Teacher Loan Forgiveness: How to Get Up to $17,500 of Your Student Debt Erased

May 16, 2019

If you’re a teacher with student loans, your student loan balance could get much lower after five years of work experience.

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Ask a CFP: How Much Should I Be Saving for Retirement?

May 14, 2019

There’s no perfect answer to this classic personal finance question, but here’s how to determine your perfect number.

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The 5 Best Books to Take Hold of Your Finances in 2019

May 16, 2019

These are five excellent ways to learn more about smart financial habits, how to invest, and how to develop a winning financial mindset.

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FAFSA Deadlines for 2019-2020 -- and How to Make Them

Apr 21, 2019

Here's when you need to have the FAFSA completed if you want to qualify for federal student aid.

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What Determines Your Student Loan Interest Rates?

Apr 26, 2019

Here’s a rundown of the major factors that go into both federal and private student loan interest rates.

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How to Consolidate Your Student Loans

Apr 23, 2019

If you have several student loans, consolidation can simplify repayment and provide some other benefits. But it's important to know what you're doing.

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Should You Keep Your Student Credit Card?

Apr 24, 2019

A student credit card may not be as good as some of the industry-leading products, but it could still be worth keeping.

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Is Savings Account Interest Tax Deductible?

Apr 24, 2019

Savings account interest is generally considered taxable income, and here’s what Americans should know about it.

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Your Guide to Income-Driven Student Loan Repayment Plans

Apr 27, 2019

Income-driven repayment can make your student loans more affordable -- and can also lead to loan forgiveness.

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Does Opening a Savings Account Affect Your Credit?

Apr 19, 2019

The act of opening a savings account doesn’t directly affect your credit, but there’s more to the story.

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5 Things to Look for in a Travel Rewards Credit Card

Apr 22, 2019

There's no such thing as a one-size-fits-all travel credit card, but here are five things that can help you decide on the best one for …

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How to Get a Personal Loan With a Cosigner

May 3, 2019

Applying for a personal loan with a cosigner can be a smart idea for many people, and here’s what you need to know about the …

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How to Freeze Your Credit: A Step-by-Step Guide

Apr 21, 2019

A credit freeze is the most effective way to stop fraudulent accounts from being opened in your name, so here’s what you need to know …

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A Student Loan Borrower’s Complete Guide to Public Service Loan Forgiveness

Apr 16, 2019

The Public Service Loan Forgiveness program could save student loan borrowers large amounts of money, but there’s a lot you should know before you apply.

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5 Tax Mistakes I See Too Often as a Certified Financial Planner

Apr 13, 2019

Here are some common tax mistakes that are easily avoidable.

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3 Smart Ways to Make Saving for College Easier

Apr 10, 2019

Saving for college can seem like a daunting task, but with these tips, it doesn't need to be.

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Stop These Slow Leaks in Your Bank Account

Apr 10, 2019

We all have some unnecessary expenses that we could cut. Here are several that might be adding bloat to your budget.

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Do Savings Accounts Have Routing Numbers?

Apr 17, 2019

Here’s what a routing number is and why all savings accounts have them.

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Independent Contractor? Don’t Make These 5 Tax Mistakes

Apr 12, 2019

Taxes for self-employed people are very different than taxes for employees, and there are some costly mistakes that can be made if you aren’t careful.

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Can Personal Loans Be Used for School?

Apr 22, 2019

Personal loans can be used to pay for school, but they are generally not the smartest option.

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Credit Inquiries and Your FICO® Score: What You Need to Know

May 16, 2019

Credit inquiries aren’t one of the largest components of your FICO® Score, but they do matter.

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5 Common Credit Card Scams to Watch Out For

Apr 15, 2019

Despite the adoption of chip-based credit cards, there are still some scams that are quite common.

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Is the Apple Credit Card Worth It?

Mar 29, 2019

We finally have some details behind Apple’s new credit card, so here’s what you need to know.

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Should I Pay Off My Student Loans Early?

Apr 5, 2019

Paying your student loans faster than you have to doesn’t make sense in all circumstances. Find out when it makes sense for you.

