Save & Invest

Knowing how to secure your financial well-being is one of the most important things you’ll ever need in life. This brochure covers the basics of saving and investing and includes key tips on making money grow over time.  Sections include: (i) Define Your Goals, (ii) Make a Financial Plan, (iii) Determine Your Risk Tolerance, (iv) Investment Products: Your Choices, (v) How to Pick a Financial Professional, and (vi) Avoid Problems.

Over the past decade, American investors increasingly have turned to mutual funds to save for retirement and other financial goals. Mutual funds can offer the advantages of diversification and professional management. But, as with other investment choices, investing in mutual funds involves risk. In addition, fees and taxes can diminish a fund’s returns. This article explains the basics of mutual fund investing — how mutual funds work, what factors to consider before investing, and how to avoid common pitfalls.

Ask questions - that’s the best advice about how to invest wisely. This on-line brochure provides some questions that you should ask about investment products, the people who sell those products, and the people who provide investment advice to you. It also includes some helpful tips on how to monitor your investments and handle any problems.

The You Are Here website teaches kids how to be more savvy consumers. The site demonstrates the benefits of competition, the influence of advertising on buying decisions, and the rules and regulations that many business people need to follow.

This special edition of FDIC Consumer News puts special focus on staying focused and avoiding costly decisions during major life events.

The FDIC -- along with fellow regulators and the banking industry -- is working vigorously to help consumers and the banking industry avoid unnecessary foreclosures and stop foreclosure "rescue" scams that promise false hope to consumers at risk of losing their homes.This website provides information that may be helpful to consumers, financial institutions, and the community groups working with them on foreclosure-related issues.

This website presents the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation's Electronic Deposit Insurance Estimator (EDIE). This on-line tool can calculate your FDIC insurance coverage for each FDIC-insured bank where you have deposit accounts.

This website presents the FDIC's Money Smart financial education curriculum. The Money Smart's on-line curriculum can help you take charge of your finances and create a better financial future. Available on-line or by mail free of charge; it may also be taught in a classroom setting or downloaded into a portable audio (MP3) format.

This website presents brief descriptions of articles in past editions of the FDIC Consumer News. This important newsletter provides practical guidance on how to become a smarter, safer user of financial services. Each issue offers helpful hints, quick tips, and common-sense strategies to protect and stretch your hard-earned dollars.

A comprehensive financial education curriculum to teach those ages 12-20 the basics of handling their money and finances, including how to create positive relationships with financial institutions.  Money Smart for Young Adults can help young people in their formative years start positive habits early such as saving money and budgeting, as well as avoid making "wrong" decisions that could result in years of financial pain.  The curriculum is available free of charge; orders can be placed online.   For additional information call toll-free 1-877-ASK-FDIC (1-877-275-3342); he