On the Money: Older workers hit by recession will continue to struggle

While the nation's economy is on the mend after the Great Recession of 2008, many people who lost jobs at age 50 or over are expected to struggle for the rest of their lives.

On the Money: Look at options to repay student loans

If you have just finished college and have a job - congratulations. Still, even with a job, many new graduates are shocked when they find out how difficult it is to cover student loans and other expenses.

On the Money: If Mom taught you about money, thank her

You probably didn't find a Mother's Day card thanking your mom for helping you figure out how to handle your money.

On the Money: Analysts question value of new infusions

The calendar beckons investors to tread lightly through the stock market, according to an old saying.

On the Money: Consider a degree's costs as well as its benefits

Can you do it? Should you do it? As that college acceptance letter compels you to say "yes" or "no" around May 1, run through a few last considerations as you weigh one of the largest financial commitments of your lifetime.

On the Money: Companies offer new model for choosing caregiver

The emergency arrived when Jenna Lynn Schoeneman's father failed to pass his driver's test.

On the Money: Sooner or later, bear market will growl back

Could it happen again? Could your retirement plans end up in shambles, and your college savings tattered?

On the Money: Bull market in gold may fade as world economies mend

Are the golden years over for gold? With prominent hedge fund managers such as George Soros selling large quantities of gold and the price down about 16.5 percent from 2011's all-time peak near $1,924, some experts think gold's best days could be tarnished by the world's nascent economic recovery.

On the Money: Don't overlook these deductions, credits when doing your taxes

Love those tax deductions because their days could be numbered.

On the Money: Best time to buy stocks may have passed

After running in terror from stocks since the financial crisis, individuals are suddenly feeling cozy again about a stock market that has gained 120 percent since early 2009.

On the Money: Researchers find correlation between debt, depression

Does your debt nag at you and make you miserable? A researcher has now put a number to the emotions. He has quantified just how much debt drags some people down.

On the Money: Here are some tips to keep you away from your own 'fiscal cliff'

Have you dared look over the edge of your own "fiscal cliff," or has the fear of falling kept you from contemplating the possibility of another recession, job losses, tax increases and likely cuts in your Social Security and Medicare at some distant date?

On the Money: Four ways to save big beyond holidays

It's the time of year when people worry about the money they've wasted, but there's more at stake than a holiday splurge.

On the Money: Year-end tax planning is vexing as 'cliff' looms

There are mere weeks left to maneuver so you keep as much of your money as possible without overpaying taxes for 2012.

On the Money: Tax-free savings still possible even without a job

Q: I'm 24, married with a child and in medical school. Thanks to my wonderful parents I will graduate with no debt. I'd like to start saving for retirement now. I don't have a job, so I can't use a 401(k) or Roth IRA. Is there another account I could use that wouldn't be taxed, and how shoul…

On the Money: College degree holds sway in weak job market

Despite a dismal job market for recent college graduates, a record number of Americans are completing bachelor degrees.

On the Money: Election in rearview, and a world of worry ahead

America is marching toward the fiscal cliff, and investors are on alert for the consequences of plunging from the peak.

On the Money: Don't base financial planning on age alone

Q: We are age 79 and 76, retired, in good health, and are fortunate to have enough money to live out long lives and probably leave an estate to our children. I would like to know what is a decent asset allocation for somebody in our financial situation.

On the Money: Women beware: Gender gap can affect student loan debt

As students ask themselves if they dare take on the student loans they'll need for college, the questions are especially critical for women.

On the Money: Better choices now abound in 529 college savings plans

The quest by states and mutual fund companies to capture the $179 billion that people are saving for college in 529 plans has led to improved investments and more reasonable fees.

Settlements spur refunds for credit-card holders

If you have a credit card, watch closely.

On the Money: Restless workers look to land better jobs

Although more than 12 million Americans are unemployed and looking for work, many people with jobs are getting itchy for advancement and starting to think about a move.

On the Money: Pay off plastic or save?

What do you do if you are loaded down with credit card debt, but you know you should be saving for retirement? Do you concentrate on getting rid of the debt and put off saving in the 401(k) or IRA for later? Or do you save now, pay off later?

On the Money: More firms offer advice, restore 401(k) matches

After leaving employees to fend for themselves with retirement savings plans in the 2008 financial crisis, companies are now giving employees extra money to stash away for their futures in 401(k) plans.

On the Money: How collegians can learn to use credit wisely

The hunt for the extralong sheets for the dormitory bed might be complete, and you may have already dropped your child off on campus, but did you forget to talk about money, and especially credit cards?

Small victories help in paying off big debts

If you've decided you want to get rid of your debts but are having trouble doing it, that might be because you haven't prepared your brain for it.

