As I strolled into my primary banking institution a few weeks ago, I asked the guard downstairs to direct me to the people who handle IRA’s. I was planning on transferring my IRA over since I have my checking and savings accounts there, and wanted to be able to transfer money over quickly and more easily.

After the guard escorted me upstairs to the section of the bank that handled investments, I was left in a waiting room surrounded by a bunch of glass offices. Now I’m not poor, but I’m certainly no high roller. I don’t have huge bank accounts and massive stock portfolios, but I do have dignity, and as such, believe that I deserve to be treated with respect — regardless of the size of my bank account.

Vanguard has a cool new video series up on their website right now which talks about how to make the most of your investing ventures. Their reassuring voice couldn’t come at a better time, considering many people’s hesitancy to trust the market right now. Keep on reading for their four part video series which focuses on controlling your investment costs, managing risk, choosing the right investments, and the benefits of long-term investing.

I’m not one to toot my own horn, but I will today because, frankly, I deserve it. Today I became a card-carrying member of the Debt-Free club. This beautiful day follows an intense two years of handing over half of my salary towards debt repay, and I am tickled pink to have finally gotten to the point where I don’t have to throw away my paycheck on crap that I purchased eight years ago.

We hope you guys are taking full advantage of the low in the stock market right now and buying up bargain stocks for your portfolio. But since stock purchasing can be quite the confusing mass of numbers and fees, we’ve decided to throw together a list of fees that you should watch out for — and some — to avoid when possible.