• 

  Improving Your Finances

  Twin Terms That Can Trip Investors Up

  These financial planning terms sound so similar--or are so similar conceptually--that they're ripe for misuse.

  • 5 Steps to Take in Jittery Markets
• 

  Improving Your Finances

  5 Questions to Ask a Financial Advisor

  Inquire about areas of expertise, compensation arrangements, and credentials before signing on for financial help.

  • Advisors Need to Understand Wants, Wealth, and Well-Being
• 

  Improving Your Finances

  Choosing a Financial Advisor: An Investor's Checklist

  Before you start researching advisors, ask yourself these five questions.

  • For the Future of Financial Advice, Look to Mutual Funds
  • The Best Ways for Smaller Investors to Get Advice

Morningstar Article Library

• The Short Answer
• Christine Benz Columns

Morningstar Solution Center

• How to Handle Beneficiary Designations
• Save for Your Short-Term Goals
• Should You Invest or Pay Off Debt?

Investing Basics

• How to Decide Between a Roth or Traditional IRA
• Is a Traditional 401(k) or Roth 401(k) Right for You?
• First Job? How to Create (and Stick With) a Budget
• More Investing Basics ...

Picking Investments

• An Investing Road Map for Early Career Accumulators
• How Can You Outperform Your Fund's Return?
• Homing In on Mortgage-Bond Types
• More on Investment Picking...

Using Morningstar Data & Tools

• How Some Funds Give More Than 100% When It Comes to Asset Allocation
• Putting Fair Value Estimates in Context
• See All Morningstar Tools ...

30 Days to Financial Fitness

• Christine Benz's Step-by-Step Get-Going Guide
• Week 1 Tips (Day 1-7)
• Week 2 Tips (Day 8-14)
• Week 3 Tips (Day 15-21)
• Week 4 Tips (Day 22-30)
• See All 30-Minute Money Solutions Worksheets
• Learn More About 30-Minute Money Solutions