Retirement planning is more intimidating for most than any other personal finance topic. We know we should be saving but not how much. We know it's important to use a tax-deferred account but not which one. Most devastatingly, we often leave saving itself completely up to chance trusting that we will have enough willpower to set money aside for 30-50 years. Luckily, finding a secure and enjoyable retirement need not be mysterious. Here's exactly what to do.

Deutsche Bank's Joe LaVorgna tracks payroll tax receipts as a measure of real-time labor market health [see an earlier article on that chart and a host of others here] and the latest data for the current quarter show receipts growing 6% year-over-year. [It brings into question all those purveyors of doom who claim that a recesssion is just around the corner.]

For the last 10 months or so we have watched the precious metals mining sector try in vain to put in a decent rally only to run out of steam and disappoint some of its most ardent supporters - including us. Stock prices have tumbled and now present us with cheaper entry levels. Are they worth buying now? We don't think so. Here's why we still hold that view. Words: 415

For the last 10 months or so we have watched the precious metals mining sector try in vain to put in a decent rally only to run out of steam and disappoint some of its most ardent supporters - including us. Stock prices have tumbled and now present us with cheaper entry levels. Are they worth buying now? We don't think so. Here's why we still hold that view. Words: 415

When the public, and in particular the savings public at large, comes to understand that quantitative easing is actually counterfeiting...you will begin to see confidence cave and the collapse in confidence will be epic. That’s what has me nervous. [Here is how to detect when confidence is about to cave and how to protect oneself in such an eventuality.]

When the public, and in particular the savings public at large, comes to understand that quantitative easing is actually counterfeiting...you will begin to see confidence cave and the collapse in confidence will be epic. That’s what has me nervous. [Here is how to detect when confidence is about to cave and how to protect oneself in such an eventuality.]

Copper is one of the most widely used metals on the planet, and has been for more than 10,000 years. Today, it's the nervous system of our society - of our cities, homes, tools and toys. The simple truth is that the western lifestyle is completely dependent on copper. Here's why as depicted in the infographic below.

All the fundamental factors that have made gold such a stellar investment for the last decade are still intact...[but] there are several things that have been affecting gold negatively over the past few months, much to our dismay. Words: 367

All the fundamental factors that have made gold such a stellar investment for the last decade are still intact...[but] there are several things that have been affecting gold negatively over the past few months, much to our dismay. Words: 367

We’ve all been told that politics and religion are the most sensitive conversational topics, but if the recent T. Rowe Price 2012 Parents, Kids, and Money Survey study is any indication, perhaps we should add family finances to the list. According to the study, a shocking percentage of parents are routinely deceiving their children about money or, in some cases, failing to instill basic financial skills. Are you acting as a sound financial model to your children? Learn more from the informative infographic below.