BY IVORY JOHNSON, CNBC You can borrow money for a college education but not for your retirement. It’s what we, as financial experts, truly believe. But a constant tug-of-war between 401(k) plans and Section 529 college savings plans has ensued in investors’ hearts and minds—and neither side appears to be winning. Identifying priorities is no easy task. Just

Where should I save my retirement money? Tax-favored retirement accounts such as individual retirement accounts (IRAs) and 401(k)s are the best places to save for your retirement. The different types of plans have different features, but most of them allow you to defer taxes on the money you save and the returns you earn within the account. “Tax deferral”

ID theft: It’s still a Problem Identity theft is everywhere. Turn on your TV, and you’ll see “special reports” on how to prevent it. Turn on the radio, and hear ads for services pledging to protect you from it. Search for it on Google, and you get 140 million results. In fact, according to a

Boost your Deductible Generally, when someone decides on a deductible amount for his or her car insurance, he or she sticks with it. But increasing the amount you pay for fender benders is the best place to look when trying to lower your annual out-of-pocket expenses, according to the Insurance Information Institute. Admittedly, it’s a gamble. A car wreck will

The reasons to buy new or used aren’t the same for everyone Depreciation is the single largest expense of car ownership Maintaining a used car requires more time and money Once you’ve finally decided to replace your current car, the next question to ask yourself is: Should I buy new or used? That depends. Unfortunately

There are many good reasons to buy a used car, including ample selection and the improving reliability of older cars, but the big draw for used-car buyers? Affordability. Price Buying a new car is definitely more expensive than buying a used one. Unless you decide to lease, your initial costs on a new car will

How to Protect Yourself Now There’s a lot of advice about how to deal with identity theft around these days – some helpful, some unrealistic, and some a little ridiculous. We’ve done the research for you and present the following easy-to-do, indispensable steps. These items should be considered MUST-DOs if you’re serious about minimizing the

How much should I save? “As much as you can” is the standard advice. Many financial planners recommend that you save 10% to 15% of your income for retirement, starting in your 20s. But that’s just a general guideline. This is your retirement we’re talking about, so it pays to get a little more specific

We all need car insurance these days and what is more everybody loves saving money. So if we speak about an insurance you should understand that there are tons of opportunities to save money on auto insurance, you should only read the following tips and follow them. Steps 1 Compare: Feel free to visit as many

There’s nothing like that new-car smell. Buying a new car has a lot of allure: It’s brand new and it’s all yours; nobody has abused it. You can get the vehicle equipped just the way you want, and you get the full factory warranty. But hold on. Your best deal could well be a late-model