Don’t panic. There are easy ways to get your money to work for you.

$1 trillion question: How much to retire?
Question: My million-dollar question is: How much should I be saving each month to be sure I’ll have a comfortable retirement? My wife and I earn $145,000 a year combined and our total monthly expenses - which includes the mortgage on our home and an investment property, groceries, utilities and other living expenses - are about $6,500. Can you help me? - Asheesh Chabra, Ashburn, Va.

The political shift won’t keep me from investing in drug-sector ETFs and mutual funds.

The political shift won’t keep me from investing in drug-sector ETFs and mutual funds.

Slash Energy Bills by 20%
Alternative-energy providers supply power at cheaper rates.

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.

Got a raise? Where to stash extra cash
Question: I’m 38, married and I’m contributing the maximum to my 401(k) and to Roth IRAs for me and my spouse. I just received a good raise and have an extra $500 a month I would like to save. What should I do with it - prepay my 5.6 percent 15-year mortgage or put money into stocks or mutual funds? - Scott, Zeeland, Michigan

When it comes to saving for retirement, it’s natural to think you can never have too much of a good thing: The more you sock away in tax-deferred IRAs and 401(k)s the better, right? Not so fast.

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.