College
most financial aid

College Math: 12 Tactics to Get the Most Financial Aid

The good news for college-bound students and their families is that increases in education costs are slowing, according to the College Board....

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Retirement
social security

Navigating the Social Security Waters

The Social Security Act was passed in 1935 and the retirement benefits program was enacted in 1937. The program was and still is designed to...

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Investment
Fed Rates

How the Fed Sets Interest Rates

The role of the US Federal Reserve, referred to most as “the Fed,” and how it determines interest rates remains a mystery for many people. One...

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Credit Repair
Lowering Debt

Retire Your Debt

It’s almost impossible to open a newspaper these days without reading about your retirement “number.” That is, the amount of money you need to...

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Estate Planning
sudden illness

Plan for a Sudden Serious Illness or Death in the Family

A sudden death or serious illness in the family can knock spouses and other family members for a loop. If the primarybreadwinner dies, what...

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Retirement
Prioritizing Retirement Decisions

Prioritizing Retirement Decisions

Retirement can be daunting to figure out, because the implications of your choices tend to get magnified. A market drop or negative health...

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Investment
overcoming fear

Overcoming Fear to Find Bargains

Behavioral finance is a relatively new field of study that blends economics with psychology by studying the decision making process. It is...

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College
Investing for college

Investing For College — Investment Choices

The challenge today is that there are so many options for saving, and one size does not fit all. Some of the vehicles to implement your college...

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Investment
annuity investments

Should I Replace My Annuity

When an insurance agent or broker recommends an annuity replacement, it may actually be a good idea for you and your family — or it may just be...

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Credit Repair
404

Your Credit Score: Knowing Whats Behind the Number

Your credit score is one of the most important numbers in life. It ranks right up there with your Social Security number – except this one can...

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Starting a Family
College Answer

What if College Isn't the Answer?

A 529 plan is a savings plan that allows individuals to save for a beneficiary’s college expenses. Invested funds grow tax free and, provided...

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Saving on Taxes
return due

Wow, My Tax Return is Due April 17!

“I can’t believe I am a week away from when my tax return needs to be filed”. I am sure that there will be a few people who are reading this...

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Insurance
Open Enrollment

October Means Open Enrollment

Put on the coffee and roll up your sleeves! Deciding on employer benefit choices can be a daunting task, especially when the plans change from...

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Insurance
long-term care isnurance

Should You Buy Long-term Care Insurance

For many people in retirement, their greatest fear is ending up in a nursing home. Being able to live independently or, barring that, getting...

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Savings
grocery store

Surviving the Grocery Store Maze

For many people, the grocery bill is one of the largest flexible budget items. Everyone needs food and water to survive, but after meeting this...

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Divorce
divorce relocation

Financial Planning for Relocation During Divorce

What steps can you take during the emotionally-draining and uncertain divorce process to financially plan for relocation? In concert with...

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Starting a New Job
small business funding

Funding Considerations for those Starting a Small Business

The bankers are saying “We’re lending!” but the small business owners are saying “No, they aren’t.” There clearly is a disconnection. Here are...

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Buying a Home
Renovations in a Down Home Market

Be Smart about Renovations in a Down Home Market

It's unlikely the real estate market will return to the fever pitch of the mid-2000s anytime soon – and maybe that's not such a bad thing. But...

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Retirement
your 50s and 60s

The Home Stretch - Your 50s and 60s

Try to boost your retirement savings goal up to 20 percent or more of your income. Workers age 50 and over can invest extra dollars into their...

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Investment
Place to Invest

Is Your 401(k) the Best Place to Invest

You’ve been contributing diligently to your 401(k), paying down debt, and are starting to wonder if there is something else you could be doing...

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Insurance
important asset

Protecting Your Most Important Asset

What is your most important asset? When asked this question, most people respond with their house, their 401(k), or the inheritance they hope...

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Retirement
retirement phases

The Phases of Retirement

For many, the phrase “retirement planning” has become limited to the planning done in the years leading up to retirement. When you consider...

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Credit Repair
double edged sword

Debt the Double-Edged Sword

The debt amount a person or entity owes to a creditor for funds borrowed is a four letter word capable of conjuring cold sweats in many...

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Retirement
Audit List

Don’t Forget to Audit Your Beneficiary Designations

In an ever increasing complex world, one aspect of your financial lives that is not always correct is the beneficiary of your retirement...

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Retirement
retirement planning

Confidence in Retirement 10 Planning Mistakes to Avoid

As more Baby Boomers approach their Golden Years they are faced with a plethora of challenges. Especially for those with greater resources, the...

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Investment
Financial Abuse

Investment Abuse Part 2 How to Take Action if Youre a Victim

Last month we looked at several common investment abuses, such as misrepresentation, unsuitable recommendations, and excessive trading. Now we...

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Credit Repair
indebted

Indebted Now What

It is hard to read a newspaper, listen to the radio, or watch TV these days without hearing about the level of government (state and federal)...

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Estate Planning
Estate Planning

Estate Planning for the Middle Class-Part I

Part I: What is it? Why do I need it?Everyone has an estate, regardless of size: it is just the total of your assets and liabilit...

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Estate Planning
estate planning

Leaving a Legacy An Everyman’s Guide to Estate Planning

It is believed that estate planning and deciding how your valued assets will be handled after you die is only for wealthy people with a large...

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Estate Planning
Losing Your Inheritance

Losing Your Inheritance to Uncle Sam - or Others

Successful estate planning takes not one generation, but two. The first generation needs to make a clear, sensible plan and the second needs to...

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