Credit/Debt/Loans Tapping into the "Family Bank" An intra-family loan may help loved ones buy real estate, invest in a business, or pay down high-interest debt.
Credit/Debt/Loans How Many Credit Cards Should You Have? Should you have more than one credit card? If you’ve ever spent your way into a massive pile of credit card debt, you probably know the answer: No! However, there are reasons why the answer may be: Yes!
Credit/Debt/Loans Nursing Homes Are Suing Friends and Family to Collect on Patients' Bills The nursing home industry has quietly developed what consumer attorneys and patient advocates say is a pernicious strategy of pursuing family and friends of patients despite federal law that was enacted to protect them from debt collectors.
Credit/Debt/Loans Skip the credit card and pay online with one of these 5 safer options There are several ways to pay online that are safer and easier than using your card.
Credit/Debt/Loans Are Your Retirement Accounts Protected From Creditors? This becomes an issue if you are forced to declare bankruptcy or you owe money after a legal action is brought against you.
Credit/Debt/Loans How to Plan Your Travel Rewards Card Strategy There are many different types of credit card rewards. If you want to focus your efforts on earning travel rewards, you should create a credit card strategy to maximize the value you get for your spending patterns.
Credit/Debt/Loans The Dangers of Taking Out a Direct PLUS Loan While these loans might seem like an easy way for parents to help their child with today's education costs, in far too many cases, they put the parent’s financial security and retirement at risk.
Credit/Debt/Loans Some Things to Know Before Opening a Store Credit Card We’ve all been there. You’ve got an armful of clothes and you’re watching the total inch up higher and higher. Then the store clerk says: “Would you like to open a credit card for an extra 15 percent off?”
Credit/Debt/Loans Credit Card Limit Increase vs. Opening a New Account If you’re looking to improve your credit history and boost your credit scores, you might be mulling over whether to seek a credit card limit increase or open a new line of credit. Both options would increase your total available credit and lower your utilization rate.
Credit/Debt/Loans A Story of Stolen Credit Card Information An analysis of how online thieves steal your credit card information and what can be done to prevent this from happening to you.
Credit/Debt/Loans You Should Pay Off These Types of Debts First When finding yourself with extra cash, some analysis is required when deciding which debts to pay off first.
Credit/Debt/Loans The Safe Way to Cancel a Credit Card You’ve likely heard that canceling a credit card account could damage your credit score. And while it is true that closing a credit card can impact your score, that isn’t always the case. Here is a cancellation checklist to follow should you decide to do so.
Credit/Debt/Loans Understanding Credit Card Balance Transfers While the offer looks great on the surface, people who take advantage of it might find themselves on the hook for unexpected interest charges. Learn the balance transfer math, and the deceptive marketing practices identified by the CFPB.
Credit/Debt/Loans Five Ways to Control Emotional Spending For some people, shopping is much more than a pastime - it's actually an addiction called oniomania.
Credit/Debt/Loans Five Things You Need To Be Pre-approved For A Mortgage Potential buyers benefit in several ways by consulting with a lender and obtaining a pre-approval letter. Here's how to get pre-approved for a mortgage.
Credit/Debt/Loans When (and When Not) to Refinance Your Mortgage Refinancing a mortgage means paying off an existing loan and replacing it with a new one. You might want to evaluate refinancing your mortgage.
Credit/Debt/Loans Six Ways To Cut The Cost Of Your Car Loan There are numerous ways to save money on your car payments. Here's how to get a lower cost car loan.
Credit/Debt/Loans The Six Worst Student Loan Mistakes You Can Make No one loves the idea of student loans. But they're often a necessary evil - the only option for financing college, which (despite some debate of late) remains the best route for good jobs and rewarding careers.
Credit/Debt/Loans How a Home-Equity Line of Credit (HELOC) Can Hurt You If you don't manage your home-equity line of credit prudently, a HELOC can become very expensive and get you into financial trouble.
Credit/Debt/Loans Should You Lease or Buy Your Next Car? Many car shoppers are stymied by the decision to lease or buy. Let's see if we can help you with the decision.
Credit/Debt/Loans Mortgage Interest Rates Buying a home with a mortgage is probably the largest financial transaction you will enter into. Here's what you need to know about mortgage interest rates.
Credit/Debt/Loans Are Credit Karma Scores Real and Accurate? Only you can evaluate whether getting a free credit score is really worth giving up your personal information, especially in an era when hackers are alarmingly successful at getting their hands on that personal data.
Credit/Debt/Loans What Happens If You Don't Pay Your Student Loans? Most student loans are guaranteed by the federal government, and the feds have powers about which debt collectors can only dream. Here's why you should pay your student loans.
Credit/Debt/Loans Credit, Debit and Charge Cards From a financial perspective, debit and charge cards are structured so that they pose little danger to your financial well-being. Learn how to use the right plastic money.
Credit/Debt/Loans Reverse Mortgages When used properly, it can be an effective financial planning solution. If you are approaching or over age 62, you should learn more about reverse mortgages.
