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How Should I Respond to a Debt Settlement Offer? 11/13/2018 07:00pm • Getting a debt settlement offer may feel like a lifeline if you're drowning in unpaid bills. But if you settle for less than what you owe -- perhaps much less -- there are serious downsides, too. You may need to make an immediate payment in full and could face tax consequences. That's why experts of 8 Stocks Saddled With Unrealistic Expectations 11/12/2018 07:00pm • Investors expect too much from these companies.The stock market's October hiccup reset the valuations of a number of popular stocks. But the sell-off was a friendly reminder to all investors that expectations can get easily get a bit too high on Wall Street. Bank of America uses its Beat Factor scre What You Need to Know About Getting a Security Clearance 11/11/2018 07:00pm • Securing a Job Opportunity Aspiring civil servants may find themselves in need of security clearances to gain government employment or move up in the ranks. U.S. citizens who apply for this kind of access may have to fill out forms, provide character references for investigators to interview and eve Tips for Aggressively Paying Down Credit Card Debt 11/11/2018 07:00pm • If you feel like you're drowning in credit card debt, you're not alone. As of September 2018, the Federal Reserve reported that Americans have more than 1 trillion dollars in revolving debt, which includes things like credit card debt. But while virtually everyone agrees that having less credit card 8 Ways to Invest as Rates Rise 11/08/2018 07:00pm • Rate hikes prompt portfolio assessment.The Federal Reserve raised rates eight times since 2015, three time this year alone -- and many observers expect another hike before 2018 is over. Last week, 10-year Treasury yields hit new highs, briefly climbing to 3.2 percent and the highest levels since mid What Is a Credit Reference? 11/08/2018 07:00pm • Your credit report is your most well-known -- and valuable -- credit reference. But it's not the only one you have. A credit reference can take on many different forms. For instance, each individual account listed on your credit report is also considered a credit reference. And some credit referenc Commentary: Sri Lanka's Constitutional Crisis and the Threat to Its Democracy 11/07/2018 07:00pm • In late October, Sri Lanka President Maithripala Sirisena made four decisions that have unleashed a constitutional crisis: He and his coalition withdrew from the national unity government, summarily fired Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, replaced him with former President Mahinda Rajapaksa, and 2018 Va., Md. ballot measure results 11/07/2018 10:33am • WASHINGTON — A number of projects, amendments and referendums were on the ballots Tuesday night in Fairfax and Loudoun counties in Virginia, and in Montgomery and Prince George's counties in Maryland. In Fairfax, a public safety bond passed with more than 304,000 votes. Shall Fairfax County, V When Is it a Good Idea to Pay Bills With a Credit Card? 11/06/2018 07:00pm • Credit cards can be a great tool for making your life more convenient, and that includes paying your bills. To stay on top of your expenses, paying bills with a credit card can help, says Tasha Bishop, director of operations and development at nonprofit credit counselor Apprisen. "The more you can Everything You Need to Know About Collateral Loans 11/06/2018 07:00pm • When you need cash for a major expense, it might be tempting to borrow from a payday lender or max out a credit card. But you have other options that won't harm your credit or put you in a cycle of debt -- even if your credit isn't all that great. Collateral loans could be a way to borrow the money How Interest Increases Your Student Loan Balance 11/06/2018 07:00pm • Interest rates are rising for federal and private student loan s. For borrowers with variable interest rates, the recent rate hikes may cause havoc on their ability to repay their student debt. From the day the student loan note is signed and disbursed, if the loan is unsubsidized, it begins to acc How the 2018 Midterm Elections Will Impact Energy Stocks 11/05/2018 07:00pm • State-level energy policies on the ballot in Colorado, California and Washington will impact 17 energy stocks, as some have already lost billions of dollars in market capitalization. The impact of these stocks, including both small- and large-cap equities, includes a Colorado proposition that would 10 Biggest Student Loan Repayment Mistakes 11/04/2018 07:00pm • Repaying your student loans quickly can help you pay less.Many Americans are still paying off student loans after age 40, according to a recent survey by Credit Karma, a personal finance company that offers free credit scores. The average student debt balance among 2017 college graduates, according What Is a Business Line of Credit? 11/04/2018 07:00pm • When running a business, the adage "you have to spend money to make money" is smart to remember. Yet if your pool of savings is too shallow to cover an unexpected bill or purchase essential inventory, the health of your enterprise is at stake. A 2018 survey conducted by The Firmament Group found 51 What Exactly Is a FICO Score? 11/04/2018 07:00pm • Your FICO credit score is a three-digit number that lenders use to get a snapshot of the health of your credit history. The number is based on the information in your credit report from one of the three national credit bureaus, Experian, Equifax and TransUnion. Lenders typically use your FICO score