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3 Recent College Grads Share Student Loan Tips 05/09/2017 08:00pm • For most college students, graduating with student loan debt is a grim reality. Nationally, about seven in 10 college seniors who graduated from public and private nonprofit colleges in 2015 had student loan debt, according to the most recent statistics available from the Institute for College Acces How to Tell if You are Saving Enough for Retirement 05/09/2017 08:00pm • We all know we should be saving for the future. But for a substantial portion of the population, deferred gratification and building financial independence is difficult to practice. Setting a retirement savings goal can help motivate you to save every month. Making progress toward your goal will al 7 Horrendous Dividend Stocks to Actively Avoid 05/09/2017 08:00pm • 7 Dividend Stocks to Avoid Into 2018The concept of a dividend stock is a beautiful thing: Investors get paid regular cash distributions just for passively owning a slice of the company. Dividends allow investors who need an income stream but may want a little more upside than bonds offer to get exac Want Less College Debt? Graduate Sooner 05/09/2017 08:00pm • The ability to complete a four-year college degree in three years is not new. Technically, any student with the motivation has had the ability to do this, assuming the school offers the required classes in the time frame the student needs them. Since this seems like an easy way to reduce the overall 10 Easy Ways to Pay Off Debt 05/09/2017 08:00pm • Are you swimming in debt and don't know how you're ever going to pay it off? You're not alone. In fact, the average U.S. household has nearly $17,000 in credit card debt, according to a 2016 NerdWallet analysis. If you're looking for some easy ways to cut down your debt, follow the advice of these U South Africa Still Hurting From Turmoil 05/08/2017 08:00pm • Don't count on South Africa's economy to get any better as long as the politics remain in flux. But there is some good news. Once the problems in government settle down there could be some big money to be made. Lower ratings. In April, Fitch Ratings downgraded South Africa's credit rating to BB+ fr 8 Things Not to Hide From Your Investment Professional 05/08/2017 08:00pm • How to avoid secret traps.Some adult shame amounts to little more than a grown-up version of blocking a cookie jar surrounded by telltale crumbs. But too often, the adult piggy bank is at stake. And for financial managers, that can set the stage for disaster. "You cannot have trust if the client is What to Expect as the IRS Has Private Firms Collect Overdue Taxes 05/07/2017 08:00pm • If you owe money to the Internal Revenue Service, you may be hearing from them soon, if you haven't already. Actually, you won't be hearing from the IRS. You'll be hearing from their "friends." Last month, the IRS started using four private companies to collect overdue payments from taxpayers who o Here's What VantageScore's New Credit-Scoring Formula Means for Your Wallet 05/07/2017 08:00pm • The way some credit scores are calculated is about to change -- and it could mean that bigger changes are on the way soon. VantageScore, the nation's second-most-prominent credit-scoring firm (behind long-time industry leader FICO), announced changes to its scoring formula last month. The most impo Credit Utilization: Understand How it Impacts Your Credit Score 05/04/2017 08:00pm • An excellent credit score can make life easier and cheaper. If your score is above 750, you will find it easy to get the lowest interest rates on mortgages, auto loans and credit cards. That score would even get you, in most states, much lower auto insurance premiums. But how do you get a score abo What you can learn from how professional athletes manage their money 05/04/2017 08:00pm • When L.J. Smith, a former tight end for the Philadelphia Eagles and Baltimore Ravens, played professional football, his contracts were worth more than many Americans earn in a decade. Despite those high payouts, Smith, who stopped playing football in 2009, says he doesn't indulge in a lavish life Scholarships Support Students Breaking Barriers 05/03/2017 08:00pm • Everyone knows of and applauds efforts to increase the number of women in science, technology, engineering and mathematics -- or STEM -- fields. But these aren't the only sectors where roles traditionally are assigned to one gender, and gender isn't always the barrier in play. Several organizations Bad Sentiment From Small Investors Means Good Gains Ahead 05/02/2017 08:00pm • Small investors are bearish about the stock market, but don't worry. A bearish sentiment from individual investors may mean this is a perfect time to stake new positions in the stock market. First, the data: the most recent data from the American Association of Individual Investors shows an above n 5 Signs That It's Time to Change Your Budgeting Strategy 05/02/2017 08:00pm • Starting a new job, getting married and many other life events will change your financial situation. If you aren't keeping an eye on your budget through these moments, you could be missing opportunities to improve your finances with additional savings or investment. Worse, you might be risking your New Fannie Mae Rules Help Home Buyers, Owners 05/02/2017 08:00pm • Many student loan borrowers -- 71 percent, in a recent survey -- say student loans are one reason they've delayed buying a home. But that could soon be changing. In the past, the Student Loan Ranger has explored and explained how student loans are taken into account when consumers apply for a mortg