If you own mutual funds that are not in a tax-free account, you should know about a number of ways to make your mutual funds investing tax-efficient.

Today's Stocks & Topics: Mutual Funds, Housing Market, Oil Stocks, CVX - Chevron Corp., CWCO - Consolidated Water Co. Inc., Buying Stocks, CAT - Caterpillar Inc., SKX - Skechers USA Inc. Cl A, FB - Facebook Inc. Cl A, Alternative Minimum Tax.

A sparkling record accounts for part of the recent popularity of index funds, as investors love to chase past returns. But look closer.

Today's Stocks & Topics: 401k Roll to Roth I-R-A?, Federal Reserve, World and U.S. GDPs, Housing Market, Mutual Funds, Muni-Bonds, Return on Investment, NFLX - Netflix Inc., Brokers Jobs, PNRA - Panera Bread Co. Cl A.

The good news is that you have more control over your retirement money. And for some, that’s the bad news too.

Today's Stocks & Topics: Forward P.E., Bond Yields, 1 Million Dollars at 65, Economic Information, MDVN - Medivation Inc., AOS - A.O. Smith Corp., Exchange Traded Funds, AXLL - Axiall Corp.

Why own an investment that can lose double-digit returns while having the potential to gain very little?

Today's Stocks & Topics: Dividends, HON - Honeywell International Inc., DE - Deere & Co., FB - Facebook Inc. Cl A, Commodities, Interest Rates, Reverse Mortgage, ETFs, Independent Research, STJ - St. Jude Medical Inc., Mutual Funds.

The chairwoman of the Federal Reserve repeated again recently that the Fed is on track to raise short-term interest rates later this year.

Today's Stocks & Topics: U.S. Economy, China, New Home Sales Report, Commodities Prices & Stocks, BP - BP PLC ADR, AFOP - Alliance Fiber Optic Products Inc., QCOM - Qualcomm Inc., ARMH - ARM Holdings PLC ADR, Gold, Junk Bonds.

When it comes to building college funds, planning for retirement, and creating estate plans, there is plenty for opportunities for serious mis-steps.

Today's Stocks & Topics: Stock Certificates, Consumers Are Spending, Jobless Claims Lowest Since 1973, China's Stock Collapse, Consumers Credit Cars vs. Business Credit Cards, Investing Strategies, SH - ProShares Short S&P500, CYBR - CyberArk Software Ltd., CPLP - Capital Product Partners L.P., TGA - TransGlobe Energy Corp., Real Estate, XCO - EXCO Resources Inc.

Stocks are close to their most expensive in years. It has to be frustrating to be a value investor, right?

Today's Stocks & Topics: Share Split, Finances & Mortgage, Car Insurance, Risk vs. Reward, VZ - Verizon Communications Inc., T - AT&T Inc., SU - Suncor Energy Inc., Real Estate, AGCO - AGCO Corp., FIT - Fitbit Inc.

Investors comfortable with stock funds may have a hard time adjusting to the notion that a mix of securities might better achieve their income goals.

Today's Stocks & Topics: 401k to I-R-A, Mutual Funds, New Investor, Life Insurance, After Hours Trading, AAPL - Apple Inc., AGN - Allergan PLC, Oil Index Fund, USO - United States Oil Fund LP, XLE - Select Sector SPDR-Energy, Commodities, PIMIX - PIMCO Income Fund.

Think about the current environment of record highs on the major market indices, above-average valuations and a Federal Reserve Board ready to start raising interest rates.

Today's Stocks & Topics: I-R-A, Habits of the World’s Richest People, Save 1 Million Dollars for Retirement, The Shadow Banking System, Share Holder, INTC - Intel Corp., GILD - Gilead Sciences Inc., Support & Resistance, Oil, Gold.

The difference between IRAs is when and how money is contributed to the retirement account.

Today's Stocks & Topics: To Sell or Not To Sell Real Estate, Buy Backs, Earnings Season, Veg-Out Restaurants, KMI - Kinder Morgan Inc., ETFs, I-R-As, BIDU - Baidu Inc., Can You Hold Gold in your I-R-A?, EZPW - Ezcorp Inc., Investing in Natural Gas, MET - MetLife Inc.