Americans are flocking to places that offer big-city opportunities and amenities — with a lot more green space and a lot less stress. See the top 10 Great American Towns.

AP - Shares of Sallie Mae tumbled 13 percent on Friday, hitting a 52-week low, as investors reacted to the company’s disclosure that it would cut back on its core business of making student loans. More Info…

Reports on 380 home markets across the country. See latest prices, forecasts, and other key stats. More Info…

How to avoid harsh penalties for early withdrawals. From Money Magazine’s Donna Rosato. More Info…

Full table of contents from the October issue. More Info…

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Use these picks to fill any hole in your portfolio. More Info…

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When Henry “Bud” Hebeler was winding down his career at Boeing nearly 20 years ago, he was appalled at the advice he got from retirement planning software.

Digitize your memories
Money Magazine sent about 40 prints and negatives to six popular services. Here’s which did best at getting them onto your computer.

For small biz, income tax season is now (AP)
AP - Almost every accountant has a story about a small business client who showed up on April 10 or thereabouts, expecting to start work on a company or personal income tax return. Or, worse, a client who showed up with a shoebox full of receipts and invoices, also expecting to get a return done in short order.

WSJ: Bear CEO expected to step down (AP)
AP - Bear Stearns Chief Executive James Cayne is resigning under pressure from shareholders upset over the firm’s losses amid a slew of problems sparked by the collapse of mortgage markets, The Wall Street Journal reported Monday.

Money Magazine sent about 40 prints and negatives to six popular services. Here’s which did best at getting them onto your computer.

WSJ: Bear CEO expected to step down (AP)
AP - Bear Stearns Chief Executive James Cayne is resigning under pressure from shareholders upset over the firm’s losses amid a slew of problems sparked by the collapse of mortgage markets, The Wall Street Journal reported Monday.

Behind Huckabee’s radical ‘Fair Tax’
With Mike Huckabee’s big win in the Iowa Republican caucus Thursday, more people are asking, “So what’s this guy actually stand for?”

Sallie Mae appoints new chairman and CFO (Reuters)
Reuters - Student lender SLM Corp , known as Sallie Mae, on Monday named banking veteran Anthony Terracciano as chairman and said John Remondi would return to the company as chief financial officer.

Money 70: Best funds
Use these picks to fill any hole in your portfolio.

Reports on 380 home markets across the country. See latest prices, forecasts, and other key stats. More Info…

Money Magazine sent about 40 prints and negatives to six popular services. Here’s which did best at getting them onto your computer. More Info…

AP - Late payments on a cluster of consumer loans, including those for autos, home improvement and certain home equity loans, climbed in the summer to their highest point since the country’s last recession in 2001.

The era of easy money is over (FT.com)
FT.com - According to new polls, the economy is the number one issue for American voters. A million homeowners may lose their homes because of the subprime mortgage crisis and millions more face difficulties getting credit. Energy costs are up, consumer confidence is down. We are poised for recession.

30-year mortgages rates decline (AP)

AP - Rates on 30-year mortgages fell last week to the lowest level in a month as investors found new reasons to worry about a possible recession.

Money 70: Best funds
Use these picks to fill any hole in your portfolio.

When to tell your planner you’ll sleep on it
If you’ve ever sat down with your adviser and felt an overwhelming urge to immediately do what he says, that was no accident. The meeting may have seemed like an objective evaluation of your finances. But what you may not realize is that a lot of planners have another purpose: to quickly close the sale.

Investing for early retirement
Question: I’m 46 and have about $350,000 set aside in my workplace retirement savings plan in what I would call a moderately aggressive mix of stock and bonds funds.

Wachovia may face new mortgage write-downs (Reuters)

Reuters - As more banks report write-downs tied to the global credit crunch, analysts say Wachovia Corp may have losses lurking in an area that has garnered less investor attention.

When to tell your planner you’ll sleep on it
If you’ve ever sat down with your adviser and felt an overwhelming urge to immediately do what he says, that was no accident. The meeting may have seemed like an objective evaluation of your finances. But what you may not realize is that a lot of planners have another purpose: to quickly close the sale.

Digitize your memories
Money Magazine sent about 40 prints and negatives to six popular services. Here’s which did best at getting them onto your computer.

PHH ends deal with GE, Blackstone (Reuters)

Reuters - Mortgage and vehicle fleet company PHH Corp said on Tuesday it terminated its nearly $2 billion sale to General Electric Co and Blackstone, after the private equity firm failed to obtain required financing for the deal.

With thriving street life and plentiful housing, college towns are drawing retirees for whom culture is as important as golf. More Info…

So you can’t find that savings bond Grandma gave you as a kid. Here’s how to get a new copy of it and other important documents. More Info…

Reuters - As more banks report write-downs tied to the global credit crunch, analysts say Wachovia Corp may have losses lurking in an area that has garnered less investor attention.

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Reuters - Mortgage and vehicle fleet company PHH Corp said on Tuesday it terminated its nearly $2 billion sale to General Electric Co and Blackstone, after the private equity firm failed to obtain required financing for the deal.

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Use these picks to fill any hole in your portfolio. More Info…

Reports on 380 home markets across the country. See latest prices, forecasts, and other key stats. More Info…