Personal Finance

Financial transactions for individuals and families; and strategies for personal financial management.

Resources in this category:

401khelpcenter.com
http://www.401khelpcenter.com/

All of the basics of 401K. Contains information on comparing 401K, regulatory changes, analysis, and trends.

Beginners' Guide to Mutual Funds
http://www.ipl.org/div/pf/entry/48508

This IPL pathfinder is designed to assist the beginning investor in understanding and choosing mutual funds. Mutual fund investing can be a confusing and difficult process. Listed here are print and Internet resources.

BigCharts
http://bigcharts.marketwatch.com/default.asp

"BigCharts is the world's most comprehensive and easy-to-use investment research web site providing access to professional-level research tools like interactive charts, quotes, news, industry analysis and intraday stock screeners. We combine these tools with an interface that incorporates compelling graphics and intuitive navigation to make your research experience productive, yet entertaining and fun. Best of all, BigCharts is a FREE service supported entirely by our site sponsors." One of the most useful features of this site is the historical stock quotes section which allows you to search for stock market quotes back to 1985.

Can I Afford to Retire When I Reach Retirement Age?
http://retireplan.about.com/od/caniretire/index.htm

Various articles about how to prepare for retirement, when to retire, and whether or not to work after retirement

Curka Online Financial Community
http://www.curka.com/

This website is a message board for those with an interest in personal finance and investments. Read the posts on a variety of topics, such at hot stocks, job hunting, and marketing, or create a membership to post your own information.

Good Money
http://www.goodmoney.com/

Provides information about socially and environmentally responsible investing, consuming, and business practices.

Government Loans
http://www.govloans.gov/govloans_en.portal

This site provides information on federally sponsored loans. Separate areas include agricultural, business, disaster relief, education, housing, and veterans' loans. Includes a comprehensive glossary of related terms. This site is sponsored by the United States government.

Housing - U.S. Government Consumer Information Center
http://www.pueblo.gsa.gov/results.tpl?id1=17&startat=1&--woS...

The Housing section of the U.S. Government Consumer Information Center has online pamphlets covering various aspects of home ownership such as buying a home, getting a mortgage, home improvements and safety.

How Stuff Works
http://www.howstuffworks.com/

Sections include Adventure, Animals, Auto, Communication, Computer, Electronics, Entertainment, Food, Geography, Health, History, Home & Garden, Money, People, and Science. Covers a wide range of topics and has answers to many obscure or unique questions. Good for general reference as well.

InvestorWords
http://www.investorwords.com/

The InvestorWorld financial glossary has more than 5,000 definitions and 15,000 links between related terms, making it extremely comprehensive.

IRS.gov Home
http://www.irs.ustreas.gov/

The main site for U.S. Internal Revenue Service on the Web. This site contains a great deal of information for both individual and business taxpayers, as well a downloadable tax forms, instructions and IRS publications. Individuals can use an interactive tool Tax Trails to find out the answers to frequently asked questions about exemptions, deductions and credits. A text-only version is also available.

LeaseGuide.com
http://www.leaseguide.com/index2.htm

How automobile leasing works, types of leases, how to get the best deal and ending leases, from a consumer's perspective. Helpful tools such as calculators, vehicle evaluators and lease kits are also provided.

Living Trust Network
http://www.livingtrustnetwork.com/

Learn about estate planning tools, find legal resources, and locate an attorney.

Math in Daily Life: How Do Numbers Affect Everyday Decisions?
http://www.learner.org/exhibits/dailymath/

"Join us as we explore how math can help us in our daily lives. In this exhibit, you'll look at the language of numbers through common situations, such as playing games or cooking." It discusses the use of math in topics such as casinos, buying vs. leasing a new car, credit cards, cooking, and home decorating. Games and other related resources are included.

Mint - Free Personal Finance Software
http://www.mint.com/

A free online financial management system. Consolidate all your accounts in one easy-to-use, secure location. Get notifications of upcoming bills, low balances, and unusual activity. Provides bank-level security and identity protection using VeriSign and Truste. Free registration required.

