WATCH: What I Learned From Interviewing Financial Experts, From Maria Bartiromo

When Maria Bartiromo, financial expert and anchor of CNBC's "Closing Bell" joined me on Mondays With Marlo, we discussed the most important lessons that she has learned from interviewing financial experts over the years.

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

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• 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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Comments

[shannemooris]

10:36 PM on 08/21/2012

I think If I am in her position, I will feel the same. It's a privilege to interview a financial expert. If i will interview a financial expert, I will choose Ed Butowsky he's in this industry for almost 25years!

[Rick Huggins]

08:30 PM on 07/27/2012

I have been watching Maria sense she started stumbling on the floor of the NYSE. She got lucky with her start and has taken full advantage. She has looks and charm and persistence in her approach with her financial gig. Good for her.
But lately she seems to have over shot her realm a bit . First. she not an economist or an experienced trader or even a money manager. Her assumptions of certain big time managers , advisers, politicians, and other media types have lead us to think and seemingly from her actions the past few years have over shoot at her actual knowledge of the world of finance slash politics. Did she attend Harvard Business School or Wharton or MIT? No.
I liked her when she interviewed and reported the numbers, not this new invented guru of business knowledge that with the help of an arrogant back drop of pseudo economic knowledge that just doesn't wash.
The latest was her past and last interview with Barney Frank ( a pro in the realm of political economics ) where her false knowledge was exposed to her red faced embarrassment.
Maria, calm down with the assumed notion you can reveal or excuse the Republican lead stalemate in Washington and just give us clean interviews and true numbers without the personal side lines of what you perceive as fact.