personal finance
Debtadviser: Four ways to face a cash-strapped retirement
Dear Debt Adviser,
Help, I'm about $30,000 in debt. I have about $50,000 in my retirement. I will be 59 1/2 years old in January. I had to go on disability from a fall at work. My house is paid for. Should I just take money out and pay off my loan? Could I just hire someone to (advise me)? I don't know what to do and am at my wits' end. I am not behind on any bills.
-- Doris
Real: Search around if you're looking into jumbo mortgages
Plenty of lenders offer jumbo mortgages now, although the requirements are stricter than they used to be.
Jumbo mortgages are home loans that are bigger than normal. They exceed the "conforming limit" -- the maximum loan amount that Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac will buy.
Real: 'Tis the season to buy a home
'Tis the season to buy a home
While you may think it's crazy to tackle the huge task of home buying during the schedule-jammed holiday season, the holidays are actually a great time to find real estate deals in today's new economy.
Net Worth: Unemployment puzzle has many pieces
Paul Meany of San Francisco has a good question about unemployment statistics that illustrates why, if you want to know what's going on in the labor market, you can't fixate on one number or headline.
Investing like Warren Buffett does
Warren Buffett's investing prowess has spawned countless imitators hoping to strike it rich by following the Oracle of Omaha's techniques.
But few are as disciplined as Pavel Begun.
IRS may have a refund for you
Wouldn't it be great if the Internal Revenue Service were looking for you to give you money?
For nearly 108,000 taxpayers nationwide, that's exactly the case.
The agency is holding federal income tax refunds totaling about $124 million that it tried to distribute this tax season but were returned as undeliverable.
A wish list for an improved 401(k)
Your nest egg is looking healthier these days, but it could still use a makeover.
Real: Take care of home repairs before you retire
A leaking roof, a burst pipe or a skyrocketing electric bill are headaches no matter when they happen, but when you're on a fixed income and unprepared, they can become a financial crisis.
Help for your FICO score with loan modification
Like many people considering a mortgage modification, David L. of Oakland, Calif., wonders how it will affect his credit score.
More take money out of 401(k) plans in recession
Early returns indicate the recession is causing more people to take withdrawals from their retirement plans for reasons other than rolling them over to other plans or because they've retired.

