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5 Harmful Credit Score Myths 07/16/2018 08:00pm • There are a lot of misconceptions out there about credit scores. I don't blame you for being confused. Credit scores can seem a little mysterious, especially since there are dozens of different scores. So, let's bust a few myths and get to the truth. Then you can use the information to build a fabul 10 Ways to Bounce Back After Bankruptcy 07/16/2018 08:00pm • Take these proactive steps to rebound quickly and improve your credit score. While the prospect of restoring your credit and financial stability can feel overwhelming after a bankruptcy, it hardly compares to the negative emotions experienced before filing for one. That's why, if you've survived a r How Healthy Are Your Sleep Patterns? 07/16/2018 08:00pm • The symptoms of insufficient sleep are recognizable: You struggle to stay awake, you feel worn down, and you start to make small mistakes, such missing a question you knew the answer to on an exam or missing a traffic sign. Aside from injuries, most short-term effects of not getting adequate sleep How to Use Your Bank's Automatic Transfer Tools to Make Budgeting Easy 07/16/2018 08:00pm • Budgeting is an incredibly powerful personal finance strategy. Sitting down, figuring out where all your money is going and where it should go is enormously valuable. It shows you a clear picture of what you should be doing with your money. The challenge is maintaining that momentum once you've asse How to Invest in Zero-Coupon Bonds 07/15/2018 08:00pm • Zero-coupon bonds live in the investing weeds, easily ignored by ordinary investors seeking growth for college and retirement. Even fixed-income investors may pass them by, because they don't provide regular coupon payments -- the interest earnings come all at once when the bond matures. But the fac Netflix, Inc. (NFLX) Stock Plunges on Subsciber Whiff 07/15/2018 08:00pm • Netflix, Inc. (Nasdaq: NFLX) reported second-quarter earnings after the bell on Monday, and shareholders were shocked by the disappointing results. Netflix stock immediately plunged more than 12 percent in after-hours trading. The popular streaming video platform beat on earnings and barely missed o 5 Tips to Quit Stressing About Money 07/15/2018 08:00pm • Many people mistakenly believe that if they just had more money, all their financial anxiety would disappear and they could finally be happy. In some cases, earning more is the solution to improving your financial health or dealing with a hardship. But what's surprising is that you can feel stress DC gets Moody's highest credit rating 07/13/2018 09:08am • WASHINGTON — From junk two decades ago to the highest possible credit rating, the District's Wall Street standing has never looked so good. Moody's Investors Service has assigned its top AAA credit rating to the District's outstanding general obligation bonds, covering $4.8 billion in District 'I don't know if what I'm doing is right': DC-area millennials face barriers to retirement planning 07/13/2018 04:28am • In our three-part special report, Money On Our Minds, WTOP takes a close look at the financial situation of millennials in the D.C. area and how they make ends meet, with a focus on student loan debt, homeownership and retirement planning. WASHINGTON — Millennials living in metro areas, paying How to Choose Your First Real Estate Crowdfunding Investment 07/12/2018 08:00pm • Real estate could be a safe bet if you're worried about a bear market setting in. If you don't want the hassle of owning an investment property directly, crowdfunding may be the answer. Crowdfunded real estate investments account for $2.5 billion of the $7 trillion commercial real estate market, ac Why You Don't Need a Perfect Credit Score 07/12/2018 08:00pm • The last time I checked my FICO score, it was 838. I write about credit cards and credit scores for a living, so that made me crack a smile. A perfect credit score is supposedly 850, so I'm just short of that. And guess what? I don't care about reaching the revered 850 credit score. I'm perfectly h Student loan debt, wealth divide are harming millennials' homeownership dreams 07/12/2018 04:45am • In our three-part special report, Money On Our Minds, WTOP takes a close look at the financial situation of millennials in the D.C. area and how they make ends meet, with a focus on student loan debt, homeownership and retirement planning. WASHINGTON — Millennial homeownership is growing. Peopl When It Makes Sense to Buy Muni Bonds Outside Your Home State 07/11/2018 08:00pm • Most people buy municipal bonds issued by an entity in their home state because the interest paid is generally exempt from federal and states income taxes. With the changes in the tax code, getting that state income tax exemption is important for people who live in high-tax states like New York and Should I Take a Pay Cut? 07/11/2018 08:00pm • Most people think of their future earning potential as only going in one direction: up. But for some workers, there are legitimate reasons to reverse that trajectory and take a pay cut. Some employees may accept reduced wages to stage a career change. Others may need to scale back on hours to act a 10 of the Best S&P Dividend Stocks in the First Half 07/11/2018 08:00pm • Income investors in these shares enjoyed a double play.The best dividend stocks are often slow-but-steady companies that offer reliable paydays but not much share price appreciation. And that's just fine for many income-oriented investors who have no intention of selling their shares, and just want