Depositors who banked with alleged fraudster Allen Stanford should start seeing some of their money in a year.

Saving the system still involves retention bonuses, hedge funds, credit cards and stress tests.

Here are four strategies ETF investors should use to protect their capital during a downturn.

If you can get good numbers, here's a way to handicap banks going belly-up.

The asset-management firm posted worse-than-expected Q3 earnings amid the credit crisis.

The foreign exchange market truly never sleeps, but you can if your timing is right.

Credit card reform may be on the way, but it isn't all good news. If you're like most people, you probably get a lot of credit card offers in the mail. Many of these offers provide some attractive low interest rates, balance transfers, or reward programs. While it can be tempting to take advantage of some of these offers, you have to be careful. These offers are usually short-lived and can be even more costly than you think. Whether it is a teaser rate or hidden fees on balance transfers, you want to read all of the fine print before taking advantage of any credit card. Some promotions are legitimately worthwhile, but there is usually more to it than the big 0% they are promoting on the form. Learn how to spot these hidden fees and how to avoid them.Watch Out For Hidden Credit Card Fees originally appeared on About.com Financial Planning on Monday, February 8th, 2010 at 20:18:55.Permalink | Comment | Email this

Everyone needs to plan for the future and find ways to save money, but being single presents a few unique opportunities and issues to consider. When you only need to support yourself and nobody is relying on your income, things like life insurance may not be on the top of your list. At the same time, with only one income you're solely responsible for making money to pay the bills. And when you're young and single, issues like retirement may be the furthest thing from your mind, yet it's still very important to start planning now. Here are a few things to consider when you're single and trying to make the most of your money.A Few Money Tips For Singles originally appeared on About.com Financial Planning on Saturday, February 6th, 2010 at 23:01:03.Permalink | Comment | Email this

In this economy, you're probably finding that your dollar doesn't go as far at the grocery store as it used to, or you simply don't have as many dollars to spend. Groceries and food prices have been increasing steadily over the past few years, and it is beginning to really put a strain on some family budgets. Even as costs continue to rise, there are plenty of ways that you can save money on your next grocery trip. Here are some tips on how to save money on groceries. In addition to just saving money at the grocery store, now is a good time to take a look at reviewing, or creating a budget so you can find other areas to save money. It is easy to let a little bit of money here and there slip through the cracks, so finding, and stopping those spending leaks can lead to big savings over time.Save Money on Groceries originally appeared on About.com Financial Planning on Wednesday, February 3rd, 2010 at 09:25:50.Permalink | Comment | Email this

There are a lot of investment choices out there. Stocks, bonds, mutual funds, and the list goes on. Most of us are somewhat familiar with stocks since we hear about the markets on the news all the time. But what about bonds? If you have a retirement plan, chances are you're also investing in bonds. So, what are bonds, how do they work, and what place do they have in your overall portfolio? Get a crash course in what bonds are and how they work.Investing 101: Bond Basics originally appeared on About.com Financial Planning on Sunday, January 31st, 2010 at 19:06:47.Permalink | Comment | Email this

It's tax time, and I'm sure many of you are just now beginning to gather your important tax documents. You'll be receiving W-2 forms, 1099s, mortgage interest statements, and much more. While most tax returns are relatively simple, there are many things that could have happened in 2009 that may make your tax situation a little trickier than usual. If you aren't ready to hire an accountant, where can you turn for tax advice? Look no further than the IRS. I know what you're thinking, why contact them? They are the bad guys, right? Not exactly. Sure, everyone fears an audit or worse, but the IRS is really out there and willing to help. Best of all, they can answer most of your questions for free. It's certainly worth a free phone call to potentially get tax advice that could actually prevent you from getting audited. Learn how to get free tax help from the IRS.Need Tax Advice? Call the IRS Toll-Free originally appeared on About.com Financial Planning on Wednesday, January 27th, 2010 at 20:14:01.Permalink | Comment | Email this

Working families are often presented with a challenge -- should someone stay home to watch the child, or continue working and pay for daycare? The thought of giving up an income to stay home with the kids may seem like a big sacrifice, but when you actually start to look at the true costs and potential savings, it might not be so bad. Of course, everyone has different priorities and financial situations, but you can make the best decision for your family if you take everything into account carefully. Take a look at what you should consider when determining if you can afford to stay home with your child or not.Can You Afford to Stay at Home With Your Child? originally appeared on About.com Financial Planning on Monday, January 25th, 2010 at 19:38:07.Permalink | Comment | Email this