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7 Reasons Not to Consolidate Your Student Loans

Apr 18, 2019

Consolidating student loans has its advantages, but it isn’t the right move for everyone. Learn when it's NOT the right decision.

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Why Don't All Retailers Accept All Major Credit Cards?

Apr 2, 2019

There are two main reasons why you may not be able to use your favorite credit card at a certain retailer.

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Investing and Taxes: What Beginners Need to Know

May 17, 2019

Are you a new investor and curious how your tax bill could be affected? Here’s what you should know before you buy your first stock, …

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Here’s What Happened to My Credit Score When I Got a Personal Loan

Mar 19, 2019

Here’s a real-world story of how a personal loan can have a positive impact on a FICO® Score.

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Are Credit Card Chips Safe?

Mar 19, 2019

Credit card chips have cut down on certain kinds of credit card fraud, but they haven’t completely solved the problem. Find out what you can …

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Brokerage Account vs. IRA: What's the Right Move?

May 16, 2019

A quick guide to the pros and cons of taxable brokerage accounts and individual retirement accounts, or IRAs.

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What Is APR and What Does It Mean for Your Credit Cards?

May 1, 2019

Credit card issuers typically express their interest rates in terms of APR, or annual percentage rate, so it’s important to know what it means.

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What Is APY and What Does It Mean for Your Savings Account?

Apr 4, 2019

Banks commonly use APY to describe the interest paid by savings accounts, so here’s what it means.

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Your Complete Guide to Dealing With Collections and Charge-Offs on Your Credit Report

May 16, 2019

Doing damage control on your credit report can be a daunting task, but with the right game plan it can be highly effective.

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Is the Sam’s Club Credit Card Worth It?

May 1, 2019

The Sam’s Club credit card has a few interesting perks, but many consumers can find more value elsewhere.

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Should You Take Out a Personal Loan to Pay for Home Repairs?

Apr 5, 2019

A personal loan can be a smart choice for home repairs, but there are some alternatives that you should consider as well.

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3 Surprising Credit Hacks That Can Boost Your FICO® Score

Apr 2, 2019

Most Americans know the basic ways to build strong credit, but there are some outside-the-box ways you could try to give your score an extra …

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What to Know About Unsecured Personal Loans

Apr 5, 2019

There is a lot that Americans don’t understand about unsecured personal loans, so here’s a quick guide for beginners.

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When to Start a College Fund for Your Child

Apr 4, 2019

There are several ways to save for college, so here’s what you need to know about the best ways to do it and when you …

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Why Your Credit Card APR Is Going Up and What to Do About It

Apr 2, 2019

Here’s how credit APRs change over time, and what it means to you if you have outstanding credit card debt.

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3 Reasons to Open an Online Savings Account

Apr 4, 2019

There are some good reasons why you should park your cash online. Find out why here.

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3 Reasons to Open a High-Yield Savings Account Immediately

Apr 4, 2019

A high-yield savings account is superior to a traditional branch-based savings account in several ways. Find out why here.

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3 Reasons Not to Get a Personal Loan in 2019

Mar 4, 2019

Personal loans aren’t for everyone. Here are three situations when taking out a personal loan probably isn’t the smartest decision.

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3 Surprising Things to Know About Retirement Plans

May 16, 2019

If you think your retirement funds are tied up until you’re older, or that you need to get your retirement contributions in by the end …

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What Is Day Trading and Should You Do It?

May 17, 2019

Here’s why new investors should forget about day trading and just focus on the long term.

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What Credit Score Do I Need for a Home Loan?

Mar 12, 2019

Here’s an overview of the minimum credit score requirements for a home loan, and why you should try to build your score significantly higher than …

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What Credit Score Do I Need for a Car Loan?

Apr 5, 2019

Here’s what you can expect from the car-buying process, based on your current FICO® Score.

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How to Set Up a Credit Fraud Alert in 3 Easy Steps

Apr 2, 2019

If you’re worried about identity theft and want to be proactive, a fraud alert can be a good idea.

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How Much Money Do You Need to Start Buying Stocks?

