Avoiding the Road to Financial Ruin

Have you ever stopped long enough to notice how many tools we have to assist our road travel these days? From traditional traffic lights and road signs to programmable electronic billboards, GPS, and a bevy of smartphone apps for every conceivable situation one might encounter on the road. The sheer volume is staggering. We are better informed and more equipped for travel decisions than we have ever been before.

But what about financial signposts? How can we tell if we are doing the financial equivalent of driving the wrong way down a one-way street? In a vehicle, you'd find warnings from stre...