Ask Money

Dawn in Albany, New York learns about about how to organize and manage her multiple retirement funds.

There's a recent trend of (former) employees quitting jobs and putting up videos and comments on social media criticizing their employer. How many weeks of pay would you give up to be able to say what you want to about your job and not worry about burning a bridge?

For the start of 2014, we're tackling all of your questions about credit cards.

I am a 27 year old attorney, single with no kids. I currently work for the Government, but next fall I will begin a job with a private law firm in Washington, D.C. I like being a lawyer and think that I will probably enjoy working for a private firm, but I am acutely aware that the private firm world can be quite stressful. I have my doubts about whether this high-income but high-stress field is something I will want to stay with for a long time. This in conjunction with the ever-present threat of being laid off for economic reasons (which still happens with some frequency in private firms) makes me want to shore up my financial situation, save a great deal, and avoid the golden handcuffs for at least a few years while I figure out how permanent the job will be. I have about $150,000 in debt -- $15K is a car loan, and the rest is student loan debt. Interest rates on the student loans range from between 6-8.9%. I have no credit card debt. My current salary is about $80,000, but next year it will more than double, plus a $50,000 starting bonus based on my prior experience. The only luxury I want to fund in the foreseeable future is a multi-week vacation to Europe between jobs, which I have not planned in any detail yet. What should I focus on as I move into this higher-income job, keeping in mind that I may not find the money to be worth other sacrifices? My gut feeling is that I should pay off my student loans with haste, but what other strategies should I be looking into?

In 2014, Marketplace Money will be following a few listeners and help them succeed in their financial New Year's resolutions. Melissa and Joshua live in Portland, Ore...

Nina in Oakland, Calif., is gearing up for retirement ... ideally abroad in Latin America or Asia. Carmen suggests some tips so she can get ready well in advance.

In 2014, Marketplace Money will be following a few listeners and help them succeed in their financial New Year's resolutions. Eric is a soon-to-be college graduate ...

In Bath, Maine, Destie and her family are in solid financial shape, but they have big budget leaks they can't account for and want to get on top of them in 2014.

A list of the things that trip up our New Year's resolutions.

I am a mid-twenties PhD student graduating this year with about $60,000 in a money market account and no debt. Since the money is making almost no interest, I am looking for ideas for ways to invest it or otherwise save it. However, because I have been a graduate student, I also have no retirement account yet. What is this best thing to do with these savings I have been accumulating? Although I will be graduating soon, I have a job for at least the following year, so my income should be steady and even increase from $25,000/year currently to around $50,000/year.