The best offense sometimes really is a good defense. That sports maxim can be applied to personal finances, too.
Devastating losses — whether from poor investments, excessive fees, fraud or something else — can delay reaching your financial goals by years. Yet plenty of Americans say they're having problems keeping losses at bay, including those tied to poor judgment.
For instance, the National Financial Educators Council recently asked more than 3,000 people to estimate how much money they have lost due to their own lack of financial knowledge. The average was $9,725 in losses, but some respondents estimated they had lost much more, including 25 percent estimating losses at $30,000 or above.
Russ Wiles | USA Today