Personal Inflation Rate

Is your personal inflation rate higher or lower than the CPI?

Home Affordability

Estimate of the maximum amount of financing you can expect to get when you begin house hunting.

Risk Tolerance

This calculator is designed to help you clarify your comfort level with investment risk.

Life Expectancy

Knowing your likely life expectancy is an important factor in making long-term financial plans.

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Consider Your Retirement Needs, but Don't Forget Your Retirement Wants

A rule of thumb is that workers will need to replace about 80% of their pre-retirement incomes to maintain their standard of living in retirement. But they may need more than 80% to fund a lifestyle that they can truly look forward to. As people grow older, what once may have been considered luxuries can become basic needs.

ETFs for the Conservative Investor

The number of exchange-traded funds has grown rapidly in the last decade. Total ETF assets exceeded $1 trillion in March 2011, an increase of more than $200 million over the previous year. This article explains the potential benefits of ETFs and why some of them might appeal to the risk-averse.

HOT TOPIC: Will Federal Reserve Tactics Help the Ailing U.S. Economy?

This article looks at policy tools that the Federal Reserve has used in the past and may use going forward in its attempts to spur economic growth. It also explains the possible implications of a long-term, low-interest-rate environment for investors, savers, and retirees.

Why Realistic Expectations May Be Great

Although positive thinking can be powerful, there's a fine line between optimism and unrealistic expectations. There are possible pitfalls when overestimating how a portfolio will perform.

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