Why do we find it so hard to admit to a friend -- somebody who knows and accepts us -- that we live with financial constraints? Also: Ideas for handling the problem next time.

A $10,000 stake in Berkshire Hathaway in 1964 would have grown to $80 million during the Oracle of Omaha's tenure. Indexes and mutual funds are far behind.

Traders are drawn to the foreign exchange market for its volatility and the opportunity to capitalize on rising and falling markets. Risk management techniques are essential.

Frequent trading by fund managers can inflate costs that aren't reflected in the numbers most investors watch. That's money from your retirement kitty.

As we see with Greece, lying can be a recipe for disaster. But for politicians, the advantages of deception far outweigh any rewards for honesty. (And are we ready for the bitter truth?)

In a down economy, how are the wealthy protecting their money? Let the same advice they are receiving guide you through these hazardous financial times.

Two years after her husband's death and almost 10 years after his cancer diagnosis, a woman examines the wrenching emotional and financial costs of keeping him alive.

Upscale apparel and shoe retailer Nordstrom appears on a MSN Money list of recommended stocks. Here are StockScouter's best investment ideas.

Greece and the United Kingdom are suffering a dire funding problem that is headed for US shores.

More than ever, credit card companies are ready to negotiate with borrowers who are in over their heads. But know your options before you commit.

Economists disagree about its economic impacts. But the federal debt must ultimately be repaid via a combination of higher taxes and spending cuts.

Faced with a dizzying array of investment options, deciding where to put your money can be daunting. But starting small doesn't mean it won't pay off big.

Thanks largely to Uncle Sam's generosity, the automaker has an excellent balance sheet and is on the road to competitiveness. Is it time for investors to hop on board?  

Insurance companies won't randomly decide to drop you or raise your rates. But many things could put you on your insurer's bad side.

For the short term, look to dividends as a safe spot to park your money, but be ready to move into emerging markets when the time is right.

Government support that artificially props up home values is forestalling a real recovery for the housing market.

Annuity-style investments promise to turn a nest egg held in stocks and bonds into a stream of guaranteed payments. But can they really deliver?

All of the employment surveys point to improvement. Plus the average workweek is lengthening, and more part-timers are getting full-time work.

Your college debts may not be toxic, but making the wrong choice between federal and private loans can be a life-altering decision. Here's what to look out for.

The discount retailer, one of the recession's big winners, felt the pinch from belt-tightening consumers in its fourth quarter as sales at US stores fell for the first time.