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. Read the rest of this entry »

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. Read the rest of this entry »

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. Read the rest of this entry »

The stock market isn’t the only thing that might be beating up on your 401(k) retirement plan; many employers are cutting 401(k) plan matching benefits as a way to reign in expenses, the Wall Street Journal reports. What should you do if your employer pulls your matching benefit? Read the rest of this entry »

Good news for anybody who wants to get in the stock market now. Online broker TradeKing has extended its $50 new account bonus through November. Here are the details:

If you’ve been thinking about starting to invest in stocks on your own, now’s looking like a good time to “buy low”. Online broker TradeKing is offering new traders a $50 bonus after your first trade…but it’ll end on November 30th! Featuring $4.95 trades, TradeKing is consistently given high marks in SmartMoney magazine’s annual broker survey, including a win this year for best customer service. Open an account at TradeKing and get $50 now.

I’m curious to hear your arguments for contributing to either a Roth IRA, traditional IRA, or both. What do you do? Unless I’m missing something, the scales tilt heavily on the side of Roth IRAs for us twentysomethings. Read the rest of this entry »

A quick clarification for a couple readers asking whether you can cash out your 401(k) and take a cash dispersal. The quick answer is no, not anytime. Read the rest of this entry »

Did you know that 45% of Americans cash out their 401(k) retirement accounts when they leave their employers? Do you know that when you cash out your account before the age of 59 ½ that your withdrawal is not only taxed like regular income but also subject to a 10% early withdrawal penalty?

The decision to cash out your 401(k) when you leave a job should not be made lightly. Are there any times you should cash out you 401(k) early? Perhaps. Here’s when cashing out might be okay, and what to do when you shouldn’t. Read the rest of this entry »

IndyMac Bancorp—once the nation’s 10th largest mortgage lender—has gone belly-up, leaving approximately 10,000 uninsured depositors high and dry. These guys will be lucky to recover 50% of their uninsured money. What can we learn about managing your money from the IndyMac failure? Read the rest of this entry »

Stephanie asks: I recently started a new job that will not match 401(k) contributions until I complete one year of service. Should I still contribute prior to being eligible for matching? Read the rest of this entry »