To all the recent graduates out there: Congratulations. You have worked hard, and your accomplishments are well-deserved. Now, welcome to the jungle of reality. And this year, it really is a jungle out there. If you don’t have a job lined up yet, don’t despair. Here are a few ways to put your job search into high gear and make the most of your time before you officially enter the working world. [...]

I am absolutely fascinated by the role of credit cards in today’s recession, the new credit card laws, and how both will transform the role of credit in our lives. As somebody who got way over his head by using credit cards irresponsibly in my early twenties, I’m thrilled that following in my footsteps may not be so easy for future generations. I worry, however, that if the pendulum swings too far in the other direction, difficulty in obtaining credit cards may continue to stifle both the overall economy and young Americans’ ability to become homeowners, start businesses, and build our dreams. [...]

If you have ever aspired to run your own business (or an existing corporation), you may already be interested in applying the traits, philosophies, and leadership styles of successful CEOs to your career.

But even if you have no interest in becoming a business leader (or ever working in business, for that matter), learning to think about your own life, finances, and career the way a CEO thinks about running a business can be rewarding…and help you reach your own goals faster. [...]

I received a comment the other day on an old post (Have You Said “No, Thank You” To Credit Cards?) that I think everybody should read. Despite this reader’s best intentions to avoid credit (and essentially boycott the credit card industry), he’s now stuck unable to buy a home at age 29 even though he has $20k saved. Even worse, he can’t even get a simple low limit credit card to begin building credit. To him, and presumably many other Americans, the credit market is totally closed. Read his story now: [...]

It seems like a crazy question given so many rewards credit cards have gone to no annual fee. But two credit cards–including one very new credit card—ask prospective members to shell out over $400 a year to carry them. So I ask, do those annual fees simply provide card members with the “prestige” of carrying some very expensive plastic, or do they entitle you to worthwhile benefits? [...]

The Senate voted today, 90-5, in favor of the Credit Card Accountability, Responsibility and Disclosure (CARD) Act of 2009—an effort to crack down on dubious credit card industry practices that make it easy to charge consumers outrageous interest rates and make it harder to get out of debt. Now, the Senate must merge their proposed changes to the credit card industry with the similar Credit Cardholders’ Bill of Rights Act of 2009 that the House of Representatives passed in April 357-70. If the bills can be successfully joined, President Obama is expected to sign the bill into law this week.

What will these changes mean for you? [...]

I think the $8,000 first time home buyer tax credit is one of the greatest financial opportunities young people have going these days. Unfortunately, unless Congress extends it past December 1, 2009, it won’t be around for long. [...]

Once upon a time, college students and others in their early twenties (or even late teens) could get any number of credit cards without having a prior credit history, making it easy to start to build credit. In today’s tightened credit markets, however, the road to building good credit in college or in your early twenties is a bit more difficult. If you don’t have credit yet but hope to buy your first home or get another type of loan in a few years, what are your options? [...]

Has a friend or family member ever asked you for a loan? Or, have you ever considered lending money—perhaps through social lending—in order to earn better returns than you can with your savings account? If so, you have probably worried about the risks involved in lending money. For one, you always risk losing some or all of the money you lend. And, if you lend to family or a friend, you risk letting the loan get in the way of your relationship. But if you’re considering lending money (either to help out somebody you trust or for your own financial gain), there are ways to mitigate your risk and ensure a smooth transaction. [...]

When it comes to investing, my advice is simple. Buy index funds and no-load mutual funds and ignore the stock market (and the endless media analysis and speculation on individual stocks). It’s easy enough to understand, but where should starting investors turn for guidance on which funds to choose? Kiplinger’s maintains a list of its favorite 25 mutual funds. Fifteen of those funds are “no-load” (i.e., they don’t charge a sales fee to invest in them). Here they are: [...]