Michael Sheehan

A reader who purchased his first home this year is unsure of how much to tip workers who provide services for his family. Here's a guide to tipping at home, and when you're traveling for the holidays.

The bond market "yield curve" -- the difference between long-term and short-term interest rates -- is steep and climbing, typically a sign of a strengthening economy. What's a bond investor to do? Play it safe.

A reader wants to know whether buying the so-called Dogs of the Dow is a good way to get started investing in the stock market. Investment experts say the Dogs' track record is good -- as long as you're in it for the long haul.

Gas prices are already topping $3 a gallon across the country, and analysts think prices will go even higher. These steps can help keep the price you pay for per gallon as low as possible.

With automatic bill payments, you can save time, postage, and hassle. And if your payments are charged to your credit card, you can build up rewards. But there are some downsides that come with putting your bill payments on autopilot.

Physicians face another tax-related headache next year: Starting Jan. 1, patients are required to get prescriptions from their doctors for over-the-counter drugs if they want to pay for them using flexible spending accounts.

Doing holiday shopping online? You might want to wait. Free shipping has become such a selling point among retailers that a slew of companies have set aside an special day in December devoted to it.

The muni-bond market has been in a free-fall lately on fears that struggling state and local governments may default on their debts. The resulting imbalance in the bond markets may prove to be a buying opportunity for investors willing to stomach a bit of risk.

If you are planning to get married between now and New Year's Eve, it's a good idea to sit down with a tax professional now to get a handle on how it will help, or hurt, your income-tax situation.

This week's wild stock market swings help to make the case for the "buy and hold" investment strategy. Buy and hold investors in the U.S. stock market made an average annual return of 8% during the 15 years from 1995 through 2009.

A reader and his spouse are considering cosigning a lease for their adult child. We look at the potential dangers to your wallet and your credit score, and offer suggestions on how to protect yourself.

Card issuers are competing for your business by beefing up their rewards programs this holiday season, and retailers are slashing prices and offering online discounts even before "Black Friday." Here's how to find the best deals.

The 23% Medicare pay cuts are scheduled to go into effect Dec. 1, unless politicians act to delay it. The current prognosis from Washington, however, is that the lame duck Congress will punt once again, passing the political hot-potato to the incoming class.

You've probably seen the bank advertisements offering up to $300 cash just for opening a new checking account. But as with anything that sounds too good to be true, it pays to read the fine print.

When investment portfolios got whacked in 2008, the government suspended the rule that required those over age 70½ to take money out of retirement accounts. Now required minimum distributions (RMDs) are back and time is running out to take them.

It's open-enrollment season, and one reader wants to know which online resources he should recommend to his patients to help them choose the right health insurance plan.

Hertz, the nation's largest car-rental company, recently introduced a novel approach to buying a used car: Buyers get full use of the vehicle for a three-day test drive that's free if they decide to buy the car.

A reader struggling to teach his child of the benefits of saving asks for help in finding a savings account with higher yields. While interest on the average passbook savings account is an anemic 0.21%, there are other ways for your kids to find a better deal.

Last year, credit-card issuers cut way back on low-ball interest rates and the days of 0% APR on new purchases and balance transfers seemed to be over. Now, card issuers are loosening up and offering sweet interest-rate deals to those with good credit.

Think you know what's covered, and what's not, by your homeowners insurance policy? It's time to look again: A number of insurers have begun to exclude some common hazards that standard homeowners policies traditionally covered.

A reader learned of a new business opportunity online, but suspects the company may not be legitimate. Here's how to find out if a company is on the up-and-up, or if you may be a potential victim of an online scam.

Government auctions can be a boon for bargain hunters. Up for sale is everything from real estate and cars to yachts and jewelry -- even medical instruments and office equipment. Our experts offer tips on how to name your price and seal the deal.

Investing in downtrodden stocks in an up market can be risky -- often there is a fundamental weakness that keeps a stock price low. But if you'd like to take a shot at bottom-fishing, here are a few guidelines to keep in mind.

A reader who converted his retirement account from an IRA to a Roth IRA earlier this year has seen the account decline in value. He asks: "Do I still owe taxes on the full amount?" The good news is there's still time for a "do over," but he'll have to act fast.

President Obama signed into law the Small Business Jobs Act, which expands loan opportunities for small businesses and provides some substantial new tax breaks for many medical practices.

A physician business owner wants to know which of many retirement savings account options available today makes the most sense for self-employed individuals.

A reader with a five-figure windfall asks where he should invest the cash. Handling a sudden influx of cash can be tricky, especially in this market, but the first rule of thumb is: Don't do anything rash.

When traveling overseas, you may find yourself tempted to buy from the myriad duty-free shops that populate most major airports. Think twice: one comparison-shopping report showed that discounts from duty-free shops are often minimal, and may not be worth the hassle.

With interest rates near rock bottom, investors need to take on a bit more risk if they want higher yields. In this environment, "junk" bond funds may help individual investors gain more income without the risk of owning individual bonds in danger of default.

More frequent flyers are buying into "bonus miles" rewards programs, which allow travelers to double or even triple the number of miles earned on each flight. But travel consultants warn that paying for those extra miles may not be worth the cost.