I plan on retiring in 15 years (at age 60) and currently have 85% of my money in stocks. I’ve been maxing out my 401(K) since I was 21, and in the last year, I have seen some frightening drops in my funds. Should I be making any kind of changes to prevent more losses?

During college, I racked up quite a credit card bill (about $35,000 in credit card debt plus $8,000 in student debt). I have stopped using the cards and have been paying above the minimum every month. I talked to a California based company,and they want me to go delinquent on my card payments and to pay them $7000 into an "escrow" account so they can try to negotiate down my debt with the credit card. Do you have any advice for me as to how to absolve my credit card debt? I really feel stuck.

A recent Bloomberg article “Unintended Consequences of Mortgage Modifications: Falling Credit Scores” addresses a topic that deserves serious follow up. The article accurately identifies that loan modifications could damage your FICO credit scores, if they are reported to the credit bureaus using the new reporting guidelines set up by the credit bureaus and their trade organization, the Consumer Data Industry Association (CDIA).

According to recently released reports from the College Board, most students and their families can expect to pay, on average, from $108 to $1,398 more than what they paid in 2008 for this year's tuition and fees, depending on the type of college.  And with inflation rates continuing to increase, these costs will likely double and even triple in the years to come.  Although these costs are quite daunting, there are ways that parents and kids can prepare themselves for the sticker shock of attending college. 

I’m turning 60 next year.  While I don’t want to continue working full-time anymore, I don’t have the desire (or nest egg) to retire completely.  What do you suggest? 

Does the Cash for Clunkers program make sense for you? Use this calculator from edmunds.com.

I’d like to retire in 2010 but I’m really concerned about losing my health and rising medical costs.  How can I plan for this?  Gene, NJ

As children, we probably learned that it was impolite to ask how much someone paid for something. These learning’s generally follow us into adulthood and make it difficult for us to talk about our money situations….with our financial planners, our friends and even our spouses and children.

If we pay off the credit cards, how likely is it that the credit card companies will close our accounts? We don't want to be without any credit. So, what's the best way to pay off the debt without losing our credit?

I recently got my hands on Michael Jackson’s tax documents and a good ol’ fashioned assets vs. liabilities statement, courtesy of the folks at "EXTRA" who wanted me to assess his personal finances.

Dear Bill: This stock market is nuts! How am I supposed to protect my IRA from losing money when I’ve only got three years until I retire? -Joan, NY

Debit cards and me, definitely not BFF’s. So the story of the quadrillion-dollar pack of cig’s has me a tad smug, as much as continually amazed at just how crazy debit cards can be.

My minimum payment on my one card went from $250 a month to $350 a month and is pushing the limits of my budget which is already in the negative or barely positive.

What’s the tipping point for student loans?  When they go from being an investment in your future to an anchor dragging you down?  When does it make sense to go into a certain amount of debt—debt that you cannot get rid of EVER, even in bankruptcy—and when does a lot of student loan debt become too much?

60 years old, divorced, and forced into early retirement... One viewer's 401(k) is down 25% from its all-time high. How should a 401K account be allocated?  What’s an appropriate allocation for someone in this situation? What's the possibility of another market freefall?

On June 30th Bloomberg ran an article called "FICO Scores Show Flaws as U.S. Banks Cut Credit Lines." The article sufficiently bashes the credit score giant and their core product by pointing out that consumer credit scores are lowered when credit card issuers lower credit limits.

I'm trying to raise my credit score to purchase my first home. My credit score is 635. I was late a few times on a couple of loans. I've since paid them off. When I purchase my score the formula uses those old accounts that I've paid off to formulate my score. Is that fair or correct?

My favorite Dollar Dilemma regarding credit scores went something like this: “I make over six-figures, my credit should be awesome!” The more we need credit scores, the more misinformation still seems to fester.

Question:  I’ve been thinking about retiring for a few years now but I’m really concerned about how expensive everything is.  I’m still working and wondering if I’ll ever have enough to retire.  How do you help people cope with high inflation?  Phillip, CT

Q. I receive 6-10 calls per day from the debt relieve people asking me to contact them so they could either wipe out my credit card debt completely or a least reduce it by more than half.

Question:  As a self-employed empty nester, what advice can you give to starting our retirement nest egg at this late date? My husband and I are both in our early 50’s. We would like something simple that we can contribute small ($50) amounts to at a time.

The argument (and trust me, there is much arguing) of foreign vs. domestic when it comes to wheels reveals another kind of value.

Q. I am watching your show "On the Money" and the topic is: "How to raise your credit score." I have great credit: 788 on Experian. I am planning on buying my first home, hopefully by September. My only debt is $2,900 on Amex Blue. In order to raise my score a little higher -- should I pay the entire balance off?

I wonder how many bloviators who blast Obama’s healthcare plan have actually—even once in their lives—paid for their own healthcare coverage or had to have treatment without coverage.  After all it’s easy to talk about how expensive, socialist, limiting, etc., etc., it all is if you’re not one of the millions of Americans who have filed for bankruptcy due to medical bills.  Or the silent sufferers who’ve had to live a much lower quality of life because they’re trying to manage their medical bills without filing bankruptcy.