Find yourself unwilling to trust someone else to manage your money? It could be because you don’t have much oxytocin, the same hormone released into the bloodstream during sex.

While financial advisers can help investors achieve balance, Gail Bebee, author of No Hype – The Straight Goods on Investing Your Money (www.nohypeinvesting.com), says there are several tips for other industry outsiders to consider when working with an adviser, as well as some points to keep in mind if you decide to go it alone.

While recent market volatility may have been on many investors' minds, this isn't something that should worry those with a long-term RRSP strategy, says financial expert and speaker Gail Vaz-Oxlade (www.gailvazoxlade.com), host of Slice network's Til Debt Do Us Part. Here are other things to keep in mind when considering making a contribution to your retirement portfolio now and throughout the year.

When Rick Segal goes looking for the next hot trend, he heads to the smartest, cheapest source there is: people on the street.

Mergers are usually dangerous for shareholders, but here are five ways to assess if you want to be part of the purchase

Kim Shannon has made a career out of being a contrarian: She abandoned a career in science for the vicissitudes of the market, then walked away from CI Financial Income Fund to form an alliance with Brandes Investment Partners. Shannon now has a bone to pick with the conventional wisdom that says men are better investors than women. Here, she explains why.

He won’t touch bank or blue-chip commodity stocks. He believes the market slump has only just started. And he’s sure the world is going to run out of food. Once again, Canada's savviest investor may be on to something big.

If you’re looking for an investment with room to roam, a dated manse in a posh-but-not-prime neighbourhood promises some attractive long-term returns.

While the emotional cost of entrusting your newborn or toddler to an outsider is incalculable, the financial costs of child care can be measured. To help you weigh the pros and cons of three child care options — daycare centres, live-out and live-in nannies — let’s take a look at how the numbers stack up.

Social investing on the Internet is exploding in popularity as highlighted by the flurry of new sites launched over the past year and a half.

These are interesting days for value investors as volatility is what they like, and no doubt they have their hands full of it these days.

Ethical investment has skyrocketed over the last few years, with around 70 SRI (socially responsible investing) mutual funds and retail venture funds in Canada. SRI retail funds in this country have grown $18.1-billion as of the end of 2006 from $14.8-billion in 2004. Investment in companies that meet socially responsible guidelines in Canada was also up nearly $440-billion in the same period, says the Social Investment Organization.

Building an art collection can generate impressive returns. But as with any investment, it pays to look at the big picture before buying

Hybrids cost more and they could be worth less in the long run, but are they a better deal?

Real estate prices are still breaking records across Canada, although higher interest rates are expected to affect the affordability of the residential sector through the end of this year and in 2008.

The 'retired' barber on the danger of data, the one deal he would do over and the reason he's never written another book.

When The Globe's investment columnist Rob Carrick wants clarity in confusing times, he turns to the investment lessons he's learned from legends in the field.

At least, some of them, anyway. Year in, year out, seasonal investor Brooke Thackray likes to pick his spots in the calendar.

Why so many investors cash out too soon on winning bets while riding losers down to the bottom.

Forget buying low and selling high. The smart money aims high and sells higher.

A veteran money manager explains his 12-step formula for picking growth stocks.