May 17, 2019

You don’t need a lot of money to start buying stocks, but if you want to buy stocks the right way, there are a few …

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How Your Debts Affect Your Credit Score

Apr 2, 2019

Your debts make up a big portion of your credit score, but the way it works is more complicated than you might think.

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Don't Make These Mistakes When Applying for a Personal Loan

Feb 13, 2019

For the most part, personal loans are easy to understand and apply for. Just beware of these common missteps.

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This 1 Tip Will Help You Become a Better Investor Right Now

May 17, 2019

Starting to invest? Consider making this move to help ensure you’ll meet your goals.

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Secured Credit Cards: What You Need to Know

Mar 12, 2019

A secured credit card can be an excellent tool to rebuild or establish credit, so here’s what you need to know before you get one.

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Is the Lowe’s Credit Card Worth It?

Apr 26, 2019

The Lowe’s Advantage Card has a good everyday discount and unique financing options, but isn’t necessarily the best choice if you plan to carry a …

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Interest rate vs. APY vs. APR: What’s the Difference?

Apr 2, 2019

The terms interest rate, APR, and APY are often used interchangeably, but have different meanings that are important to understand.

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4 Things I’ve Learned on My Journey to Great Credit

Apr 2, 2019

Here are four valuable lessons for building credit from someone who destroyed his own credit and built it back up again.

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5 Reasons to Open a Roth IRA Right Now

May 16, 2019

There are several key advantages to investing for retirement in a Roth IRA in addition to the excellent tax benefits.

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3 Credit Cards With $450+ Annual Fees: Are They Worth It?

Apr 2, 2019

Just because a credit card has a high annual fee doesn’t necessarily make it expensive.

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5 Reasons to Open an IRA Account Right Now

May 16, 2019

Here are the five most compelling benefits of investing in an IRA as soon as you possibly can.

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Cash Back vs. Miles: How to Choose the Right Credit Card

Apr 23, 2019

There are advantages and disadvantages to both cash back rewards and miles -- here’s how to determine which is best for you.

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How to Get Pre-Approved for a Personal Loan in 4 Steps

Apr 5, 2019

The personal loan process is rather quick and painless these days. Here’s what you need to know.

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A Complete Guide to Discover Credit Card Benefits

Apr 2, 2019

Great benefits are one of Discover’s big advantages -- here’s your guide to the benefits that come with your Discover credit card.

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Where Can I Use My Discover Card?

Apr 2, 2019

Discover cards aren’t universally accepted like Visa and Mastercard cards, but they’re not that far off. Here’s what you can expect when you try to …

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4 Things to Avoid as a New Investor

May 16, 2019

All investors make mistakes, but some can be particularly devastating. Here are four mistakes newer investors should avoid making at all costs.

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Balance Transfer vs. Personal Loan: Which Should I Choose?

Apr 5, 2019

If you have high-interest debt, balance transfers and personal loans can help you get your debt under control. Find out which solution is best for …

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How Does a Certificate of Deposit (CD) Work?

Apr 3, 2019

A CD can help you get a higher yield from your cash than you can get from a savings account. If you want to put …

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Money Market vs. CD Accounts: How to Choose

Apr 3, 2019

If you have cash, money market accounts and CDs can help you put it to work in a safe manner. However, there are some important …

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Online Brokerage Comparison: E*Trade vs. TD Ameritrade

May 17, 2019

While E*Trade and TD Ameritrade have a lot in common, there are some key differences investors should understand. This comparison of the two online brokerages …

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Online Brokerage Comparison: E*Trade vs. Fidelity

May 17, 2019

If you’re considering E*Trade and Fidelity for your next brokerage account, here’s a rundown of each brokerage’s advantages.

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Here’s Why the New Amazon Business Credit Cards Could Be a Game-Changer for Small Businesses

Apr 1, 2019

Amazon and American Express just announced new business credit cards with some pretty unique perks.

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Chase Freedom® Travel Insurance: What You Need to Know

Mar 29, 2019

Depending on the specific version of the Chase Freedom® credit card you have, your travel benefits can be quite valuable.

