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At the expense of you and me, tax breaks help companies hand ever-bigger paychecks to CEOs. What are the presidential candidates doing about it? Almost nothing.

Investing in low-cost, tax-efficient index funds handily beats most variable annuities and would take billions back from the insurance industry.

The MSN CAPS community can help investors sift through stocks battered in the downturn to identify companies capable of impressive 5-year returns.

Credit changes the way we spend and think. If you're broke, research shows, there's a good chance you'll stay that way a long time. But there are ways to fight the pattern.

Part 2: Fidelity is the retirement-plan giant, but its style puts a premium on individual fund managers. Keep a close eye on who's running yours.

The fund giant has many good options for building your nest egg. One hitch: Your company's plan may not allow you to invest in some of the experts' top choices.

The Dow gains 27 points, although investors fear that Hurricane Gustav could hit oil and gas facilities in the Gulf of Mexico. Two home price reports suggest conditions are still deteriorating. Minutes from the Fed's Aug. 5 meeting suggest a rate increase is ahead -- but not anytime soon.

I supply special mud for Major League Baseball. The story goes back to when pro baseball teams began using new balls for each game. They wanted to remove the factory gloss and make the balls easier to grip. The umpires tried in-field dirt, shoe polish, and tobacco juice, but everything damaged the ball.

After watching the solar sector get beaten down, I see several reasons to buy now.