Ken and Daria Dolan, America's First Family of Personal Finance, answer your money questions every Friday.

Click here to ask Ken and Daria your question.

A reverse mortgage can sound like a tempting concept: Instead of you sending a mortgage payment each month, you receive one from the bank. Gee, just tell us where to sign up!

Not so fast. Reverse mortgages can be complicated and expensive, so you need to know how they work – especially in the midst of a financial crisis. Our video response explains what to watch out for, when they can work best for you, and what factors to consider before signing up.

Learn more about reverse mortgages at Dolans.com, where you'll find complete information on refinancing and saving big bucks on your payments.

Ken and Daria Dolan, America's First Family of Personal Finance, answer your money questions every Friday.

Click here to ask Ken and Daria your question.

Crisp fall weather means college campuses everywhere are being invaded by visiting high school seniors eyeing prospective dorms ... as their parents hyperventilate over the price tag.

Today's credit crunch is making the already daunting burden of paying for college seem even more impossible. Luckily, there is still plenty of funding available – if you know where to look. We have the scoop for you in our video below.

Looking to secure a loan for college to help cover those hefty tuition bills? Find out where you can get funding in Ken and Daria's special alert, only on Dolans.com.

Ken and Daria Dolan, America's First Family of Personal Finance, answer your money questions every Friday.

Click here to ask Ken and Daria your question.

With the presidential election just days away, you would think we'd be hearing about some real solutions to the unprecedented challenges facing our economy right now (what a concept!) Wrong. The financial crisis has brought about more questions than answers and we've had it up to here.

You deserve answers, so we're taking matters into our own hands and tackling your most pressing concerns about the market mess. Everything from retirement to investing to getting a loan, these are the straight answers you won't get anywhere else.

Not sure where to turn in the midst of the financial crisis? Ken and Daria offer real solutions, tools and strategies on Dolans.com to help you survive and thrive.

Ken and Daria Dolan, America's First Family of Personal Finance, answer your money questions every Friday.

Click here to ask Ken and Daria your question.

Dear Ken and Daria,

Is my annuity safe in this market meltdown?

-Lester

We know many of you rely on annuities for retirement income. There are good and bad annuities, but the right ones can help guarantee revenue well into your golden years, even if your other assets run out.

No big surprise, then, that so many people are worried about the safety of their annuities in the midst of all this financial turmoil. We're here to set the record straight. Here's how to tell if you can still count on your annuity.

How safe is your annuity? Find out the determining factors and how to further protect your money, only at Dolans.com.

Americans spent more than $2.3 trillion on health care last year. That's more than $7,600 per person -- and it's going to get worse! The government projects that in less than a decade, you'll spend 20% of your annual income on health care.

Health care has been a major theme during this year's Presidential election, and we're paying close attention to the Presidential candidates' plans for how they will fix our badly broken health care system. But let's be honest here: The odds of any real change happening anytime soon are slim to none, so let us help you deal with this budget buster. We're going to show you how to save big bucks on your health care costs right now.

Ken and Daria Dolan, America's First Family of Personal Finance, answer your money questions every Friday.

Click here to ask Ken and Daria your question.

The financial crisis is taking on a new victim: retirement. Planning and saving is hard enough, let alone trying to do it in the midst of a market meltdown! These are unprecedented times, folks, and your nest egg could get hit hard if you aren't careful.

We have heard from many of you wondering where to put your retirement money without the risk of losing it all. Here's our answer designed to keep you on the right savings path and protect your money in our shaky economy.

Dear Ken and Daria,

I am 20 years away from retirement and have been re-considering my portfolio allocation. What is the right mix in this economy?

-Gary

Not sure how to allocate your retirement funds? Visit Dolans.com for our complete library of 401k calculators and worksheets to determine what's best for you.

We call them "money moments" -- those situations when we are forced to make a money decision on the spot with those seemingly simple questions posed to us under pressure from a salesperson that tie your stomach up in knots wondering if you're really getting a good deal or just getting ripped off.

The truth is, most of the money "deals" you are offered are just a waste of your hard-earned dollars!

Here are eight money moments every one of us faces at some point, along with a comeback answer that could save you money. Read them all and the next time you are put on the spot by a salesperson, you can skip the sweaty palms because you'll already know the right answer!

Ken and Daria Dolan, America's First Family of Personal Finance, answer your money questions every Friday.

Click here to ask Ken and Daria your question.

Dear Ken and Daria,

A family member has asked me for a loan. Is this a good idea, and what is the best way to go about it?

-Marion

Would you -- should you -- lend money to a family member or friend in need? During these tough economic times, you may be asked to be "bankers" for someone going through a period of unemployment or having trouble making ends meet. While we know you want to help, it's important not to let your heart overrule good sense.

