The letters and e-mails early in the year – especially from empty nesters and aging boomers – seem to focus on long-term planning.

For example, last week "Mickey" wanted to know if he should sock more cash away into his 401k retirement plan or pay down his mortgage. "Earl" asked if it made sense to invest in a Dow Jones company's stock or throw the money directly at the principal portion of his home loan.  more...

If the holiday trip to Grandma's house, the kids' winter tuition and an overly generous Santa Claus impression nearly maxed-out your credit card, do your best to pay down those high interest-rate expenses as soon as you can.

Housing – and the funds related to it – again remained one of the few bright lights during a rather dim economic year.

In fact, mortgage interest rates, which did not rise to the levels predicted by many analysts, clearly emerged as the top story on the 2003 real estate landscape. Rates continued to be a fallback lifesaver, while helping consumers see that property could be a viable, reliable alternative to the conventional financial markets.  more...

The couple's children have left the nest and are now spread all over the map.

Howard and Laura Leavitt, both 60, had just returned home to Seattle from a Thanksgiving trip to visit their daughter – and first grandchild – in Santa Monica, Calif. In a few short weeks, they would pack up and spend Christmas with their son and his family in Boulder, Colo.  more...