I’m excited to announce a new project I am involved in that could revolutionize the way we choose our checking accounts and CDs: BankAround.com. [...]

A fresh year on the calendar or not, resolutions are hard to keep. Whether the target weakness is overeating, undersweating, or overspending, temptation is everywhere and old habits die hard. But if you want to make some positive changes to your bottom line in 2009, here’s some good news: When it comes to your financial fitness, some small changes can yield amazing results. Here are five examples: [...]

Okay, everybody…it’s New Year’s resolution time! Do you have a financial resolution for 2009? Plan to pay off a credit card, save up for a vacation, boost your emergency fund, or buy a home? What is it, and how will you get there? Let me know in a comment!

Tomorrow and Wednesday I’ll be posting a few “financial New Year’s resolution ideas” as well as some ideas for getting over the holiday spending hangover and off to a fresh financial start in the New Year.

In late 2007 I first published this post entitled the “best credit cards for young people.” I decided to update it periodically, as things continue to change dramatically in the credit card lending market. Many of the cards that were the best deals a year ago have jacked their rates—or stopped accepting new cardmembers altogether. [...]

Loan modification companies are sprouting up left and right to take advantage of embattled home owners at risk of foreclosure. If this includes you; watch out. Some loan modification companies are nothing but down and dirty scams. [...]

Investing advice publications just love to make stock predictions every December for the upcoming year. Since I don’t have the time or know-how to dig deep into company financials to bring you my own best stocks for 2009, I thought I’d round up some of the many “best stocks for 2009” picks from around the Web. Put your broker on speed dial; it’s time to invest in some winners while the markets are still down. [...]

Readers, can you help with this question? Another reader wants to know if he’ll be able to buy a home or condo right after graduating from college this year. He’ll be armed with a degree in accounting, already has a job lined up, and will have $30k in student loan debt. I’ll share my thoughts below, but I know some people out there who did buy homes right after school, and I’m curious to know how it went. [...]

Just last month we shook our heads in disbelief over how a middle-aged nurse could give $400,000 to a Nigerian email scammer. Now, we must collect our jaws from the floor once again as ask exactly how hedge fund investor Bernie Madoff could defraud thousands of very wealthy investors out of $50 billion. [...]

Ponzi schemes—like the $50 scam allegedly run by Bernard Madoff—have been around for decades and, unfortunately, will likely continue to exist for years to come. Here’s how to recognize a potential Ponzi scheme and avoid getting burned. [...]

Just how tight is the credit market these days? Quite. Credit experts now estimate it will take a credit score of between 750 and 770 to qualify for most loans—even auto loans! Just a year ago, borrowers with credit scores in the high 500s and low 600s could easily drive off the lot in a new car with an auto loan at a decent interest rate. That day is gone. [...]