Robert L. Bartley Editor Emeritus, The Wall Street Journal As this collection of essays is published, markets, regulators and society generally are sorting through the wreckage of the collapse in tech stocks at the turn of the millennium. All the more reason for an exhaustive look at our last “bubble,” if that is what we choose to call them. We haven’t had time to digest the lesson of the tech stocks and the recession that started in March 2001. After a decade, though, we’re ready to understand the savings and loan “bubble” that popped in 1989, preceding the recession that started in July 1990. For more than a half-century, we can now see clearly enough, the savings and loans were an accident waiting to happen. The best insurance for financial institutions is diversification, but the savings and loans were concentrated solely in residential financing. What’s more, they were in the business of borrowing short and lending long, accepting deposits that could be withdrawn quickly and making 20-year loans. They were further protected by Regulation Q, allowing them to pay a bit more for savings deposits than commercial banks were allowed to. In normal times, they could ride the yield curve, booking profits because long-term interest rates are generally higher than short-term ones. This world was recorded in Jimmy Stewart’s 1946 film, It’s a Wonderful Life.

Find At the Hems of the Lowest Clouds by Gloria J. Emerson in Paperback and other formats in Poetry > American - General.

Find Mortgages 101 by David Reed in Paperback and other formats in Business & Economics > Real Estate - Mortgages.

Find The Student Loan Mess by Joel Best in Hardcover and other formats in Education > Educational Policy & Reform - Federal Legislation.

Wonderful Old Building and Loan

As with any loan, the person with the highest credit score will be entitled to the highest interest rate. The banks that provide these services will place more stringent requirements on your credit score and the equity in your property. Here are the best interest rates we can find among lenders who still offer home equity loans

Home equity loans provide you with cash in exchange for the net assets you have accumulated in the property as a separate loan.

If you are first-time home buyers, it is very important for you to choose the right mortgage. Here are some tips can help you find a mortgage that suits you as easily as possible.

The basic principle of building home equity is the same for everyone (paying off as much mortgage as possible), but in today's financial environment, different generations face different challenges. Therefore, no matter how old we are, we've put together some tips on building home equity.

This article lists the worst ways to use credit card rewards and reminds people to avoid making these mistakes in order to get the most out of them.

In 1999, the Consumer Federation of America (CFA) initiated widespread media coverage of the credit card problem among college students, provoking a strong social reaction.

CBS-News reports on five hidden credit card fee pitfalls and advises consumers to shop around for the most fair credit card.

Get the best car insurance for you at the best price by knowing all the information about car insurance.

As you get older, you don't have to leave your youthful beauty behind. With the guidance of a professional, board-certified plastic surgeon, you can counteract the effects of time and gravity, restore the natural vibrant appearance you remember from years ago, and even tackle the early signs of aging before they form. Here's more information about facelift surgery.

U.S. Representative Slaughter introduced the College Student Credit Card Protection Act in 1999 and 2001.