The growth of the Internet and social-media tools, such as Facebook and Twitter, means advice is never hard to come by. However, the quality of that advice -- and the adviser -- should be researched thoroughly before making any financial decisions. Members of the Financial Planning Association of Greater Indiana may be able to advise you on this and other financial matters. Visit its Web site at www.fpagrindiana.org. 

Charlotte Lippert, Bedel Financial Consulting
With regard to your investments, you should be very discerning about the advice you heed. This applies to the opinions you are exposed to at a holiday party, from the television, on the Internet, or through the use of Twitter.
The Internet can provide you with loads of data in mere seconds. With increased participation from trustworthy sources, it has become a great tool for obtaining quick and reasonably accurate information.
Now, social-media tools provide new avenues to reach out and be heard. However, most of what is out there is just "noise" and could be misleading.
For example, earlier this decade, stock message boards were intended to be a way to gain new insight about a company's stock. In 1999 and 2000, they also provided the vehicle for a 15-year-old boy to commit securities fraud.
According to The New York Times, a teen named Jonathon Ledbed posted multiple recommendations for stocks with low trading volumes. When others bought the stocks based on his advice, he dumped his shares, netting at least a quarter of a million dollars in profit.
With regard to investing and advice, it is best to ask yourself the following questions: Is this information from a reputable source? Is the person or source providing the advice being paid by you? Do they have your best interests in mind? If the answers are "no," then it's likely not of great value to you.