So you've got the basics of your personal finances under control (at leas -- you've controlled your credit card spending, purchased a house, started saving for retirement) but wait! Now that your kids are growing up and your career is moving along, you're facing a whole new set of personal finance challenges. College, weddings, your son or daughter's first car! How to manage these big expenses and still stay afloat?! And how to deal with unexpected changes such as downsizing or a move?! Help is here. The Complete Idiot's Guide to Personal Finance in Your 40s and 50s is the guide you need to everything from helping your kids get on their feet to buying a second home. Coverage includes: Assessing your own financial position in mid-life -- pluses and minusBeing a parent and a blank check -- teaching your kids about moneyPaying for cars, college, weddings and other big parent expensesAssessing and affording your second home, dream home, or vacation homeKeeping your finances in order during a job change -- for the better or worseWhat to think about if you want to start your own businessDivorce and personal financeThinking of the future -- wills, in-laws, aging parents and more!The basics of investing -- in your 40s and 50s. Where to start or how to progress

Revised and updated, this new edition clearly explains all the basic information everyone in this age group needs to begin planning their personal finances or enhance their current financial plan to yield better returns on their investments, including completely new material on. Topics Covered Internet banking Budget for spiraling food and fuel costs College loans management Effective 401(k) and retirement planning Debit and prepaid credit cards Tips about online car shopping Online college degrees and what they can get you Investment strategies for the next decade Home-based employment opportunities Financial effects of changing job Financial impact of marriage and children Home ownership options from building your own to townhouses and condos Online mortgage brokers Fully updated resources

Looks at personal finance for middle aged persons covering such topics as choosing a financial advisor, investments, college costs, real estate, and estate planning.

Provides information on credit histories, budgeting, borrowing, banking, investing, and avoiding common financial mistakes.

Every day, more than 10,000 people turn forty in the United States, moving toward retirement without traditional pension plans backing them up. Lacking the safety net that protected their parents and grandparents, they’re forced to take the initiative for their own financial security. They need a source of information that doesn’t scare them away with insider jargon and intimidating complications. This book will help those who have felt uninformed, intimidated, or excluded from the process, and will simplify difficult topics like budgeting, investing, paying for college while saving for retirement, and helping kids with debt. People will find the essential tools and resources they need to set a course toward retirement and security at this critical stage in life.

Offers advice on creating a long-term financial plan, shopping for insurance and mortgages, managing credit card debt, and establishing a good credit rating.