As I was going through the latest edition of the Carnival of Financial Planning, I came across a few articles that may give you ideas and helpful tips for investing...

• I'm one of those investors that believes in spreading out my money into different areas. The Ripe Trade blog shares an idea for the best asset allocation. I like the idea of investing in REIT's (Real Estate Investment Trusts) and emerging markets.

• Here's an article with a great tip: Read Financial Footnotes, Invest Safely. If you're handing over money to anyone, I always recommend reading the fine print!

• If you're not familiar with 401(k) retirement plans, you should read this thorough explanation of what 401(k) plans are and the pros and cons of setting one up.

Happy Investing!