WASHINGTON (AP) -- Worried that a jarring credit crunch would stifle the economy, Federal Reserve policymakers at their September meeting felt compelled to act aggressively in lowering a key interest rate for the first time in over four years.

Fed policymakers unanimously agreed to slash interest rates by one-half percentage point to 4.75 percent, calling it "the most prudent course of action," according to minutes of the Sept. 18 meeting released Tuesday.

The minutes underscored just how concerned Fed Chairman Ben Bernanke and his central bank colleagues were that the credit crisis and the worst housing slump in 16 years could undermine the country's economic health. The minutes offered fresh insights into the September meeting, where Bernanke was faced with one of his most important decisions since taking office in February of last year.

"Given the unusual nature of the current financial shock, participants regarded the outlook for economic

A couple of weeks ago, I invited readers to take part in my 401(k) savings challenge, and promised to keep the momentum going with more articles about making the most of your retirement plans.

401(k) Rollovers Uncovered

One of the topics many of you wanted to learn more about is how to make smart rollover decisions when changing jobs. Well, you're not alone. According to consultant Deloitte's most recent 401(k) Benchmarking Survey, 22 percent of employers surveyed revealed that their employees find rollovers to be the most confusing part of their retirement plan.

"Rollover" is the term used to describe moving money from one type of tax-advantaged account, like your 401(k) plan, to another, such as an individual retirement account (IRA) or a different 401(k) plan at your next job.

The goal here is simply to ensure that your money continues to grow tax-deferred and that the government is aware of its status. Otherwise, you're likely to get hit with a tax bill for funds you didn't