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How to Protect Yourself From Identity Theft 01/25/2018 07:00pm • For cyber thieves, your personally identifiable information is as good as gold. Your name, email address, phone number, Social Security number, passwords and other information can allow criminals to wreak havoc on your financial accounts, medical records, credit health and even your job prospects. 6 Ways to Save on Rent and Expenses When You're Trying to Buy a House 01/25/2018 07:00pm • Taking the leap from renter to homeowner is exciting, but it's often harder than many anticipate. Even if the common hindrances of student loans and car payments aren't weighing you down, the amount you pay in rent can make saving up for your down payment next to impossible. In 2017, the national me What's Your Number? The Ins and Outs of Net Worth 01/24/2018 07:00pm • If you want to know your financial value, forget about your credit score. Instead, the number you really want to know is your net worth. It boils all your money decisions down to one figure that represents your financial standing. "People are worth a lot more than money," says Hans Scheil, a certif What Is a Flattening Yield Curve? 01/24/2018 07:00pm • The difference in the yields between short-term and medium-term interest rates is narrowing, and that's unnerving some bond market watchers. The spread between the yield on the two-year and 10-year U.S. Treasury notes is about 57 basis points, with the two-year yield at 2.08 percent and the 10-year How to Make a Budget -- and Stick to It 01/23/2018 07:00pm • For many consumers, the cornerstone of a healthy financial life is a strong budget. "A budget is a very powerful tool," says Jamie Ebersole, a certified financial planner in Wellesley Hills, Massachusetts. "It gives you the ability to think further ahead so you can make plans for goals coming up." Alternative to Student Loans: Income-Share Agreements 01/23/2018 07:00pm • As concerns mount over rising student debt loads, income-share agreements have attracted attention as a possible funding alternative for students and families. These aren't new -- economist Milton Friedman developed the basic ISA framework in the 1950s. But the concept received a major reboot when P Why Investors Must Start Early to Save for College 01/23/2018 07:00pm • By the time you finish this sentence, the National Student Loan Debt Clock will have ticked off another $25,000. The average debt for a college graduate is now more than $37,000, up 6 percent from the previous year. Even if Johnny Grad is lucky enough to land a loan at 2 percent and pays off $300 a 7 ETFs to Buy as Interest Rates Rise 01/23/2018 07:00pm • Interest rates will be going higher.Love it or hate it, one of the biggest drivers of the economic recovery and stock market rally over these last nine years has been the U.S. Federal Reserve. The institution embarked on innovative and unconventional strategies, including near-zero interest rates, t Asian Consumers Becoming Most Powerful Economic Force in World 01/22/2018 07:00pm • BEIJING -- There are five Starbucks coffee shops within an easy, 10-minute walk from my apartment in the central business district of China's capital city. That may come as a surprise. But Starbucks has become as much a part of daily life in China's major metropolises as it has in America. Starbuck Investors Can Benefit from Rising Interest Rates 01/21/2018 07:00pm • Rising interest rates may not be optimal for everyone, but it could mean above-average performance for financial sector investors this year, making the asset class a worthy component of a balanced portfolio. Banks make their money on the difference between the interest rate they charge to borrowers Tips on Where To Get a Better Rate for Your Money 01/21/2018 07:00pm • In terms of Federal Reserve rate hikes, 2018 will likely be similar to 2017, and that should be helpful to your cash holdings as many banks respond to the Fed rate hikes. Since the Fed started its tightening policy, it has hiked rates twice in the 13 months before 2017 and three times in 2017. Over 5 'Life Audits' That Will Save You Money 01/21/2018 07:00pm • Saving money doesn't have to be about hunting tirelessly for coupons or depriving yourself of small pleasures. Instead, make it about taking stock of your expenses and finding ways to lower them. Here are five areas in your financial life where it's relatively painless to reduce your spending. S Law School Applicants: Understand Bar Exam Character, Fitness Requirements 01/21/2018 07:00pm • Many prospective law school students intend to earn a J.D. so that they can become practicing attorneys. In addition to earning the degree, they must pass the bar exam to practice law in any of the 50 U.S. states. If you are currently working on completing your law school applications, the bar exam Netflix, Inc. (NFLX) Destroys Expectations, Stock Soars 01/21/2018 07:00pm • Netflix, Inc. (Nasdaq: NFLX) stock catapulted 9 percent higher in after-hours trading on Monday after a blowout fourth-quarter earnings report that showed dramatically more subscriber additions than Wall Street expected. First-quarter guidance also wowed the markets. NFLX earnings by the numbers. Arlington Co. residential property assessments up 3.8 percent 01/20/2018 03:16pm • WASHINGTON — Arlington County mailed out 2018 property tax assessments Saturday, and despite a rise in residential assessments, the county said overall property tax collections this year will present a budget challenge. Residential properties recorded what Arlington County calls a “solid” 3