Take Control of Your Finances

When the reality of America's economic struggles became apparent in September 2008, Kathleen says she was devastated. Like millions of parents, she thought she was doing everything right—working hard, sacrificing and saving and investing money.

Kathleen says about half the money she and her husband, Tony, had saved for their two sons' educations is lost—even as one son, Joe, is a freshman in college and the other son, Max, is a high school sophomore.

"I've lost control, and I've been a control freak my whole life," she says. "That's the scariest part because I've always had a plan, and I don't even have a plan."