Closing a bank account isn’t difficult, but big banks sometimes charge you for it. Here’s how to close a bank account without paying unnecessary bank fees.

Financial planners generally recommend enough to cover a month's worth of bills, plus maybe a small buffer for peace of mind.

“I tell everyone to begin saving as early as possible,” says Laurie Rowley, CEO and co-founder of the San Francisco-based Icon Savings Plan, which offers IRAs through payroll deductions. The Fidelity ...