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Along with most consumer prices, college tuition costs are heating up again. It seems as though we have become accustomed to college cost increases that have outpaced the rate of inflation; however, recent data shows them rising at an even more alarming rate  into the double digits in many states and as high as 30% in California.

I remember Lynn O'Shaughnessy when she was a staff writer on personal financial issues for the San Diego Union Tribune.  She is the author of a book called, The College Solution, which I recommend to parents starting to consider the costs and value of a college education for their children.  Her book is a must-have.  She also has a blog, TheCollegeSolution.com.

One of the first lessons of finance we are taught, by our parents or through some basic personal finance course, is to make creating an emergency fund our top priority. Having a reserve of cash equivalent to six to 12 month’s worth of living expenses is considered a fundamental principal of financial security.

An increasing number of Americans are facing an uphill battle just trying to save enough and earn enough on their savings to be able to retire on time.

I’m not sure I agree that traditional banks are “the perfect partner” as referenced in this article about new sources for small business loans, but if rates and fees are manageable, these new opportunities could be good news for small businesses. Fortune notes: http://tinyurl.com/ltmgrsv

Nice to see an article with some specific suggestions, data and optimism about changing careers later in life. We're definitely believers that one way to have a more comfortable "retirement" may be to work longer, full-time or part-time, in a new field that you enjoy. The secrets of second-act career changers http://money.us/1cxf5np

The figures out last year show that the average amount of student loan debt a student graduates with is $18,625. Most graduates are carrying multiple student loans from multiple sources, and the cost and complexity of managing them can become overwhelming, especially if they are unable to secure steady employment with sufficient cash flow to make the payments.