Matthew Amster-Burton

What’s important in investing? Near the top of everyone’s list is diversification, and people like me throw the word around like its meaning is obvious. I talk to ordinary investors all the time, however, and most are confused about what...

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Let’s start with a more basic question: Can you max out your 401(k)? The answer is: not likely. According to 2010 data from the Center for Retirement Research at Boston College, 6.7% of 401(k) participants contributed the maximum (then $16,500, now $17,500) to...

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At a time when we have more personal finance advice than ever before, why are so many Americans in bad financial shape, and why do we say money is our number one worry in surveys? Helaine Olen, who has written...

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Mint.com user and Facebook fan Aaron writes: It would be great to have a post that lists out some of the top books to read for personal finance. I know there are different types of people using Mint (ranging from...

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Happy New Year! We have a deal. A so-called “fiscal cliff” deal, that is. The backstory on the fiscal cliff: Remember the debt ceiling debate in summer 2011? It sure seemed like a big deal at the time, and investing...

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