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Luxury Card Black Card vs. Amex Platinum Benefits: Closer but Not Quite

Mar 26, 2019

The 'new' Black Card from Luxury Card is certainly better than its predecessor, but there are still better values out there.

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The Average American’s Credit Score Has Never Been Higher

Mar 15, 2019

The average FICO credit score is at an all-time high. Here’s where the average consumer stands, and why you should strive to be well above …

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Mortgage Pre-Approval vs. Pre-Qualification: What's the Difference?

Mar 13, 2019

These two terms are often used interchangeably, but have very different meanings.

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The UltraFICO™ Score Is Coming in 2019: Here’s What Consumers Need to Know

Apr 1, 2019

Promo: FICO is gearing up to roll out a new credit scoring model that could bring credit availability to more Americans.

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3 Credit Card Mistakes That Could Cost You a Fortune

Mar 8, 2019

You can save hundreds or even thousands of dollars on credit card interest, fees and other charges by understanding how to use your cards properly.

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How the Federal Reserve Affects the Interest Rates You Pay

Mar 28, 2019

Some consumer interest rates depend on the Federal Reserve’s actions, but not all of them do. Here’s a guide to help you know what to …

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How to Achieve a Perfect Credit Score

Mar 28, 2019

What do people with perfect or near-perfect credit do that you don’t? Find out now.

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When Should I Freeze My Credit?

Mar 13, 2019

A credit freeze can be a great way to prevent identity theft, but it isn’t necessary in all cases.

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You'll Be Shocked by How Many FICO® Scores You Really Have

Mar 28, 2019

The FICO® Score isn’t the only credit-scoring method, but it is certainly the most common.

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The Fastest Way to Raise Your Credit Score

Mar 28, 2019

If you have credit card debt, this move could boost your score by more than you think.

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How Does a Savings Account Work?

May 16, 2019

Learn the ins and outs to decide if a savings account is the right account type for you.

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Online Savings vs. Traditional Savings: Which Should I Choose?

Mar 13, 2019

Both online and traditional savings accounts have benefits and drawbacks. Find out which one is right for you.

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When Should You Open a Health Savings Account?

Mar 15, 2019

If you qualify, an HSA could be a great place to save money.

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Why Your Credit Score Matters When Applying for a Mortgage

Apr 16, 2019

Your credit score affects both your application approval and the mortgage interest rate you’ll end up paying.

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10 Expenses of Home Ownership You Need to Know

Mar 14, 2019

Your mortgage payment isn’t the only expense you need to budget for. Here are some of the expenses you might face if you become a …

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5 Signs It's Time to Refinance Your Mortgage

Mar 14, 2019

Refinancing doesn’t make sense for everyone, but here are five situations where it might.

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4 Questions to Determine Your Retirement Nest Egg

May 16, 2019

Do you know how much you'll need to save for a comfortable retirement? Here's a four-step process that can help you figure it out.

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3 Reasons Why That Store Credit Card Is a Good Idea

Mar 26, 2019

Promo: Store credit cards don’t always make sense, but they often have some key advantages over traditional credit card products.

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3 Reasons a Personal Loan Could Be Better Than Your Credit Card Debt

Mar 14, 2019

There are times when getting a personal loan will help you get a better interest rate and improve your credit score. Here's when a personal …

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How to Improve Your Credit Score When Buying a Home

Mar 14, 2019

If you’re thinking about buying a home, here are five tips to boost your credit score and get the best interest rate possible.

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8 Credit Score Myths You Should Stop Believing

Mar 25, 2019

There's a lot of misinformation out there about what does and does not impact your credit score. Make sure you know these 8 myths so …

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How Your Credit Score Is Calculated

Mar 25, 2019

Ever wondered how your credit score is calculated? Find out what goes into your credit score (and what does NOT) in this article from The …

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Is It Bad to Close a Credit Card?

Mar 25, 2019

Is it bad to cancel a credit card? Odds are you've heard mixed responses to that question. Find out what you should do in this …

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What Does My Credit Score Start At?

Mar 25, 2019

Where does your credit score start at? It's a bit of a trick question. Find out how creditors determine your credit score in this article …

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