Winter conditions present the greatest challenge to your vehicle’s operating efficiency thus prepare for winter by performing a complete vehicle checkup in the fall.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), auto accidents are still the leading cause of death for American teenagers. However, due to safer vehicles graduated license laws, the numbers have decreased 65% from 8,748 teen deaths in 1975 to 3,023 in 2011. Regardless of statistics and new vehicle safety precautions, automakers still haven’t come up with a vehicle that can drive itself when the weather gets bad, when a tire blows out or when another driver becomes distracted and wanders into your lane. Seasoned drivers rely on their experience and split-second-decision-making abilities to negotiate these perilous moments. Teens don't have that experience.

If you're like many, you've spent the past few years scrimping and saving. These are great habits to keep, even if your financial situation has improved. If you still haven’t taken those steps, you might want to think about making these changes: Restart your finances with a thorough financial plan. If you’ve lost a job or have been struggling to get control of your debt, savings or investments, plan a visit now with a Certified Financial Planner™ professional. At the meeting you can also examine spending patterns and the emotional drivers behind many of your financial decisions. If you don’t have a planner in mind, the Financial Planning Association has a website where you can search by location and specific planning issues.

Hobbies, such as woodworking, stamp collecting and scrapbooking, are often done for pleasure but can result in a profit. But if you're lucky enough to make money from your hobby, it may have tax implications. You must report income to the IRS from almost all sources, including hobbies.

Patience and hard work aren't all you need to reach financial success. We've got some secrets from self-made millionaires to help you make your own fortune: Set some clear goals. You’ve got to dream big if you want to succeed on a large scale. Don’t be afraid of your ambitions.

How much is enough homeowner's insurance? We've got some useful tips to help you figure it out. You need enough insurance to cover the following: The structure of your home Your personal possessions The cost of additional living expenses if your home is damaged and you have to live elsewhere during repairs Your liability to others...

With technology making it easier than ever for people to operate a business out of their house, many taxpayers may be able to take a home office deduction when filing their 2013 federal tax return next year.

Be on the lookout for email scams circulating that fraudulently use the Internal Revenue Service name or logo as a lure - all to trick you into giving up personal and financial information. The scammers can then use your information (such as your Social Security number, bank account or credit card numbers) to commit identity theft and steal your money.

You know a credit score is important when you apply for a loan or credit card – but do you know exactly what it is and how it can affect your chances in getting the financing you want? Creditors use a credit scoring system to help determine whether to give you credit, and how much

Have you ever sat down and figured out how much you’d need for a comfortable retirement? If not, don’t worry – you’re not alone! According to the U.S. Department of Labor (USDOL), fewer than half of all Americans have calculated how much they will need to save for retirement.  While it’s important to plan, it’s also