• Investments


• Save or Invest?
  • Ten Tips to Survive Today's Market
  • Market volatility and your portfolio
  • 101 Ways to Cut Expenses
  • Food, Fuel and Funding Retirement
  • Understanding Your Goals
  • Choosing Investment Strategies
  • Rebalancing Your Portfolio


• Cash Equivalents
  • Risks & Rewards


• What are Mutual Funds
  • Buying Shares
  • Automatic Investment Plans
  • Exchanging or Selling Shares
  • How Do You Earn Money?
  • How to Compare Funds
  • Risks & Rewards
  • What is a Share Worth?


• Stocks
  • Investing for the Long-term
  • Types of Stocks
  • Market Capitalization
  • Risks & Rewards


• Bonds
  • Understanding Credit Ratings
  • Taxable & Tax Exempt Bonds
  • Interest Rates Affect Bond Prices
  • Types of Bonds
  • Risks & Rewards


• Real Estate
  • Why Buy REITs
  • Real Estate Risks and Rewards
  • What is a subprime mortgage?

AARP Financial is providing proactive steps that people can take to help protect their nest egg amidst a financial market that is in turmoil.

The Financial Advisors at AARP Financial can provide investment guidance and help you make the most of your retirement investments. They can help answer your questions — whether you are planning for — or are already in retirement. They can be reached at 1-888-778-6187.

To guide Americans through challenging economic times AARP Financial Inc. has prepared the following tips:

	Don't Make Rash Decisions Recent events highlight the need to have a financial plan that you may be able to follow regardless of market swings. As difficult as it may be, don't let your emotions drive your investment decisions. Reacting to every up and down in the market is not good for your health — or for your financial portfolio.
	Revisit Your Reasons For Investing In volatile markets keeping a long-term time horizon can be very challenging. However, if your investment goals, time horizon, and financial situation have not changed, your best course of action may be not to take action. Now may be a good time to reassess your financial situation, but only make changes if needed.
	Establish an emergency fund Keep at least six months of living expenses easily accessible in savings or money market fund accounts. This enables you to meet unexpected financial obligations.
	Make saving automatic One way to contend with volatile markets or tough economic times is to make investing automatic. Establish an automatic investing plan* that makes investing a seamless process by regularly deducting a set amount from your paycheck or checking account and transferring it to a retirement investment account.
	Review fees and expenses Take another look at the fees and expenses you are paying on your financial products and services. For mutual funds: review expense ratios. For credit cards: scrutinize interest rates. For banking products: evaluate transaction charges. Switching to a lower cost product may save you money.
	Resist impulse purchases Think twice before making a discretionary spend. Avoid impulse purchases regardless of the "deal" and instead put that money in a savings or investing account.
	Have a plan It is never too late to put a retirement plan in place. Having a plan helps you determine whether you are on the right path to the financial future that you want. And in times like these, a plan, not your emotions, should drive your investment decisions. So, if you do not have a retirement plan, now is a great time to create one.
	Consult with an expert Financial advisors are specially trained to help people manage their finances. If you work with a financial advisor, schedule an appointment to review your portfolio. Discuss your concerns and request an assessment of the performance of your holdings. If you do not receive the guidance and information you need, or do not have a Financial Advisor, the Financial Advisors at AARP Financial are a great resource.
	Get Informed Research shows that many people struggle with fundamental financial terms and concepts. Take steps to get the information you need by visiting www.aarpfinancial.com to learn more about investing for the future.
	Don't be Afraid to Ask for Help AARP Financial's salaried Financial Advisors provide personalized investment advice to help you make the most of your retirement investments. They can be reached at 1-888-778-6187

*An Automatic Investment Plan does not assure a profit and does not protect against a loss in a declining market.

The Financial Advisors are investment adviser representatives of AARP Financial Inc., an investment adviser.