Your Money And Your Life (2024)

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Politics In Real Life: Should Americans Be Auto-Enrolled In Retirement Plans?

May 12, 2016 • The United Kingdom and a majority of states in this country have advanced an idea to get more people saving on their own for retirement, without even thinking about it.

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How To Buy A Car: Start With Some Patience

May 5, 2016 • A car is one of the larger purchases most people make. How can you make sure that purchase isn't a mistake? Don't "buy it today." Do your research. Don't panic. Easy, right?

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How To Not Run Out Of Money In Retirement

April 27, 2016 • You've saved up enough to quit working. Congrats! But here's a new puzzle: figuring out how to enjoy retirement without blowing your savings too soon, when you don't know if you'll live 5 years or 25.

Courtesy of Kent Smetters

Planning For Your Retirement: Understanding Annuities

April 27, 2016 • An annuity can be a smart retirement investment for many people, providing a steady income for the rest of your life. But they can be overpriced, opaque and hard to understand. Here's the 411.

Andrea Seabrook for NPR

We're Having a Baby!? How To Feel The Joy, Without The Financial Fears

April 21, 2016 • With each baby comes a set of scary questions: how to pay for strollers, day care, even (gasp!) college? We joined a talk between a young couple and a financial adviser. Here's what we learned.

Courtesy of Robin Bunevich and Alex Rivas

For Couples Skipping The Ring, It Pays To Plot Out Finances

April 17, 2016 • As couples live together in greater numbers, old rules about how to divide finances and plan for the future don't quite fit the modern family. Experts offer financial tips for unmarried couples.

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Not All Financial Education Is Effective. Here Are 4 Ideas That Work

April 13, 2016 • Credit scores. Car loans. Mortgages. It's stuff we all need to know. Yet not all financial education classes help us make better financial decisions. But some do.

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Millennials Make Up Biggest Share Of Homebuyers

March 24, 2016 • The kids of the housing crisis — those 35 and under — are among the most eager to buy today. Here are some tips, for everyone, on how to weigh whether renting or buying makes the most sense for you.

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Want To Escape The Cubicle? Here's How To Be Your Own Boss

March 18, 2016 • To start a small business, you'll need lots of time and a passion for what you do. From turning a hobby into cash to running a franchise, we share tips from people who've found success.

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How To Keep Money From Messing Up Your Marriage

March 8, 2016 • Finances are among the things most likely to cause discord in a relationship, whether you're just starting out or have been together for years. Here are some ways to avoid common conflicts.

Courtesy of Gina Deckard

Strategies For When You're Starting Out Saddled With Student Debt

March 1, 2016 • More people have more student loan debt than ever; last year, the average for a college graduate was more than $35,000. Here are some ways to set priorities for attacking that debt.

Live Long And Prosper: Reviving An Idea For Income In Old Age

November 27, 2015 • Some financial experts want to bring back tontines, a retirement planning tool. People pool their cash to buy a bond that makes regular payments. The catch: You have to be alive to collect the payout.

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When Fees Attack: Rolling Over A 401(k) Can Trigger Big-Time Charges

November 20, 2015 • One of the moments our retirement nest eggs are most vulnerable is when we change jobs. That's when some financial advisers charge fees to roll them over — and those fees can be hard to see.

Chris Arnold/NPR

How Do You Start Saving? Your Tax Refund May Be The Answer

November 13, 2015 • Participating in a 401(k) with automatic deductions makes it fairly easy to put away money. But what can you do if your employer doesn't offer a retirement plan? Experts share tips on going it alone.

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Confused Over How To Save For College? Here Are Answers

November 6, 2015 • For the vast majority of people, says one expert, it's good to save in a 529 plan. And no, saving money in one of those plans doesn't mean you'll pay a lot more for college tuition.

Annette Elizabeth Allen/NPR

When High Fees Stink Up Your 401(k), What Can You Do?

October 30, 2015 • Many Americans with 401(k) plans don't know if they're paying any fees. Pay too much, and it could take a chunk out of your nest egg. If your plan's too costly, complain to your employer, experts say.

Annette Elizabeth Allen/NPR

Why Is It So Hard To Save? U.K. Shows It Doesn't Have To Be

October 23, 2015 • Millions of workers in the U.K. who thought they couldn't afford it are saving thanks to a law that automatically enrolls them in a retirement plan. It tricks their brains into doing the right thing.

Annette Elizabeth Allen/NPR

Want A Financial Adviser? Here Are Some Things To Look For

October 22, 2015 • Picking someone to help you plan for retirement can be challenging. The fees can add up quickly. But a good adviser can help protect you from your instincts when markets turn volatile.

Courtesy of Vanguard

The George Washington Of Investing Wants You For The Revolution

October 21, 2015 • Investor Jack Bogle is leading a populist revolution on Wall Street. He wants everyday Americans to make a lot more money in the stock market and give less of their returns away to financial firms.

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Would You Let A Robot Manage Your Retirement Savings?

October 20, 2015 • Roboadvisers are online financial managers that are guided by an algorithm, not a broker. Increasingly, millennials are shunning the human touch in favor of these low-cost alternatives.

Annette Elizabeth Allen/NPR

Is Wall Street Eating Your 401(k) Nest Egg?

October 19, 2015 • High fees are eroding the retirement savings of millions of Americans, but employers who shop around can find better options for their 401(k) plans. A small Minnesota firm offers a dramatic example.

Opinion: Finding A Good Financial Adviser Without Paying Too Much

October 19, 2015 • Finding a good financial adviser can be tricky. Their investing strategy, fees and how they charge them come into play. Wharton economics professor Kent Smetters offers tips on selecting an adviser.