 percent discount. I want to take full advantage of the discount, but I'm not sure what percentage of my portfolio should be invested in this one stock. Considering the discount, what do you recommend?Fri, 16 Sep 2005 14:39:00 EDThttp://money.cnn.com/2005/06/17/pf/expert/ask_expert/index.htmhttp://money.cnn.com/2005/06/17/pf/expert/ask_expert/index.htmI retired about two years ago and left my 401(k), which is about 90 percent invested in a capital preservation fund, with my previous employer. I'd like to start drawing about $50,000 a year from it to supplement my income, but am wondering how to go about it. What do you say?Fri, 17 Jun 2005 14:55:00 EDThttp://money.cnn.com/2005/05/24/pf/expert/ask_expert/index.htmhttp://money.cnn.com/2005/05/24/pf/expert/ask_expert/index.htmI'm 38 years old and I invest $1,650 a month into a portfolio of 10 mutual funds that now has a balance of $165,000. If I continue doing this will I have enough to retire?Tue, 24 May 2005 15:35:00 EDThttp://money.cnn.com/magazines/moneymag/moneymag_archive/2005/05/01/8257873/index.htmhttp://money.cnn.com/magazines/moneymag/moneymag_archive/2005/05/01/8257873/index.htmIf this is a time in your investing life when you're focusing less on the growth of your portfolio and more on the stream of cash you can draw from it, you're facing a real challenge. Years of dema...Sun, 01 May 2005 04:01:00 EDThttp://money.cnn.com/2005/04/25/pf/armchair_risk/index.htmhttp://money.cnn.com/2005/04/25/pf/armchair_risk/index.htmDear Armchair Millionaire: I watched my parents lose half their retirement portfolios in 2000 when the stock market took a nose dive. I'm starting to invest now and I'm terrified at the thought of repeating their experience. How can I make sure I don't expose my investments to risk?Mon, 25 Apr 2005 18:31:00 EDThttp://money.cnn.com/2005/04/08/pf/income_0505/index.htmhttp://money.cnn.com/2005/04/08/pf/income_0505/index.htmIf this is a time in your investing life when you're focusing less on the growth of your portfolio and more on the stream of cash you can draw from it, you're facing a real challenge.Fri, 08 Apr 2005 19:32:00 EDThttp://money.cnn.com/2005/03/22/pf/expert/ask_expert/index.htmhttp://money.cnn.com/2005/03/22/pf/expert/ask_expert/index.htmWhen I rebalance my mutual fund portfolio, should I just be trying to maintain the proper balance between stock funds and bond funds overall? Or should I also be rebalancing to maintain the balance between different types of stock and bond funds-say, large-cap funds vs. small-cap in stocks and long-term vs. intermediate-term in bonds?Tue, 22 Mar 2005 16:14:00 ESThttp://money.cnn.com/2004/12/28/pf/expert/ask_expert/index.htmhttp://money.cnn.com/2004/12/28/pf/expert/ask_expert/index.htmI'm 56 years old and hoping to tap Social Security at 62. I'll also have a small pension. What would be considered a minimum amount of savings someone in my position should have to be able to retire comfortably -- and how should those savings be invested?Tue, 28 Dec 2004 18:26:00 ESThttp://money.cnn.com/magazines/moneymag/moneymag_archive/2004/12/01/8192189/index.htmhttp://money.cnn.com/magazines/moneymag/moneymag_archive/2004/12/01/8192189/index.htmIn almost every game or contest, you have to choose between two strategies. Do you go all out, even if it means taking big risks? Or do you proceed cautiously, accumulating small advantages that wi...Wed, 01 Dec 2004 05:01:00 ESThttp://money.cnn.com/2004/11/12/magazines/moneymag/investing_fullgoofproof_0412/index.htmhttp://money.cnn.com/2004/11/12/magazines/moneymag/investing_fullgoofproof_0412/index.htmIn