Expert's Commentary

Stocks may be much riskier than savings accounts, but they've actually been more stable in recent years when it comes to income production.

Take these five steps toward a check-up that will strengthen your financial plans.

People are all too familiar with the recent adversity facing investors, but here are four reasons why 2012 could be better for retirement savings.

While returns were agonizingly low in 2011, the right tax approach can help ease the pain.

Read four tips for keeping your gift-buying from getting out of hand this holiday season.

The latest estimate of GDP for the third quarter isn't a home run, but it's at least a hit.

In today's environment, emphasizing debt reduction over saving may make sense.

There is still plenty of bad news about the housing market, but from a buyer's perspective, good news predominates.

Banks could ease the transition to fee-based checking accounts by bundling in additional services.

Rebuilding your emergency fund should be a priority as soon as you've weathered the crisis that forced you to tap into it.

Analysis finds that neither has much room to fall.

Waiting for mortgage rates to fall even farther could be a fool's game, because current mortgage rates are barely above inflation.

New ATM fees for non-customers make a bank's ATM locations an even more important consideration in choosing a checking account.

For all the hype associated with the real estate market, one thing is very true: current mortgage rates represent an extraordinary opportunity for borrowers.

Find out what you should do to address the retirement income gap that many Americans are facing.

Find out why you should manage your asset allocation like a basketball coach by having defined roles, but the flexibility to make substitutions.

The Federal Reserve offers five important tips for avoiding mortgage foreclosure scams.

Find out what you can do to make the best of a highly unusual year for money market rates and mortgage rates.

The Bureau of Economic Analysis released data today which showed the personal savings rate in the U.S. climbed from 4% to 5% during the second quarter of 2009.

CD rates and yields on money market and savings accounts may lose if inflation rises, but they also retain the flexibility to capture rising interest rates.

Richard Barrington, CFA, is the primary spokesperson and personal finance expert for MoneyRates. He is a 20-year veteran of the financial industry, including having served for over a dozen years as a member of the Executive Committee of Manning & Napier Advisors, Inc. Richard has written extensively on investment topics, including investments, money market accounts, Certificates of Deposit's and personal finance as it relates to retirement. Richard has been quoted by numerous media publications such as the New York Times, the Wall Street Journal, and Pensions & Investments magazine.