Skip navigation

Who cares about Fannie, Freddie?
If most mortgages are being paid on time, just why is everyone so worried about mortgage giants Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac?  The Answer Desk, by John W. Schoen.
Is it better to save or pay off debt?
Placing a heating oil bet
How far will gas prices fall?
When nest eggs get fried
Is my money safe in a bank?
Is it time to tap U.S. oil reserves?
Is this economy worse than past recessions?
Who owns my mortgage?
How bad are consumers getting squeezed?
Would more offshore drilling help?
Economic forecast ABCs
Why do U.S. refiners export fuel?
Why not ban oil speculation?
The candidates on gas prices
Are we in recession — yes or no?
Gas tax 'holiday' a bad idea
If things are so bad, why are stocks rising?
Oil surcharges are killing my business
Why bail out homeowners?
Is China paying for U.S. taxpayer rebates?
Just how bad will the economy get?
What if I can't pay my mortgage?
Honest answers on oil prices?
How bad is the economy?
Why are mortgage rates jumping?
A hostile takeover playbook
Tax rebate riddles
How much will my rebate be?
Not a win for tax dodgers
How much will I get from the stimulus plan?
Why is the Fed so worried about inflation?
Which businesses hold up well in a recession?
Are we already in a recession?
Questions we didn’t get to in 2007
Can I hedge the impact of the falling dollar?
Which is worse: foreclosure or bankruptcy?
How you can prepare for a recession
Should we be worried about the falling dollar?
Should Congress bail out borrowers in trouble?
What is the deal with hedge funds?
How does Fed ‘inject’ money into the system?
Will housing mess drag down economy?
How appraisal fraud costs you money
If housing's down, why are rates up?
When will the housing market recover?
Do unskilled immigrants hurt the economy?
Where can my kids learn about money?
How come the dollar keeps falling?
Persistence pays off in battling card fees
Video: Married or not?
How can I fight nuisance bank fees?
How do struggling companies survive?
Why is my cable TV bill going up so fast?
Who has the right to collect data about me?
Who profits from higher interest rates?
When siblings fight over a late parent's will
Once and for all, am I married or not?
  advertisement
  Accounting 101  
  MORE
How can GM lose $38 billion and survive?
Where do my income tax dollars go?
How can I fix my phone bill?
What's the difference between revenue and income?
What does 'goodwill' represent?
  Credit and debt  
  MORE
Should I lend money to my deadbeat in-laws?
How can I fix my credit score?
Why can't I borrow like a bank?
Just who owns the U.S. national debt?
How can I stop student loan marketers?
  Economic explanations  
  MORE
How about some good news?
Is this economy similar to other recessions?
Economic forecasting ABCs
Are we in recession — yes or no?
If things are so bad, why are stocks rising?
  Energy enigmas  
  MORE
Placing a heating oil bet
How far will gas prices fall?
Is it time to tap U.S. oil reserves?
Would more offshore driling help?
Why do U.S. refiners export fuel?
  Home Sweet Home  
  MORE
Who owns my mortgage?
Why bail out homeowners?
What if I can't pay my mortgage?
What if my mortgage lender goes broke?
Help! How can I head off a foreclosure?
  Miscellaneous mysteries  
  MORE
Who owns my mortgage?
Why bail out homeowners?
What if I can't pay my mortgage?
What if my mortgage lender goes broke?
Help! How can I head off a foreclosure?
  On the job  
  MORE
How are older, laid-off workers faring?
Are you an asset to your company?
How to ride the global outsourcing wave
How reliable is the unemployment rate?
Can my boss force me to take a vacation?
  Saving and Investing  
  MORE
When nest eggs get fried
How safe is money in a bank?
How you can prepare for a recession
Help! I haven't saved enough to retire
Should I lend money to my deadbeat in-laws?
  Small business  
  MORE
Which businesses hold up well in a recession?
What kind of business should I start?
What's the best way to set up a business?
How can I find a good franchise business?
Can I relocate my real estate business?
  Taxes  
  MORE
Answer Desk: Tax rebate riddles
Answer Desk: How much will my rebate be?
How much will I get from the stimulus plan?
Am I a victim of the dreaded AMT?
How much is the war in Iraq costing us?
Video: Answer Desk
Free money
In this week's video Answer Desk, msnbc.com's John W. Schoen has some advice on how to avoid giving the government more of your money than you need to.
Am I married or not?
What's a house worth?
How much house can I afford?
Who decides CEO pay?
Can't stop shopping
  MEET THE COLUMNIST
John W. Schoen
E-mail the author
advertisement
  RSS FEEDS ON MSNBC.COM

Add these headlines to your news reader

Answer Desk
  MSNBC.COM SPECIAL REPORT
Calif. house-hunting hell
When my husband and I finally decided to buy a home in the Los Angeles area after renting in various cities for so many years, we were genuinely excited. But we weren’t prepared for the two months of drudgery, desperation and downright insanity that came next.
Having faith in 'exotic' mortgages
Real estate investment clubs thriving
Job growth, home prices don't add up
By some measures, houses are still cheap
Investment Toolkit
  Personal finance news  
  MORE
Employers seek the power of older workers
As the labor force shrinks, many companies find that hiring retirees can be the key to success.
Economic crunch to take bite out of kids’ lunch
Workers can expect skimpy raises in 2009
Retirement account rules a surprise to many
10 Tips: Financial advice for freshmen
  'Today' Money Monday
Protect your 'legacy' for years to come
5 tips to forestall a foreclosure
Need some cash? Don’t raid your savings
5 tips to combat financial stress
Click to save! Retail sales loom online