Inside the September Issue...

INVESTING | YOUR MONEY | REWARDS

Scanned and Cleared for Takeoff
Wanted: Passengers who spend a lot of time in the air, hate waiting in line and pass security checks with flying colors. MORE...

Another Election Cliffhanger?
Despite improvements in voting procedures, history could still repeart itself in November. MORE...

Gift Card Alert
A scam surfaces at 'pockets' of Wal-Mart stores around the country. MORE...

The Shame Game
States boost their revenues by exposing delinquent taxpayers on the Internet. MORE...

Salary Outlook: Ahead of Inflation
Business is rebounding, but employers won't go overboard on pay hikes. MORE...

PERFECT YOUR PORTFOLIO
Taking on Risk to Achieve Extra Growth
Go beyond a government pension plan. MORE...

The Path to Higher Yields
Yields from most safe investments have a long way to go before they excite most investors. But we found 21 ways for you to get very generous payouts without risking your skin. MORE...

Take my Money ... Please
Millions of you can now afford to hire a private money manager. But should you want to? Read about how three successful managers go about their work--then decide whether private management is for you. MORE...

Young Companies on a Roll
The stocks of these five dynamic companies suggest unusual opportunities for investors. All our picks are profitable, growing fast and relatively unknown. And they could become leaders within their business sectors. MORE...

Inflation got you Worried?
You would be wise to begin hedging your stock investments against the dangers of inflation. These level-headed strategies can protect you by emphasizing assets that are either immune to inflationary trends or rise along with prices. MORE...

Commentary
Perception Versus Reality: My Point of View, by Knight Kiplinger MORE...
Skid Markes on my Heart: Promised Land, by Andrew Feinberg MORE...

More on investing your money
Investors call on shares of Avon ... A stinker of a fund turns over a new leaf ... Update on our recommended funds ... Kmart's meteoric stock-price rise -- and why you should avoid the stock now ... The new riddle of the Sphinx: Is a mutual fund that invests in hedge funds worth your attention?

Solved!
This month's cover story takes on 15 of your toughest money-related problems, from finding affordable car insurance to selecting one mutual fund to feather your nest egg. Should you pay off your mortgage before you retire? Where can you find a cheap, last-minute airfare? How do you save for college and retirement? We'll help you come to terms with these and ten other vexations. MORE...

Kids, Cars & Cash
Oh, happy day. Your 16-year-old just got his driver's license. We can help you cope by steering you to your best deal on auto insurance. Plus, we list ten car models ideal for teens: They're crashworthy, rated high for safety and won't cost you a fortune. MORE...

Ask Kim:
This month Kimberly Lankford answers your questions on the best medigap policies for people who travel, what happened to those child tax-credit checks and the rules on cracking your kids' custodial accounts. MORE...

Commentary
Who Pays for College? Money Smart Kids, by Janet Bodnar MORE...

More on managing your money
Don't forget the pizza money -- and other campus necessities ... Where to find good deals on life insurance ... How to replace a lost or busted cell phone ... Can you say abracadabra? How to make magic with kid IRAs ... Car insurance: Don't leave home without it.

Thin Is In
All big-screen TVs look good, but they are not all alike. We decode the ABCs of big screens -- HDTV versus HD-ready, and plasma versus LCD versus rear projection -- and list the pros and cons of each version in terms of price and tradeoffs. MORE...

The Big Chill
Allow your premium wines to age gracefully in a proper cooler. You'd be surprised, says our expert, how the wrong cooler can ruin your wine. MORE...

Drive Time
Too Many Greenbacks, by Mark K. Solheim. MORE...

My Story
I fought for families of foreign victims killed on 9/11. MORE...