During times of stock market volatility and big daily drops, one term that gets bandied about is "circuit breaker." But many investors and others may not know what the market circuit breaker is and ...

Churning with voltage and resembling an explosion at the wire factory, the breaker panel exudes mystique. But it's just a big switch, filled with other smaller ­switches, which lead to the switches ...

Forbes contributors publish independent expert analyses and insights. I show you how to save and invest. With the recent market volatility, a reminder on how circuit breakers work may be timely.

Peter Gratton, Ph.D., is a New Orleans-based editor and professor with over 20 years of experience in investing, risk management, and public policy. Peter began covering markets at Multex (Reuters) ...