almost every game or contest, you have to choose between two strategies.Fri, 12 Nov 2004 22:31:00 ESThttp://money.cnn.com/magazines/moneymag/moneymag_archive/2004/11/01/8188843/index.htmhttp://money.cnn.com/magazines/moneymag/moneymag_archive/2004/11/01/8188843/index.htmIt's one of the greatest lines in one of the greatest movies of all time, The Wizard of Oz. Dorothy Gale, played by Judy Garland, has just been transported, along with her little terrier, Toto, fro...Mon, 01 Nov 2004 05:01:00 ESThttp://money.cnn.com/2004/10/27/pf/expert/ask_expert/index.htmhttp://money.cnn.com/2004/10/27/pf/expert/ask_expert/index.htmMy husband and I, both retired, have $60,000 in mutual funds, but we seem to be losing money every day. We're thinking of moving our money to an investment where we can get a guaranteed 4 percent return. What do you advise?Wed, 27 Oct 2004 15:05:00 EDThttp://money.cnn.com/2004/10/05/retirement/kansas_7catchups/index.htmhttp://money.cnn.com/2004/10/05/retirement/kansas_7catchups/index.htmEditor's note: The following is adapted from "We're not in Kansas anymore: Strategies for retiring rich in a totally changed world," by Walter Updegrave, senior editor at Money magazine.Tue, 05 Oct 2004 15:50:00 EDThttp://money.cnn.com/2004/09/28/pf/expert/ask_expert/index.htmhttp://money.cnn.com/2004/09/28/pf/expert/ask_expert/index.htmA financial adviser has been managing about $400,000 in assets in mutual funds and a few stocks for me since 2001 for a fee of 1 percent of assets per year.Tue, 28 Sep 2004 14:15:00 EDThttp://money.cnn.com/2004/09/24/retirement/kansas_nine_outlive/index.htmhttp://money.cnn.com/2004/09/24/retirement/kansas_nine_outlive/index.htmWhen you're accumulating money for retirement, you're probably aware that you're taking on investment risk -- that is, exposing yourself to the possibility that your stocks, bonds and other investments might lose value.Fri, 24 Sep 2004 21:28:00 EDThttp://money.cnn.com/2004/09/10/pf/expert/ask_expert/index.htmhttp://money.cnn.com/2004/09/10/pf/expert/ask_expert/index.htmI'm saving for retirement in a 401(k) and IRA account invested in mutual funds. How can I most efficiently keep track of the paperwork -- cost basis, dividend payments, etc. -- so I can effectively manage my portfolio over the next 30-plus years? Keeping track of the cost basis and dividend payments until retirement sounds daunting!Fri, 10 Sep 2004 14:29:00 EDThttp://money.cnn.com/2004/02/24/funds/armchair_fundexpense/index.htmhttp://money.cnn.com/2004/02/24/funds/armchair_fundexpense/index.htmDear Armchair Millionaire: I read an article recently that said that the expense ratio is one of the most important things you should consider when choosing a mutual fund. I completely disagree. I'd definitely pick a fund that performs better over one that has slightly lower expenses. What's your opinion?Tue, 24 Feb 2004 16:38:00 ESThttp://money.cnn.com/2004/02/06/pf/expert/ask_expert/index.htmhttp://money.cnn.com/2004/02/06/pf/expert/ask_expert/index.htmQ. My New Year's resolution was to rebalance my portfolio and replace my stinker mutual funds with index funds. When I reviewed my portfolio's 2003 performance, however, I noticed that many of my losers had 20 to 30 percent gains and my biggest loser had a 60 percent gain. I'm still way below my break even point for these funds, but now I'm wondering if I should continue with my index fund strategy. What do you think?Fri, 06 Feb 2004 17:18:00 ESThttp://money.cnn.com/magazines/business2/business2_archive/2003/12/01/354194/index.htmhttp://money.cnn.com/magazines/business2/business2_archive/2003/12/01/354194/index.htmIn