Auto

  • Car Buying Tips  - Free information on buying new and used cars, leasing and avoiding auto scams.
  • CarFax - See the history of the car you are considering (VIN required)
  • Edmund's Publications - Consumer information experts.  Easily run comparisons on new and used vehicles.
  • Fighting Chance - For $34.95, you receive complete pricing data on the vehicle you're considering, plus its record in the market place, available cash incentives, negotiating tips, and access to a "live" purchasing coach.
  • J.D. Power & Associates  - Automotive marketing research.
  • Kelley Blue Book  - New and Used vehicle pricing reports.
  • RoadLoans  - Competitive rates on financing for new and used cars (refinancing, too).

Banking

  • FDIC site  - Check to see if your bank is FDIC insured or if it is in trouble.

Education

  • Finaid  - A comprehensive site that covers all aspects of financial aid.
  • National Center for Education Statistics  - Information on past three years of college/university costs.
  • Salliemae  - Calculators for estimating college costs, savings needs, and student loan payments as well as a great deal of financial aid and scholarship information
  • Savingforcollege.com - Quarterly 529 plan reviews and other tips on saving for college.

Income Tax

  • IRS Website  - The IRS Website, information on forms, publications, and frequently asked questions.

Investments - Discount Brokers

Investments - Financial News & Quotes

  • Bloomberg - Financial market news and stock/mutual fund quotes.
  • CNN Business - Business and Financial market news
  • InvestorGuide - Comprehensive stock research tool.  "Tools" tab provides links to other sites.
  • MSN Money - Financial market news and stock/mutual fund quotes.
  • Wall Street Journal - Financial market news and stock/mutual fund quotes
  • Yahoo   - Keep track of your overall portfolio and get detailed charts on your individual stocks and bonds.

Investments - Investor Education

  • Investorwords  - This site is a database of more than 5,000 key investment terms, plus some 15,000 links related to words and concepts.
  • Motley Fool  - Online calculators and information to help answer basic questions.
  • SEC Investor Education site   - Online calculators, broker and/or advisor information, investor alerts, plus links to other government sites.

Investments - Mutual Funds

  • Fund Alarm   - Stay abreast of significant changes influencing the people behind the funds, and receive email alerts whenever a fund you own announces a key development.
  • IndexFunds.com   - A resource on the use of index funds, or passive investing, versus conventional actively managed mutual funds.
  • Morningstar   - This company is well-known for its mutual fund star rating system, and this site has many useful research and analysis tools.
  • Mutual Fund Education Alliance   - A large source of mutual fund news and information, plus daily price info and one-, five- and ten-year annualized returns.

Investments - Publications

Mortgages/Real Estate

  • Bankrate.com - Mortgage calculator and basic information
  • Eloan - Compare loans, quotes, calculators
  • HSH.com - Mortgage news, rate comparisions, and calculators
  • Realtor sites - Customized searches by city, mortgage information and glossary.

Retirement:

Smart Spending

  • Consumer Reports Magazine  - Informational articles and product recalls are free on this site (subscription required for full online version).
  • The Dollar Stretcher Tips  - Free online newspaper full of tips, hints, stories and links for living better for less.