Michael Sheehan

Some consumer advisors suggest that you get the best results for your efforts by making major lifestyle changes while others say small moves like clipping coupons can create frugal habits that translate into big savings.

The easiest way to sniff out an investment scam is to check with real regulators. The North American Securities Administrators Association and the SEC should be the first people you call.

The secret to whether your account is better off depends on several factors: your age, your portfolio mix, and whether you continued to contribute to the account, of which the latter is probably the most important.

GM is promoting a 60-day money-back guarantee on all its 2009 and 2010 model year Buicks, Chevys, and Cadillacs, but smart car buyers know to look for catches in the fine print and there are a few in GM’s deal.

Homeowners who have Chinese drywall in their homes are facing a new problem – insurers are cancelling the homeowners policies of those who have filed damage claims over the possibility of future damage claims.

Although Bank of America refers to its new credit card fees as a “test,” many industry observers believe the move to be the beginning of a trend, as banks act to recover lost revenue.

If you compare the performance of high-cost, actively-managed funds to that of a low-cost index bond fund, chances are you’ll find that the extra money you’re paying isn’t buying you a track record that would justify the added cost.

There are a growing number of inheritance thieves who can sidetrack your estate in a variety of ways. Here are some of the most common thefts, along with advice from estate planners on how to avoid them.

Savings Bonds used to be a plain vanilla investment that combined low risk with a decent return, however, many Savings Bonds are now prime candidates to be replaced by better investments.

Unless you know your way around the stock market and enjoy taking on heavy risk, say financial gurus, certain investments probably aren’t for you.

There’s a long list of home improvements that are eligible for tax credits in 2010, including upgrades to your insulation, windows, doors, air conditioning, and appliances.

The idea behind an IRA is fairly simple, but owners should be wary of the complex web of parameters that regulate inherited IRAs.

Good news: average airline fare prices are down from last year by as much as 20%. Bad news: some airlines are trying to boost tepid revenues by imposing a “peak travel” surcharge of $10 per trip if you fly on certain days.

Whether you’re looking to relocate for retirement or a better life style, strong planning opens up a whole vista of choices. Figuring out where you want to spend your next years means intelligent sifting through those choices.

When your medical office is damaged by disaster, you face many of the same expenses that a homeowner does, but with additional business costs that homeowners don't experience.

During one of the worst bear markets in history, Wall Street marketers created the “absolute return” fund. As with any scheme that sounds too good to be true, this one probably is.

Worry over large-scale stock sell offs by retiring baby boomers looking to convert to equities into fixed-income assets is probably misplaced, say some stock market analysts.

Holiday shoppers looking for discounts may either have to settle for something smaller or wait longer than last year as retailers have cleared out inventory, giving them more room to maintain prices.

Faced with a storm of criticism from lawmakers, several banks have announced that they would eliminate overdraft fees in certain cases and limit the number of overdraft fees that can be incurred in a single day.

Shady brokers suspended by the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority can reappear as insurance agents, mortgage brokers, or financial planners. You can check a broker's record through FINRA's BrokerCheck or your state securities regulatory agency.

Zombies aren't just popular in Hollywood, they are alive and well on Wall Street too. Several million shares of moribund companies like Washington Mutual and Lehman Brothers are being swapped every day.

More than three million people used their cell phones to do their banking last year, but is it truly safe?

Checked-baggage revenue has tripled in the past year, the Bloomberg Airline Index has beaten the S&P 500 2-to-1 since March lows, and airline execs say passengers aren't complaining that much about all the new for-fee services.

Stop-loss orders can help your stock portfolio from sliding back to the lows of last March, preventing you from taking losses and locking in profits.

Low inflation is the consumer’s friend, but can also cause some problems including static tax brackets and no cost-of-living adjustments for Social Security checks.

Holders of secret Swiss accounts have an opportunity to come forward under a limited-amnesty program that will require them to pay back taxes, interest, and a special fine, but avoid harsher penalties.

Last year's fourth quarter was one of the worst ever for wine sales, leaving a glut on shelves and in warehouses. That's a bonanza for wine lovers as retailers and distributors slash prices on high-end inventory.

A crippled economy and tropical storms in gas-producing areas have contributed to a steep drop in the price of natural gas, a more than 80% drop from July 2008 highs.

Financial institutions are going back to practices that got the country in trouble and, noting that behavior, President Obama is calling for new regulatory powers including a Consumer Financial Protection Agency.

Term life insurance is cheap compared to whole or universal life options, and is probably the first place someone should look to protect their family's financial future.