When the Federal Reserve began raising interest rates in June 2004 - the first increase in four years - the Treasury yield curve started getting lots of attention. Observers were curious to see how the Fed's policy would play out for the economy and Wall Street.

The yield curve captures movements in interest rates and is a key indicator for many important aspects of the financial world. But it's not just the province of economists and bond traders - anyone with a basic understanding of the yield curve can learn important clues about the possible direction of the economy and the financial markets.

Have you given much thought to how long you will live? In a recent survey, more than eight out of 10 workers were unable to give a personal life expectancy that is close to the actual life expectancy for their age. Only about one-third expected to live longer than the average life expectancy.

Estimating your own life expectancy is one area where it's probably better to overshoot. Planning financially to live a long life may help you avoid a retirement income shortfall, regardless of how long you actually live.

What are the odds that you will have a disabling accident in the next 12 months? One in 1,000? One in 100?

Try one in 21. That's more than four times greater than the risk of having a fire, and more than five times greater than the risk you will die this year. Even worse odds: Income lost through disability is twice as great as auto accident losses and three times as great as fire losses.

When you have good news, do you like to tell it yourself or let someone else have all the fun? What about when you have bad news? Would you rather choose the words carefully or let a stranger blare it from a loudspeaker?

Publicly traded corporations are required to report their quarterly earnings to shareholders and regulatory agencies, regardless of whether the news is good or bad. But rather than letting analysts alone spread the word, many companies announce their earnings results through press releases, conference calls, and the Internet.

If you're a typical American, you may spend as much as 21 hours filling out your tax return - even longer if you bought or sold investments or own a business. While gathering documents to calculate your taxes can be time-consuming and perhaps frustrating, it can be an opportunity to gain a better picture of your financial situation.

Preparing your tax return usually involves tracking down documents such as investment and retirement account statements, accounting for any gains and losses, and gathering receipts for gifts made to charity. Compiling this information puts you in a great position to analyze your portfolio, check your progress toward financial goals, and evaluate your tax liability.

May your glass be ever full. May the roof over your head be always strong. And may you be in heaven half an hour before the devil knows you're dead.

May the leprechauns be near you, To spread luck along your way. And may all the Irish angels, Smile upon you St. Patrick's Day.

This article from Investor's Business Daily (IBD) provides you with a list of savvy questions to ask a financial advisor before getting started.