some respects, the home stretch of 2003 feels eerily similar to the winter of 1999, and we're not talking about the weather. The Dow is up an ebullient 30 percent since its low last October, the...Mon, 01 Dec 2003 05:01:00 ESThttp://money.cnn.com/magazines/moneymag/moneymag_archive/2003/11/01/352282/index.htmhttp://money.cnn.com/magazines/moneymag/moneymag_archive/2003/11/01/352282/index.htmIn his best-selling book The Perfect Storm, Sebastian Junger describes how a rare combination of meteorological events produced a monster nor'easter with 120-mph winds and waves towering 10 stories...Sat, 01 Nov 2003 05:01:00 ESThttp://money.cnn.com/magazines/moneymag/moneymag_archive/2003/06/01/342729/index.htmhttp://money.cnn.com/magazines/moneymag/moneymag_archive/2003/06/01/342729/index.htmThe home has long held a place of mythic stature in the hearts and minds of Americans. Our 17th-century Puritan forebears considered home ownership a key component of a democratic society. And as t...Sun, 01 Jun 2003 04:01:00 EDThttp://money.cnn.com/2002/11/27/pf/taxes/lossandgain/index.htmhttp://money.cnn.com/2002/11/27/pf/taxes/lossandgain/index.htmIf you're like most investors this year, you're sitting on a pile of losses. But those losses have an upside: By using them well for tax purposes, you can turn them into real cash -- and put yourself in a better position for the future.Mon, 02 Dec 2002 18:43:00 ESThttp://money.cnn.com/magazines/moneymag/moneymag_archive/2002/12/01/333193/index.htmhttp://money.cnn.com/magazines/moneymag/moneymag_archive/2002/12/01/333193/index.htmThere's only so long you can play a losing game before giving up. In basketball, once coaches see that they can't possibly win, they bench their starters. In boxing, trainers infamously throw in th...Sun, 01 Dec 2002 05:01:00 ESThttp://money.cnn.com/magazines/moneymag/moneymag_archive/2002/12/01/333194/index.htmhttp://money.cnn.com/magazines/moneymag/moneymag_archive/2002/12/01/333194/index.htmIf you're like most investors this year, you're sitting on a pile of losses. The S&P 500-stock index is down 22% year to date, while the average equity mutual fund is off 23%. No question, that's p...Sun, 01 Dec 2002 05:01:00 ESThttp://money.cnn.com/magazines/moneymag/moneymag_archive/2002/11/01/331272/index.htmhttp://money.cnn.com/magazines/moneymag/moneymag_archive/2002/11/01/331272/index.htmIt's the most underrated component of portfolio management. It's blindingly simple yet devastatingly effective. And it's something that--unfortunately--very few investors actually do. No, we're not...Fri, 01 Nov 2002 05:01:00 ESThttp://money.cnn.com/magazines/moneymag/moneymag_archive/2002/09/01/327304/index.htmhttp://money.cnn.com/magazines/moneymag/moneymag_archive/2002/09/01/327304/index.htmPART TWO Sun, 01 Sep 2002 04:01:00 EDThttp://money.cnn.com/magazines/moneymag/moneymag_archive/2002/07/01/324972/index.htmhttp://money.cnn.com/magazines/moneymag/moneymag_archive/2002/07/01/324972/index.htmRemember Aesop's fable about the ant and the grasshopper? You know, the one where the grasshopper fritters away the summer days singing songs, while the industrious ant busts his hump laying in a s...Mon, 01 Jul 2002 04:01:00 EDThttp://money.cnn.com/magazines/moneymag/moneymag_archive/2002/04/01/320286/index.htmhttp://money.cnn.com/magazines/moneymag/moneymag_archive/2002/04/01/320286/index.htmAs a retiree, you have one overriding concern: making sure your money lasts as long as you do. When the market was charging along at more than 20% a