Amid the turmoil, home-loan rates post a big decline, which can lead to real monthly savings.
Only those with unpredictable income and spending discipline need apply.
The flexibility of 529 plans gives consumers plenty of options. But a little extra work is needed to find the most suitable plan.
Some American households are carrying a lot of nonmortgage debt. Paying it down is one of the first steps to getting a handle on finances.
Some credit and debit cards give you some cash back on purchases. But you need to manage it well to benefit from it.
You'll need to consider issues such as IRA withdrawals, Social Security payments and health care costs.
A single-life annuity may be a good idea, or you might try a joint-and-survivor benefits payment plan.
If you're paying off the debt, adding money to pay toward the principal will mean you'll pay less in interest later.
Here's a comparison of CDs and money-market accounts, which are both fairly safe places to stash money.
A little bit of forethought can make things a lot easier later.
