Owning a home is a keystone of wealth - both financial affluence and emotional security.

Women need to turn their attention from saving their spouse, their mothers, their this, their that, their kids, to putting that financial oxygen mask on their face first. When they're solid, they can pick up the whole world.

Credit card companies are jacking up interest rates, lowering credit limits, and closing accounts - and people who have made timely payments are not exempt. So even if you pay off your balance - and that's tough when interest rates are insanely high - there's a good chance your credit limit will be slashed, and that will hurt your FICO score.

If a child, a spouse, a life partner, or a parent depends on you and your income, you need life insurance.

I'd rather make 50 percent of something than 100 percent of nothing.

To make the most of your money, I recommend sticking with mutual funds that don't charge a commission when you buy or sell.

If your company matches your 401(k) contribution, then no matter what, contribute to your 401(k) first. You put in a dollar, they put in 50 cents. It's an automatic 50 percent return on your money. You can't pass that up. I'd rather have the 50 percent than pay 32 percent interest on a credit card.