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Why Not All ETFs Are Created Equal 04/04/2016 08:00pm • The market for exchange-traded funds, popular stock-market instruments that track all sorts of equity and bond indexes and commodities, is continuing to grow. But some are better investments than others, experts say. At the end of last month, the number of U.S.-based ETFs reached 1,585 with $1.95 b 6 Reasons the Bull Market Won't Go Away 04/04/2016 08:00pm • In market parlance, the U.S. bull market for stocks is a senior citizen -- now in its eighth year, Wall Street's run has exceeded the historical average length of a bull market by more than three years. While markets were volatile early in the year, with the Standard & Poor's 500 index down mor Why You Should Avoid Debt Consolidation Programs - and What to Do Instead 04/04/2016 08:00pm • For people struggling with mounds of debt, a debt consolidation program can seem like a wonderful thing. These programs promise to take all of your debts and reduce them down to one convenient monthly payment, leaving you with only one bill to worry about and a seemingly direct path to debt freedom. Why It's OK to Love Legacy Investments 04/04/2016 08:00pm • There's the long-term investment strategy known as buy-and-hold -- and then the version as practiced by billionaire Warren Buffett, which you could call buy-and-hold-and-hold. In fact, Buffett has been famously quoted as stating, "Our favorite holding period is forever." Coca-Cola Co. (ticker: KO) When Your Credit Card's Interest Rate Doesn't Matter 04/03/2016 08:00pm • There's a simple way to avoid paying interest on all your credit card purchases: Pay your bill in full every month. You won't need a credit card with a 0 percent APR period, or have to sweet-talk a customer service representative into waiving charges. You can make the interest disappear on your own. 5 Sneaky Downsides of Using a Company Credit Card 04/03/2016 08:00pm • There's nothing like having a shiny company credit card to make you feel like a high roller. Entertaining clients? No problem. Taking a business trip to Chicago? You'll book that flight. Attending an annual conference? The registration fee is covered. But there are some pesky downsides to flashing How Job Changers Manage Their 401(k) Plans 03/31/2016 08:00pm • Every time you change jobs, you need to decide what to do with the savings you have accumulated in your 401(k) plan. Separating from service can be an opportunity to seek out a retirement account with better investments and lower costs. However, you also need to watch out for fees and tax penalties How to Know if You're Saving Enough for Retirement 03/31/2016 08:00pm • As a financial planner, one of the most common questions I am asked is "How much money should I have saved?" or "How far behind am I in saving for retirement?" My answer? It depends. There's no one size fits all solution when it comes to how much you should have stashed away for your retirement. Wha 10 Law Schools With the Most Full-Time Applications 03/30/2016 08:00pm • The U.S. News Short List, separate from our overall rankings, is a regular series that magnifies individual data points in hopes of providing students and parents a way to find which undergraduate or graduate programs excel or have room to grow in specific areas. Be sure to explore The Short List: C Determine the Risks, Rewards of a Master's in Fine Arts 03/30/2016 08:00pm • The decision to get a master's degree in an artistic field can be a fraught one. If you're good, after all, you should be able to make it without one, right? And you're already looking at a high probability of living in relative poverty, at least compared with MBAs and techies, so why make matters w Income Sensitive Repayment: the Forgotten Student Loan Plan 03/29/2016 08:00pm • The Student Loan Ranger talks a lot about the various repayment options available to student loan borrowers. With most of the new income-driven plans, there's usually a caveat that only federal direct loan borrowers are eligible for the plan, while Perkins and federal family education loan borrower Law Schools Innovate With Hands-On Learning 03/29/2016 08:00pm • Law school continues to be more of a buyer's market than in years past, as many programs invent new ways to reel in applicants who've been wary of the poor job outlook and steep tuitions. The legal education community is still trying to regain its footing after the Great Recession forced firms to r 50 Affordable Places to Buy a Retirement Home in 2016 03/28/2016 08:00pm • Low cost locales.Downsizing into a smaller and more affordable home can give a quick yet significant boost to your nest egg. Your retirement savings will stretch further if you relocate to a place with less expensive housing. Consider these 50 places with low homeownership costs for retirees.Wheelin Beware the Biggest Threat to Your Credit Score 03/28/2016 08:00pm • You check your credit score, expecting to see your regular 700+ number, but then your stomach sinks. What could possibly have caused it to drop down to 620? You paid your student loans, credit card bills, auto loan and mortgage this month -- as you do every month. This just doesn't make sense! You q 5 Reasons to Avoid Penny Stocks at All Costs 03/28/2016 08:00pm • Listen, there's nothing wrong with saving a little scratch. Ben Franklin's famous adage, "a penny saved is a penny earned," still rings true today, and if you can manage to invest those earnings -- well, you've just compounded a wise decision upon a wise decision. Of course, there are endless pitfal