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Chris Farrell

Columnist | Your Money

Chris Farrell is economics editor for American Public Media's weekly "Marketplace Money" show. Send questions to cfarrell@mpr.org and put "Your Money" in the subject line.

Recent content from Chris Farrell

The Great Recession has turned retirement planning upside down
Normally, I answer your questions in this column, which I enjoy. But on the one-year anniversary week of the Lehman Brothers failure I want to touch on an ongoing shift in how we approach retirement. It's a theme that will emerge in future columns.
Sep 12, 2009
Chris Farrell: Tax-free savings plan may not be family's best bet for college fund
The problem with such plans is that the money is only tax-free if it's used for education. What if you need it for something else?
Sep 5, 2009
There are lessons to be learned for the next rainy day
The numbers suggest the recession that began in December 2007 is over or is coming to an end.
Aug 29, 2009
High-yield niche security has its own risks, rewards
Q I am considering the purchase of a master limited partnership. Could you please address this investment in one of your articles? I would like to know what risks are associated with an investment like this.
Aug 22, 2009
Laid off at 65, she wonders if she has enough assets to just retire
Q I will be 66 in November and plan on drawing Social Security. I was laid off earlier this year and am trying to decide if I should look for more work or if I can retire. I have assets in cash, mutual funds and property, so I think I may be OK, but I'm not sure.
Aug 15, 2009
For safety, it's hard to beat U.S. government inflation-protected securities
Q My husband and I are in our early 40s. We are debt-free. We've lived our lives with the plan of paying off our mortgage as soon as possible. The importance of this idea was stressed to us with the advice of my father, who paid off his mortgage in less than 10 years.
Aug 8, 2009
Having a financial plan allows you to take your dreams seriously
The good news is that the downward momentum of the Great Recession seems to be subsiding. The financial panic that seized the global capital markets has eased. CEOs are no longer acting as if depression looms. That said, the consensus forecast is for the economy to emerge slowly out of the downturn. The recovery won't feel much like one, with the unemployment rate climbing toward double digits. This sure looks like one of those times when conventional wisdom is right.
Aug 1, 2009
Consider this case of risk vs. safety for your nest egg
Q I am 56 years old. I got out of housing before the market fell. I sold my house. I stayed out of the stock market over the last seven years, so I didn't make or lose money. I was content with small but safe money market accounts. But I don't know what to do now. I have in excess of $250,000 that I could invest.
Jul 25, 2009
Judge banks by service and cost, not size
Q The most interesting question to me is what advantages does a megabank have over a local bank that could not be easily overcome by a cooperative?
Jul 18, 2009
What's the catch on e-savings accounts?
A reader asks: In reference to last week's column on interest rates on savings: What do you think about the e-savings accounts that are currently offering 4.5 percent?
Jul 11, 2009


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