It started with a great idea: A product or service on which you're convinced a successful entrepreneurial venture can be built. Now comes the tough part—actually planning and launching the business.Along with the entrepreneurial spark, a to

On Jan. 1, new federal consumer protections went into effect on issues ranging from transparency on credit reports to safeguards against identity theft. The provisions affecting credit reporting actually are the result of a law passed seven Fair

The mailbox full of holiday bills that many people received in January probably was a lure for some identity thieves, but there are many other lures. People can cut their risk of being victims of such thieves year-round by taking some basic steps a

One of 2009's biggest personal finance stories was the capture of Bernard Madoff, creator of the biggest Ponzi scheme in history. If you read the headlines and told yourself it didn't affect you because you weren't rich enough to be snared by such

Each day, millions of Americans discover an aging relative or friend needs help. It can mean planning for more services and assistance to get them through their daily lives, or it can mean dealing with a sudden and serious health crisis.The of