This is a big step that could cause future problems and we want you to protect yourself. Let's talk about what you need to consider before making your decision, and how to loan money the right way.

A written agreement can help protect you from future problems when loaning money to family members. Get started with Ken and Daria's sample loan note, available only at Dolans.com.

Ken and Daria Dolan, America's First Family of Personal Finance, answer your money questions every Friday.

Click here to ask Ken and Daria your question.

Here's the truth: Americans are drowning in debt. Consumers currently owe nearly $700 billion on all credit cards and carry, on average, more than $8,000 in credit card debt from month to month.

Now, here's the good news: This doesn't have to be you. If you're having trouble making payments, consolidating your debt may be the answer. Let's take a look at what exactly this means and how it could help erase your balances once and for all.

Dear Ken and Daria,

I have a high amount of debt and have been thinking about debt consolidation. Can you explain how this works, and how it affects my FICO score?

-Bruce

Are you up to your eyeballs in debt? Ken and Daria show you how to get outstanding balances under control with smart debt management strategies, only at Dolans.com.

We now have a "Dirty Dozen."

This weekend, Ameribank Inc. failed -- the 12th bank this year. And trust us, it won't be the last.

We don't expect this to be as bad as the nearly 900 banks that went under from bad loans in the early 1990s during the S&L crisis. That's right -- in case you've forgotten (or, gasp, aren't old enough to remember!), we've been through this before and apparently the Wall Street money guys didn't learn a damn thing the first time around!

Ken and Daria Dolan, America's First Family of Personal Finance, answer your money questions every Friday.

Click here to ask Ken and Daria your question.

Here's a little trick when it comes to saving for retirement: every little bit helps. That's why we're thrilled when we hear about folks contributing any amount to their retirement plans because it all adds up over time to a very rich future! But we also want your investments to work hard for you, which means choosing the right savings vehicle.

When deciding between a traditional and Roth IRA account, there is one major rule of thumb to live by. Find out what it is in our video response below.

Dear Ken and Daria,

I've been told I should invest in a traditional IRA instead of a Roth IRA because of my low income. Which is the right choice for me?

-Jill

Confused about where to begin your retirement planning? Learn how to start saving for your future and get answers to all your questions about Roth IRA rules, rollovers and more at Dolans.com.

Ken and Daria Dolan, America's First Family of Personal Finance, answer your money questions every Friday.

Click here to ask Ken and Daria your question.

Eleven banks have now been claimed by the FDIC this year and more institutions are at risk of failure now than at any time in the last five years. Talk about a big flashing sign that this banking mess is far from over!

So how do you know if your bank is safe? Making sure it is FDIC insured is a good first step (learn how this insurance works here), but it isn't always enough. Here's how to find a secure bank to protect your deposits.

Dear Ken and Daria,

With all the recent bank failures, how can I find out if my bank is safe?

-Richard

Are you concerned about the safety of your money? Learn how the FDIC and latest bank failures affect you at Dolans.com.

Dear Ken and Daria,

Do I need to re-address my estate planning documents when I move?

-Robert

Everyone -- and we mean everyone -- should have an estate plan that dictates how your assets will be handled after you're gone. We know it's not fun to think about, but without one your loved ones won't be cared for the way you'd like.

Of course, once you draw up your estate plan, it's important to re-visit it during big life events -- including a move out of state. Let's take a look at what your estate plan should include, and how to update it.

Ken and Daria Dolan, America's First Family of Personal Finance, answer your money questions every Friday.

Click here to ask Ken and Daria your question.

Take the estate planning bull by the horns with Ken and Daria's guide to drafting your will the right way, only on Dolans.com.

Boy, were there some serious fireworks in the Dolan household over this one!

Very seldom do Daria and I VEHEMENTLY disagree on an issue...much less about something that involves things we are both passionate about -- food and good health. But we had a hot debate about this one.

Here's the issue: The state of Alabama is giving its state employees, all 37,527 of them, one year to get fit. If they don't, they start paying $25 a month for health insurance that they get currently get free.

Ken and Daria Dolan, America's First Family of Personal Finance, answer your money questions every Friday.

Click here to ask Ken and Daria your question.

Here's the plain truth: The single best step you can take to living the retirement of your dreams is to contribute the maximum amount allowed to an IRA. Unfortunately, too many people ignore this rare gift from Uncle Sam.

We hear from readers all the time about why they don't contribute to retirement plans, and it's usually because they don't know where – and how much – to contribute. Let's clear up some of that confusion with our answer to the following WalletPop reader question.

Dear Ken and Daria,

Can a working and a non-working spouse both make IRA contributions?

-Jim

Making the most of your IRA is a key part of successful retirement planning. Get answers to all your questions about IRA rules, Roth IRAs, rollovers and more at Dolans.com.