Today's consumers face a complex and vast array of financial questions, products, and services. Making informed choices and taking advantage of appropriate financial tools for individual circumstances can be a daunting task. Financial consumers often find that they need sophisticated knowledge and skills to know how to meet challenges such as the following:

• Deciding whether or not to purchase a home
• Financing a business start-up
• Protecting creditworthiness
• Evaluating the costs and benefits of spending decisions
• Assessing various financial products
• Comparing different investment strategies

In addition, many adults are finding themselves in the position of managing retirement accounts and education-related savings plans. Health care savings plans are on the horizon, insurance options are ever-changing, and e-commerce seems here to stay. These things weren't taught when today's adults were in the classroom, and an entire "industry" seems to have sprung up for the purpose of exploiting this lack of knowledge. As a result, the people who are least able to afford it often suffer at the hands of the unscrupulous, falling victim to fraud, deception, or bad advice.

The Personal Finance Series addresses these types of concerns and focuses on helping people interact with financial information in a way that helps them meet individual challenges. It covers a wide variety of financial topics focusing on economic decision-making and fiscal responsibility. It helps people understand basic principles about money management and it describes practical applications of key concepts, including suggestions for making household budgets, instituting spending plans, managing debt, saving and investing, and securing long-term financial well being.

Standard features include:

• Topical, easy-to-navigate organization
• Unbiased information from industry experts
• Glossary of important terms
• Directory of additional resources
• Complete index
• List price per vol., $76. School and library price, $68.