Q. What is the incentive to deposit thousands of dollars in a money market account that makes my money grow so little? Where should I deposit my money for quick growth?

A.A money market account provides a safe, accessible place to keep three to six months of living expenses in case of an emergency. Virtually all financial advisers recommend that everyone have such a fund because unfortunately, we never know when something unforeseen could happen. And, of course, you'll still earn some interest from that money, probably 3% to 4% a year.

Your savings will almost certainly grow more quickly if you take full advantage of retirement plans such as Individual Retirement Accounts or 401(k) programs sponsored by many employers. There are lots of tax advantages and some companies will match all or part of your contributions, which is like getting a raise. Much of the money in IRAs and 401(k)s is invested in stocks that have historically generated fatter returns than bank deposits -- a long-term average of 10.7% a year.