On the Money: Investment insured? Take time to know

Q: With seemingly stable companies such as AIG, JPMorgan (Chase), Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, Lehman Brothers, MF Global and Peregrine having financial problems, how safe are investor monies held/deposited with national brokers such as Scottrade, (TD) Ameritrade, Vanguard, Schwab and others?

On the Money: Study: Student-loan defaulters need guidance

If the federal government would stop relying on bill collectors to go after people defaulting on student loans and, instead, focus borrowers on getting on a path to pay over time, both the borrowers and the government might end up better.

On the Money: Student loans require a lot of research

Gulp. The bills parents are receiving now for this fall's college costs are among the most horrifying most people will receive in a lifetime, perhaps $15,000 or more.

On the Money: The magic of setting up a Roth IRA for children

Q: My wife and I have two daughters, 12 and 17, and we have a very good income, have pensions, a 401(k), a couple of large annuities and also college funds for our girls. We would like to start a fund for our girls that they could use in the future for a down payment on a house or for any ot…

On the Money: 401(k) letter shows what plans cost you

What you don't know can hurt you. In fact, it can hurt you a lot. So when you get a letter about your 401(k) or 403(b) from your benefits office at work this month or next, look at it. It will be different than the usual letters you've been stuffing in a drawer. Inside, you are likely to fin…

On the Money: Regular investors can make use of the same funds big guys like

One of the first lessons of investing is that there are no heroes.

On the Money: Here's how to plan for the next (possible) crash

Recent news has been conjuring images of 401(k) and college savings risks again - this time with a financial crisis in Europe rather than the U.S. housing mess.

On the Money: How much do you need to retire? Read it, weep

If you've spent your career at a large company that nudges you repeatedly to make the most out of your 401(k), you probably will retire someday with plenty of money.

On the Money: Credit card debt still choking low, middle incomes

Americans have been successful at getting some of their debts off their backs, but many still have a long way to go.

On the Money: Take these steps to avoid toxic student debt

Joe Mihalic wasn't thinking at all about how he was going to pay off student loans - which would end up totaling $101,000 - when he was accepted to Harvard Business School.

On the Money: Moms who sacrifice also pay big financial price

Mothers would probably do just about anything for their families. That's among the character traits praised in millions of households on Mother's Day.

On the Money: 'Target-date funds' take age-appropriate risks

Q: I work for a company with a 401(k). I'm 24 and investing in the T. Rowe 2055 investment fund. Am I investing the right amount and am I using the right year fund? I get a 2 percent match (of salary) from my company and I put in 3 percent of every paycheck. - D.G.

On the Money: Too much student debt can harm parents, too

Student loan debt has soared to about $1 trillion, with many college students naively tying a noose around their futures with crippling levels of debt. But what about their parents?

On the Money: 401(k) can bring big savings for business owners

If you started a business during the last few years and then watched too much of your earnings evaporate at tax time, you might be able to change that.

On the Money: Negotiate with college for better financial aid

Q: I'm a counselor trying to help a high school senior who wants to go to an expensive college she can't afford. She's been accepted to both Boston College and New York University for this fall, but the financial aid they are offering is vastly different. Unfortunately, her favorite school i…

On the Money: A step-by-step guide to setting up an IRA

Do you feel like an IRA dummy? If so, you have company. About a third of Americans have an IRA, and confusion, rather than money, is often what stands in the way of getting started. That's a shame because IRAs and Roth IRAs are among the easiest ways to turn small savings into giant sums ove…

On the Money: Time to work on next year's taxes

Let your tax return be a lesson to you. Next year at tax time, there may be no need to end up the way you did on taxes this year. Many people can improve the outcome with a little advance thought. You might be able to put more money into your pocket from each paycheck during the year or ensu…

On the Money: Doing nothing on IRA will get you exactly nowhere

Do not let good intentions get away from you this year.

On the Money: There's a roundabout way to avoid a tax penalty with your Roth IRA

Q: I had an unusual year in 2011, and my income exceeded the eligibility limit for a Roth IRA. But I had already put $5,000 into my Roth account, and my tax software said I owe a penalty for having the Roth. Do I have any option other than paying a penalty? - Jay

On the Money: Young workers shouldn't wait on Roth IRA

The incessant blabber about the nation's deficit and debt might be enough to make you numb.

On the Money: Capture as many credits, deductions as you can

You probably dread sitting down with your tax return, but give it your full attention this year because it might be one of your last chances to partake in about $450 billion in tax breaks slated to disappear at the end of this year.

On the Money: Use much caution with 'tactical' funds

Are you having a difficult time committing? I'm talking about making up your mind about whether to choose stocks or bonds or a certain variety of one of them. After the battle scars or the last few years, it's not surprising people would be second-guessing their choices.

On the Money: Tax season may hold surprises, nice and otherwise

After the financial stress of the last few years, your tax return this year might offer you some of the first relief you've had in a long time, but it also might deliver some disappointment.