Short and Sweet

The inverted yield curve makes shorter-term CDs especially appealing right now.

Ultimate cyber safety guide
How to guard against ID theft, online scams, computer break-ins and other 21st century threats.

The Martins: Millionaires in the Making
NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) For most of us retirement comes at the end of our career. But for Jeff Martin, 34, retirement from the Army is just over the horizon. Martin is five years away from being able to leave the Army with a pension of half his current $5940 monthly income.

Student Loan Overload
People paying off private student loans are watching payments soar. Here’s what to do.

Retirement Planning on the Cheap
Fund companies have rolled out inexpensive services. But do you get what you pay for?

Pfizer’s Stumble Shows Why It’s Better to Invest in the Sector
With pharma stocks, it’s better to buy them as a basket.

Early retirement: The magic number
Question: I’d like your view on what percentage of pay I should be putting in my 401(k) for retirement. I’m currently saving 15 percent of my annual salary of $74,000 a year, and have accumulated $392,000 so far. There is no company match in my company plan, nor any pension beyond the 401(k). I have another $46,000 in mutual funds and own a home that’s worth about $320,000, although I owe about $95,000 on a home equity loan.

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