WATCH: Is Real Estate Still A Good Investment? From Maria Bartiromo

When Maria Bartiromo, financial expert and anchor of CNBC's "Closing Bell" met with me on Mondays With Marlo, she answered a question that many of us have been wondering - is real estate still a good investment?

If you'd like more financial knowledge and advice on how to make your money grow, check out Maria's advice:

• Scams

  To avoid getting ripped-off, follow this one simple rule: if it looks too good to be true, it probably is. Don't expect overnight riches; invest for the long-term.

• Money Buckets

  There are three places you should put your money: a savings account for emergencies, a 401(k), for retirement, and a "mad money" bucket, for treats.

• Protect Your Money

  Interest rates on saving accounts are hardly keeping pace with inflation these days. A good alternative is to invest your money in dividend-paying stocks. Some deliver returns of between 4% and 7%, including dividend-paying ETFs.

• Jobs Of The Future

  Nothing is growing as fast as data, so any job in technology is a job of the future. As we're all living longer and struggling with problems of obesity, and such, health care is another top field for jobs.

• Credit Cards

  We all know how easy it is to fall into a debt trap with credit cards. Only use a credit card if you can pay more than the minimum each month. Ideally, you'd pay off the balance each billing cycle. American Express, for example, requires you to pay it all back in one shot.

• Take Risks

  Think outside the box; you never know where it'll lead. It could be the biggest mistake of your life, or a great career move. If it doesn't work, you can always brush yourself off and start over again.

• Selling Your Home

  Put your house on the market and see what kind of numbers you get. Don't try to time the market. Be realistic; it's not the worst part of the crisis, but we probably have at least two more years for the housing sector to recover.

• Picking Investments

  Don't get distracted by hype. Instead, look at company fundamentals: revenue growth, earnings growth, the management team, insider ownership, and the company's product. Ask yourself: will this product be in demand in the coming years?

• Retirement

  We're living longer, so we need to keep our minds going past retirement age. Stay active and keep working!

• When To Start A 401(k)

  Start a 401(k) in your 20s. It'll have more time grow, and you'll have a nice nest egg at retirement. If your company doesn't do matching, open an IRA on your own through any brokerage service.

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Source: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/07/27/marlo-thomas-mondays-with-marlo-is-real-estate-a-good-investment_n_1710285.html

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