Money - U.S. Government Consumer Information Center
http://www.pueblo.gsa.gov/results.tpl?id1=18&startat=1&--woS...

The Money section of the U.S. Government Consumer Information Center has online pamphlets covering money, credit and financial planning, such as credit protection laws, purchasing over the internet, investing wisely.

Money Management for Kids and Teens
http://www.ipl.org/div/pf/entry/79903

This IPL pathfinder is designed to help kids and teens find authoritative information about earning, saving, budgeting and managing money. Also included is information for parents to help their children learn how to manage money.

Morningstar.Net
http://www.morningstar.com/

"Chicago-based Morningstar, Inc. is a global investment research firm, offering an extensive line of products and services for individuals, financial advisors, institutions, and the media. As a trusted, independent company, Morningstar provides information, data, and analysis of stocks, mutual funds, exchange-traded funds, closed-end funds, and variable annuity/life subaccounts."

The Mortgage Calculator
http://mortgages.interest.com/content/calculators/index.asp

Interactive calculation and display of a payment schedule for a mortgage. Links to a number of other financial calculations produced by the same author, including savings accounts, retirement planning, FHA vs. conventional mortgages, and others.

Ram Research Group
http://www.ramresearch.com/

Ram Research Group surveys over 500 banks, credit unions and financial companies which provide consumer credit cards, accounting for over 97% of the U.S. market. Terms and rates are described. The site also includes consumer tips and news about the credit card industry.

Relocation Salary Calculator
/real-estate/salary-calculator.asp

"A 'decent' salary in one city may not take you very far in another. So, if you're planning on moving, considering a job transfer, or thinking about retirement, this site will help in your financial planning. The Center for Mobility Resources, which sponsors the site, maintains cost of living information for 450 cities in the USA. Just plug in your current location and income, type where you're going, and hit 'calculate.'"

Retirement Plans, Benefits, and Savings
http://www.dol.gov/dol/topic/retirement

An explanation of the rights and responsibilities regarding pension plans and other types of financial retirement planning. Run by the Department of Labor, you can explore topics ranging from patient rights to small business pension plan options.

SaveWealth.com
http://www.savewealth.com/

"Go here for advice on how to retain more of your wealth for the future. Information on estate and retirement planning, reducing your taxes, and investment. They also have added have a brand new Tax Form Center, complete already with 1999 IRS Tax Forms. Also includes links for state tax forms, definitions of tax forms, and an interactive quiz to help you figure out which 1040 to file."

Sound Money
http://marketplace.publicradio.org/episodes/show_rundown.php...

Website for the personal finance- and investment-related public radio program, hosted by Chris Farrell. You'll find tips and features, highlights from the current program, and an archive of past shows (in RealAudio format). Searchable.

The Tutorials Search Engine
http://www.findtutorials.com/

"FindTutorials.com is a Web index and search engine dedicated to bringing you the best of the Web's tutorials and online courses." Most of the free tutorials have to do with programming, web design, or finance.

U.S. Income Tax Preparation
http://www.ipl.org/div/pf/entry/48535

This IPL pathfinder provides information and assistance on the income tax preparation process. Topics includes tax basics, tax law changes, IRS forms and publications, tips for reducing income tax, and tax planning advice. Both print and Internet sources are provided.

USA Today - Money - Calculators
http://www.usatoday.com/money/calculat/mcfront.htm

Offers a host of financial calculators found under the following topics: Mortages, Autos, Credit, Retirement, and Savings. Answers questions like how much you can borrow, what your loan payments will be, how depreciation will effect the value of your car, should you convert your IRA to a Roth IRA, how much it will take to save for a car or home, and much more!

The Vanguard Group
http://www.vanguard.com/

The Vanguard Group has an informative investory education center containing The University, a collection of mini-courses to learn about mutual fund investing and retirement investing; a series of online brochures about investing, taxes, living trusts, international investing, IRAs and retirement plans; and many other resources.