year, as it did for much of the 1990s, that seem...Mon, 01 Apr 2002 05:01:00 ESThttp://money.cnn.com/magazines/moneymag/moneymag_archive/2002/02/01/316779/index.htmhttp://money.cnn.com/magazines/moneymag/moneymag_archive/2002/02/01/316779/index.htmDid you know I can run a mile in under four minutes? I haven't actually done it yet. But I ran 100 yards in 13.1 seconds the other day. If I hold that pace, I figure I can do a quarter mile in 57.6...Fri, 01 Feb 2002 05:01:00 ESThttp://money.cnn.com/magazines/moneymag/moneymag_archive/2001/12/01/314336/index.htmhttp://money.cnn.com/magazines/moneymag/moneymag_archive/2001/12/01/314336/index.htmFeeling anxious about your finances? We don't blame you. But we have a suggestion. Gather all your records, set aside a few hours and embark on a comprehensive re-evaluation of your portfolio. In f...Sat, 01 Dec 2001 05:01:00 ESThttp://money.cnn.com/magazines/fortune/fortune_archive/2001/11/26/314102/index.htmhttp://money.cnn.com/magazines/fortune/fortune_archive/2001/11/26/314102/index.htmIn the late 1990s, investors learned all there was to know about reward. They bought blue-chip stocks--they made money. They threw cash into IPOs--they made money. They loaded up on profitless dot-...Mon, 26 Nov 2001 05:01:00 ESThttp://money.cnn.com/magazines/moneymag/moneymag_archive/2001/08/01/307082/index.htmhttp://money.cnn.com/magazines/moneymag/moneymag_archive/2001/08/01/307082/index.htmSeeking financial advice is a natural impulse. Expertise, confirmation, confidence--we want all these things at different times in our lives. But seeking advice is fraught with uncertainty: Will it...Wed, 01 Aug 2001 04:01:00 EDThttp://money.cnn.com/magazines/fsb/fsb_archive/2001/07/01/305788/index.htmhttp://money.cnn.com/magazines/fsb/fsb_archive/2001/07/01/305788/index.htmCome on, admit it. It was darn fun owning technology stocks and chalking up easy gains in your portfolio. But after the past 18 months you know you're not an investing genius--or even a slightly-ab...Sun, 01 Jul 2001 04:01:00 EDThttp://money.cnn.com/magazines/moneymag/moneymag_archive/2001/06/01/303366/index.htmhttp://money.cnn.com/magazines/moneymag/moneymag_archive/2001/06/01/303366/index.htmFor the nation's 39 million 401(k) investors, the past year has been a shocking reversal of fortune. After nearly a decade of fat double-digit returns, participants were lulled into thinking that t...Fri, 01 Jun 2001 04:01:00 EDThttp://money.cnn.com/magazines/moneymag/moneymag_archive/2001/04/01/299322/index.htmhttp://money.cnn.com/magazines/moneymag/moneymag_archive/2001/04/01/299322/index.htmMany people use the Net just to check stock prices, whether once a week or multiple times a day. But the Web is filled with a wondrous selection of tools best used only a few times a year--or even ...Sun, 01 Apr 2001 05:01:00 EDThttp://money.cnn.com/magazines/moneymag/moneymag_archive/2001/03/01/297141/index.htmhttp://money.cnn.com/magazines/moneymag/moneymag_archive/2001/03/01/297141/index.htmAfter five consecutive years of rock-and-roll market returns, it all ended as abruptly as the Spice Girls fad. If you haven't been tracking the career trajectories of Ginger and Baby, let's put it ...Thu, 01 Mar 2001 05:01:00 ESThttp://money.cnn.com/magazines/moneymag/moneymag_archive/2001/01/01/294204/index.htmhttp://money.cnn.com/magazines/moneymag/moneymag_archive/2001/01/01/294204/index.htmFor Jon Greeno, the past year has been a real roller-coaster ride. The up: Last August he exercised 500 options in the stock of his employer, Nortel Networks, and netted himself a quick $18,000. Th...Mon, 01 Jan 2001 05:01:00 ESThttp://money.cnn.com/magazines/moneymag/moneymag_archive/2000/12/01/292728/index.htmhttp://money.cnn.com/magazines/moneymag/moneymag_archive/2000/12/01/292728/index.htmIf you're like me, you're ready to kick back, relax and enjoy the holiday season. Gifts have been bought and wrapped, those Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa and Eid-ul-Fitr greetings are in the mail, e...Fri, 01 Dec 2000 05:01:00 ESThttp://money.cnn.com/magazines/moneymag/moneymag_archive/2000/10/01/287430/index.htmhttp://money.cnn.com/magazines/moneymag/moneymag_archive/2000/10/01/287430/index.htmWarren Glotzbach, a 49-year-old designer at Motorola, dreams of retiring in 10 years and building a second career as a rock-'n'-roll musician. To do that, the Delray Beach, Fla. dad needs at least ...Sun, 01 Oct 2000 04:01:00 EDThttp://money.cnn.com/magazines/moneymag/moneymag_archive/2000/07/01/282751/index.htmhttp://money.cnn.com/magazines/moneymag/moneymag_archive/2000/07/01/282751/index.htmWhen do you think about retirement? During idle moments, when thoughts turn to chucking your job and heading to the beach? Or is it every time you buy a stock, pay your mortgage, start a new job or...Sat, 01 Jul 2000 04:01:00 EDThttp://money.cnn.com/magazines/moneymag/moneymag_archive/2000/06/01/280404/index.htmhttp://money.cnn.com/magazines/moneymag/moneymag_archive/2000/06/01/280404/index.htmWill Browne hunches over the Bloomberg terminal in his Park Avenue office, eagerly pointing to the rows of red numbers blanketing the screen in front of him. It's April 3. The Nasdaq has just gone ...Thu, 01 Jun 2000 04:01:00 EDThttp://money.cnn.com/magazines/moneymag/moneymag_archive/1999/12/01/273797/index.htmhttp://money.cnn.com/magazines/moneymag/moneymag_archive/1999/12/01/273797/index.htmThe idea of diversification--which goes by the equally euphonious name asset allocation--has been around for centuries. Check out Act 1 of The Merchant of Venice, and you'll find Antonio, the 16th-...Wed, 01 Dec 1999 05:01:00 ESThttp://money.cnn.com/magazines/fortune/fortune_archive/1999/08/16/264319/index.htmhttp://money.cnn.com/magazines/fortune/fortune_archive/1999/08/16/264319/index.htmIt's amazing how a few selective facts can make investing for retirement seem like a no-brainer. Let's see...the stock market has more than doubled in value over the past three years, tripled over ...Mon, 16 Aug 1999 04:01:00 EDThttp://money.cnn.com/magazines/moneymag/moneymag_archive/1999/06/01/260986/index.htmhttp://money.cnn.com/magazines/moneymag/moneymag_archive/1999/06/01/260986/index.htmRed alert for retirement investors: The further you are from your last day of work, the less sure you can be that your retirement plans and savings are safe. Tue, 01 Jun 1999 04:01:00 EDThttp://money.cnn.com/magazines/moneymag/moneymag_archive/1999/03/01/256246/index.htmhttp://money.cnn.com/magazines/moneymag/moneymag_archive/1999/03/01/256246/index.htmOkay. You've got a good job, and you're stashing away the maximum in your 401(k) plan, plus you get a generous matching contribution from your employer. So you're on top of this retirement saving t...Mon, 01 Mar 1999 05:01:00 ESThttp://money.cnn.com/magazines/moneymag/moneymag_archive/1998/11/01/250337/index.htmhttp://money.cnn.com/magazines/moneymag/moneymag_archive/1998/11/01/250337/index.htmEverything has changed. That's the sentiment on Wall Street since the stock market began slipping in mid-July and share prices started swinging with extraordinary velocity. The bull market that wou...Sun, 01 Nov 1998 05:01:00 EST