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Is the bull market over? 5 ways to know

Before it keels over, a bull market typically leaves a few road signs. Here's what to keep an eye on - from Money Magazine.

Asset Allocator

Get the right mix of stocks and bonds.

Money Makeover

The Leons know what they want retirement to look like. To get there, they need to take smarter risks.

Debunking money market fears

Question: With all the woes in the subprime market and considering the reports that some money market funds hold money in securities that include subprime debt, should I be worried that my money market fund may "break the buck?" - Keith Lobel, Columbia, S.C.

You're not a kid. Stop investing like one

How do you know when you've crossed the invisible line and you're not young anymore? Maybe it's the first time you look at Billboard's top 20 list and don't recognize a single name. Or when your kids start staying out later at night than you can keep your eyes open.

Dodging the mortgage bullet

The credit crunch has many holders of bank and brokerage stocks quaking in their boots. But Chuck Lahr, manager of Franklin Templeton's Mutual Financial Services fund, isn't one of the worriers. Four years ago Lahr began shifting money out of US financial services and into European financial stocks, which held up better in the recent turmoil.

When bad returns don't make a bad fund

Last month I got an e-mail from a reader really giving it to me: "How can you possibly continue to have Jensen on your [Money 70 recommended fund] list?" he asked. "I just couldn't keep the dog in my portfolio, so I sold it."

Dump that high-fee fund

Question: An adviser helped us set up an IRA account and on his recommendation we began investing in a target-date retirement fund that charges a 6.5 percent sales fee. We've asked him to switch us to another target-date fund that has no sales fee and invests in low-cost index funds, but he says the fund we're in now has a shot at better returns because it's actively managed. Do you think we should stay with the fund our adviser recommended? - Dinh Ho

Top fund managers leaving Janus

The Janus fund group just received a big blow - star manager David Corkins, a 12-year company veteran who currently runs the flagship Janus fund, is leaving at the end of this month.

Get cheap with mutual funds

Question: I have a question about how fees and expenses figure into the returns that are listed for all mutual funds. Are the returns you see after fees and expenses have been deducted? If that's the case, and I compare an index fund with low expenses to an actively managed fund that has higher fees but also a higher return, then I'd probably want to stay with the actively managed fund, right? - John Taylor