Personal Finance

Opinion: McCain Can't Afford to Stand Pat

twocents@thestreet.com (John Fout) — Mon, 13 Oct 2008 22:02 GMT

With three weeks to go to Election Day, the Republican nominee for president is behind in the polls. Why isn't he trying to shake things up?

A Side of Beef in Every Pot

twocents@thestreet.com (Glenn Hall) — Mon, 13 Oct 2008 17:02 GMT

Joshua Applestone, owner of Fleishers Meats, explains how to save money buying beef by the side.

Be the Master of Your 401(k) Domain

twocents@thestreet.com (Roger Nusbaum) — Mon, 13 Oct 2008 16:24 GMT

Your stock funds may have tumbled this year, but don't blame the manager -- you could have taken charge.

Junk-Bond Bargains Await the Brave

twocents@thestreet.com (Peter McDougall) — Mon, 13 Oct 2008 14:24 GMT

The high-yield rout has been spectacular, but some exposure to this sector can pay dividends.

Now More Than Ever, Dig Out of Debt

twocents@thestreet.com (Peter McDougall) — Mon, 13 Oct 2008 14:07 GMT

Wall Street got into trouble partly because of too much debt, so let's get our own houses in order.

Rich Returns Await Depressed Bond Funds

twocents@thestreet.com (Stan Luxenberg) — Mon, 13 Oct 2008 13:42 GMT

Individual bonds have outperformed funds, but a rebound in fixed income could turn the tables.

Russian Stocks Cheap...But Scary

twocents@thestreet.com (Gregg Greenberg) — Mon, 13 Oct 2008 00:59 GMT

John Connor, portfolio manager for the Third Millennium Russia Fund, says the collapse of Russian stocks is making solid companies like Lukoil cheaper than ever but warns investors of political risks.

Time to Drop 'Depression' Talk

twocents@thestreet.com (Gregg Greenberg) — Sun, 12 Oct 2008 15:59 GMT

Tom Atteberry, co-manager of the four-star FPA New Income Fund, says the economy is going to weaken and inflation will once again be a problem. His suggestions: Own cash and TIPs and ignore talks about a total financial meltdown.

Financial Funds Slide 25% This Week

twocents@thestreet.com (Kevin Baker) — Fri, 10 Oct 2008 20:56 GMT

Panic selling caused by uncertainty over the economy pulls down already vulnerable bank stocks.

Panic Creates Sale of the Millennium

twocents@thestreet.com (Terry Savage) — Fri, 10 Oct 2008 16:26 GMT

There's blood on the streets, but we know for sure that stocks will rise again, as they have in previous crashes.

McCain Proposes Mortgage Rescue Plan

twocents@thestreet.com (John Fout) — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 18:57 GMT

The Republican candidate proposes a plan to help homeowners who struggle with mortgage payments to avoid foreclosure.

The Pitfalls of Financial Writers' Advice

twocents@thestreet.com (Jeffrey Strain) — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 17:26 GMT

Much of what they say is helpful, but there are four reasons you ought to take a skeptical view.

How to Be a Heat Miser This Winter

twocents@thestreet.com (Peter McDougall) — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 17:10 GMT

Home-heating costs are set to rise again, but you can chip away at the expected increase.

Ralcorp's Cheap and a Winner

twocents@thestreet.com (Jake Lynch) — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 16:44 GMT

As family budgets shrink, the maker of Post cereals is poised to grab market share and increase sales.

We All Just Learned an Expensive Lesson

twocents@thestreet.com (Terry Savage) — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 14:35 GMT

The stock market rout is showing us the importance of staying invested yet also keeping some money on the side.

Fidelity, Vanguard Funds Sink on Large-Caps

twocents@thestreet.com (Kevin Baker) — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 16:40 GMT

The fund companies get upended by their focus on big-dollar-volume holdings.

Batteries Bad for Earth, Bad for Budgets

twocents@thestreet.com (Eileen Gunn) — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 14:45 GMT

Disposable batteries cost billions a year and pollute the environment, so plug in or buy rechargeables.

Flight to Safety a Boost to Bond Funds

twocents@thestreet.com (Sam Patel) — Wed, 08 Oct 2008 14:24 GMT

Some of the best-performing bond funds in the third quarter invest primarily in U.S. securities.

Food Co-Ops: Good Savings, Good Karma

twocents@thestreet.com (Glenn Hall) — Tue, 07 Oct 2008 18:10 GMT

MainStreet looks at ways to put more cash in the bank amid the financial uncertainty.

Where Is it Safe to Stash Your Cash?

twocents@thestreet.com (Peter McDougall) — Tue, 07 Oct 2008 17:59 GMT

Mix it up in short-term fixed-income securities that you can quickly liquidate when stocks rebound.

McCain Health Plan Has Underlying Illness

twocents@thestreet.com (John Fout) — Tue, 07 Oct 2008 17:11 GMT

If John McCain's health care plan were to pass, baby boomers and seniors could find it increasingly hard to get coverage.

10 (More) Reasons You're Not Rich

twocents@thestreet.com (Jeffrey Strain) — Tue, 07 Oct 2008 17:01 GMT

Becoming a millionaire isn't about making more money -- it's about the everyday spending issues we all face.

Roads, Bridges Beget Solid Returns

twocents@thestreet.com (Billy Fisher) — Tue, 07 Oct 2008 13:31 GMT

Infrastructure funds tend to perform well versus the S&P 500 in both down and up markets.

Time to Drop 'Depression' Talk

twocents@thestreet.com (Gregg Greenberg) — Tue, 07 Oct 2008 13:29 GMT

Profit From Fear With These Short ETFs

twocents@thestreet.com (Sam Patel) — Tue, 07 Oct 2008 13:13 GMT

These inverse ETFs benefitted in the third quarter from their short bets.

Russian Stocks Cheap...But Scary

twocents@thestreet.com (Gregg Greenberg) — Mon, 06 Oct 2008 19:13 GMT

Two Simple Steps to Future Wealth

twocents@thestreet.com (Jeffrey Strain) — Mon, 06 Oct 2008 17:45 GMT

If the recent stock market turmoil has you in a panic, it might be time to think saving and index funds.

A Defensive Strategy That Works

twocents@thestreet.com (Roger Nusbaum) — Mon, 06 Oct 2008 15:35 GMT

Standing still or getting out of the market aren't options, so consider this time-tested strategy.

How to Get Around Short-Sale Ban

twocents@thestreet.com (Stan Luxenberg) — Mon, 06 Oct 2008 14:37 GMT

Inverse ETFs offer many advantages over stocks when it comes to shorting.

As Market Falls, Start Making Plans

twocents@thestreet.com (Terry Savage) — Mon, 06 Oct 2008 14:13 GMT

It's never too late to diversify your investments, even if you got burned by the latest rout.