Stocks slip on Wall Street as Greek talks drag on

NEW YORK - Stock indexes closed slightly lower Monday as talks dragged on between Greek political leaders over a fresh cost-cutting package required for the country to get more bailout loans.

President Nicolas Sarkozy of France and German Chancellor Angela Merkel warned Greek leaders that they need to push through the measures or risk letting the country go bankrupt.

Super Bowl ads for cola and cars scored big

DETROIT - While the New England Patriots and the New York Giants faced off on the field, about half of the more than 110 million U.S. viewers expected to tune in to Super Bowl XLVI were interested in another big battle: the super showdown among the advertisers.

Area property deed transfers

For the week ending Jan. 27, 2012

Amherst

James E Powers, Jr., Executor, M Eleanor Powers, to Amy M. Gates, 54 Spaulding St., Amherst, $190,000.

Clarence V. Poirrier, Janet Poirrier, Sharon Poirrier to Kristaps Licis, 11 Sutton Court, Amherst, $180,000.

How to Build a Nest Egg (and live well in the meantime, too)

'Financial planning" sounds like it's the domain of the rich and famous - or at least the rich.

Financial planners counsel people seeking to protect assets, avoid debt

LEEDS - In the eight years he's been a certified financial planner, John Perkins has noticed that his field bears some similarity to the fitness industry. For one thing, more people tend to sign up at the start of the year when resolutions are being made, he said during a recent interview at his office near the Post Office in Leeds. And they come with similar fears about whether they'll actually be able to make a change.

• Related stories: Finding an adviser who is a good fit

• Alyson: proud penny-pincher

• John and Anna: Spend, spend, spend

• Mary and Mark: Ready for retirement?

Finding a financial adviser who’s a good fit

Local consumer experts cite two essentials that people in search of a financial planner should bear in mind before they sign one up: fees and fit.

When it comes to the former, beware of free offers, warns Michele Morris, homeownership director for the Valley Community Development Corp., a Northampton-based nonprofit that cultivates economic self-sufficiency.

Alyson: Proud penny-pincher

Alyson, 26, has been a public school teacher for three years, and also works one night a week as a waitress.