Planning your financial future

Question: I’m a divorced 51-year-old woman who needs advice about how to improve my financial future. The only advice I’ve gotten so far is from an adviser at my bank who has put $45,000 into some sort of annuity. I also have about $25,000 in a money-market account there and $55,000 in a managed portfolio of funds.

Income Funds: Show me the money!
Tens of millions of baby boomers are approaching retirement, and if you’re among them, you’re likely wondering how you’re going to tap your portfolio for the income you’ll need over decades of life after work.

5 big stores, 25 great gifts
Money Magazine brings you the best gifts at the best prices at five retailers you can’t avoid.

A Curious Reaction
The CVS-Caremark deal didn’t trade as planned. That’s an opportunity.

Drowning in debt; what about retirement?
Question: My wife and I are self-employed. In addition to a mortgage of just under $400,000, we have a home equity line of credit on which we’ve borrowed $41,000, credit-card debt of $25,000, plus two car loans.

Playing Energy’s Top
The long bull market for energy looks to be over. But there are still opportunities.

Slow-market savings – the ‘buy-down’
As the housing market slows, big builders and developers are stepping up concessions and incentives to buyers – now small-time individuals are doing it too.

Good habits are hard to break
Some people get a thrill out of spending — the Turners are excited to save.

Holding Firm on Web Stocks
The Internet’s fair-weather friends have flown. But I’m staying put.

Plastic Penalties
Steep default rates are the credit-card industry’s dirty little secret.