We launched MainStreet in February 2008 with a simple mission: To bring new dimensions to the stories you were discussing on your own MainStreets. We’ll show you what you can learn from every news story—whether it’s a cautionary tale or an inspiring one—with a particular focus on personal finance. We’ll be your home for where life and money intersect.

Since we started building MainStreet, the news has provided a steady drumbeat of “MainStreet” stories.

We watched—along with the rest of the world—as the father of Anna Nicole Smith’s baby, Danielyn, was decided by a controversial DNA test and we asked ourselves, “Are our final wishes completely clear if we were no longer around to raise our children?”

We watched California’s southwest region be nearly swallowed up by flames and wondered, “Are we protected if we lost our biggest asset?”

When we heard about A-Rod’s new contract with the New York Yankees, the pinstriped fans among us rejoiced and then considered, “Have we chosen careers that will compensate us well for our efforts, too?”

Throughout each day, our reporters will be updating MainStreet’s home page to bring us the news that most impacts your life decisions, your pocketbooks, and your future. Whether it happens across the globe or in your own town, think of MainStreet as the place where the stories of the day are discussed, dissected, and digested by a community whose members want to know not only what’s happening but what can they learn from these stories?

The website, MainStreet.com, is divided into four news sections that will be updated daily:

• Beginnings: Every day brings a fresh start. On some days that might mean a new career opportunity while on others that might mean you’re welcoming a new addition to your family.
• Endings: We’ll follow the closing of life’s chapters, such as winding down a business or losing a loved one.
• Windfalls: We celebrate the rewards of a well-lived life and the pleasures of unexpected treasure.
• Challenges: When unexpected crises occur we’ll map out a game plan to recover.

You’ll see names you recognize passing through our MainStreet every day. You’ll be able to follow their successes, analyze where they went wrong, and apply what you’ve gleaned to make the most of your own life.  But to do all that as soon as possible, you’ll need to sign up for our “beta” preview.

MainStreet comes from the same team that’s been bringing you the award-winning financial news source, TheStreet.com, for the past 10 years. With MainStreet, we’re expanding from Wall Street…to, well, MainStreet.

We hope you like it.

MainStreet: Where life and money intersect.

See you there.

Signed,
The Editors at MainStreet.com