Today's Interest Rates and Financial Advice:

Financial Advice

• 5 things you should know about target date funds

  Put your retirement plan on auto pilot with a target date fund, which automatically rebalances your portfolio over time.

  January 24th 2015

• Will you quit if you don't get a raise?...How to save like a 1 percenter...The growing gap in retirement benefits...And more

  Here's the column that gives savvy savers lots of provocative news and information to use and discuss on the road to financial security.

  January 24th 2015

• Top 12-month CD rates stumble in early 2015

  The best nationally available return has fallen from 1.25% to 1.17%. But there are more deals from community banks and local credit unions that pay as much as 2.10% -- if you know where to look for them.

  January 23rd 2015

• 8 smart moves for buying a foreclosure

  Foreclosure deals are out there. But they're not as easy to find as they were a few years ago. And you still need to avoid all of the costly pitfalls that can turn any repossessed home into a burden, not a bargain.

  January 23rd 2015

• Get your paperwork ready before applying for a mortgage

  Here's a checklist of what you'll need and it's extensive — W2s, pay stubs, bank statements, tax returns, brokerage statements and more. It's never too early to start a file and fill it up.

  January 21st 2015

• What you need to know about private mortgage insurance

  Private mortgage insurance, or PMI, is often bad-mouthed as a terrible deal for consumers. But you might not get a loan without it.

  January 20th 2015