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Financial Literacy - Guide to Building Personal Wealth

18-part series

INDEX

Building Personal Wealth

Bankrate's Guide to Financial Literacy will shine a spotlight on 18 personal finance topics essential for financial success.



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PART 1:	The simple art of budgeting	January 2007

Learning to live within your means creates opportunities for financial growth. Organize your income and expenses with a budget.

Keys to budgeting

•	Would a budget improve your life?
•	7 secrets to creating a budget
•	6 budget bombs

Spotlight

•	Q&A: Anna Cabral signs our currency
•	On budgeting: Celebrities speak out
•	Celebrity spending power

Poll: Americans relationship with budgeting

•	National results: Who believes in budgets
•	Experts react to poll
•	Take our poll: How important is a budget?

Money Makeover

•	Problem: Single mom worries about future
•	Plan: Change spending/saving patterns

Tools

•	Tools and resources

PART 2:	Mastering credit cards	February 2007

Americans revolve nearly $900 billion in debt, mostly credit cards. Virtually everyone can learn to use credit cards better.

Tips & tricks for mastering your cards

•	Take charge of your cards
•	Kick the debt habit
•	4 types of credit cards
•	The card best for your age

Take action

•	6 steps to credit card serenity
•	5 balance transfer trip-ups
•	Improve credit scores
•	Smart ways to use credit

Spotlight

•	Robert Manning: Our love affair with plastic
•	Susan Keating: Get help with debt early
•	Celebrities and credit
•	Diana DeGarmo's ID theft issue

Poll: Americans' credit card habits

•	National results: America's credit card habits
•	Take our poll: How are you handling credit?

Money Makeover

•	The problem: Drowning in balances
•	The plan: Debt-free in 18 months

Tools & resources

•	Tools and resources

PART 3:	Understanding mortgages	March 2007

Purchasing a home is the biggest investment most of us ever make. Choose your mortgage wisely.

Financial value of buying a home

•	Why buy a home?
•	Match a mortgage to your lifestyle
•	Credit scores and mortgage rates
•	3 steps to the best loan

Take action

•	5 types of mortgage loans
•	Finding a mortgage lender
•	5 mortgage mess-ups
•	Some surprises found in mortgage contracts
•	Refinancing an exotic mortgage

Spotlight

•	'Millionaire' author: David Bach
•	Celebrities & real estate
•	Oprah's fitness guru: Bob Greene

Poll: Homeowners and their mortgages

•	What Americans say about mortgages
•	Poll: Are you a homeowner or renter?

Money Makeover

•	The problem: Option ARM
•	The plan: Refinance to fixed rate

Tools & resources

•	Tools and resources

PART 4:	Mapping a retirement plan	April 2007

Retirement saving strategies for people of all ages, incomes and lifestyles: Decide your goal, put a plan into action and enjoy the journey.

What's your retirement sweet spot?

•	Retirement: Why you need to save for it
•	10 ways to hit your goal
•	5 steps to figure your 'big number'

Take action: Ways to hit your goal

•	5 ways to jump-start savings
•	20-somethings: Start now and be rich
•	Retirement savings tips for 30-somethings
•	Retirement savings tips for 40-somethings
•	Retirement savings tips for people 50 & over
•	Impact of divorce on retirement accounts
•	Juggling retirement when buried in debt
•	Feeding savings while on caregiver leave
•	10 golden rules for your 401(k)
•	Interactive: Retirement planning 101

Spotlight

•	Christopher Cox: Seniors & scams
•	Ed Slott: IRA guru
•	Stephen Pollan: 'Die Broke' author
•	Jennifer Openshaw: 'Millionaire Zone' author
•	Famous folks & retirement plans
•	How does a star plan for retirement?

Poll: American's retirement attitudes

•	Retirement attitude and planning
•	Poll: What's your retirement attitude?

Tools & resources

•	Tools and resources

PART 5:	Dealing wisely with home equity	May 2007

As your home grows in value and your loan principal slowly shrinks, your home builds equity. Treat it with respect.

Financial value of home equity

•	Trends in home equity
•	Types of home equity loans
•	Other ways to tap equity

Take action: When to hold, when to tap

•	Hurdles facing new borrowers
•	4 steps for getting a loan
•	Pluses & pitfalls of tapping equity
•	FAQ on home equity uses
•	Making home equity work for you
•	Understanding cash-out refinancing
•	5 bad equity-borrowing moves

Spotlight

•	Barbara Corcoran's line of credit
•	Dave Ramsey on home equity loans
•	Richard F. DeMong on home equity

Poll