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What College Students Need to Know About Credit Card Fraud 10/02/2018 08:00pm • Almost two-thirds of college students aren't concerned about falling victim to identity fraud, according to a 2015 report by Javelin Strategy & Research. At the same time, students experienced the most severe effects of fraud of any age group. It's not always possible to prevent credit card fra How Debt Collection May Change for Student Loan Borrowers 10/02/2018 08:00pm • The U.S. Department of Education may sever ties with private debt collection firms. This could be good news for federal student loan borrowers in default. Consumer advocates say some delinquent borrowers have dealt with collection agencies that haven't been forthcoming about options that may be avai Do You Need a Tax Attorney? 10/01/2018 08:00pm • If filing your tax forms is typically a seamless and straightforward process, you may not consider turning to a tax professional or accountant for help preparing a return. However, in other cases, seeking assistance from a tax attorney may be unavoidable, depending on your financial situation. For 4 Little-Known Ways to Get Into Credit Card Debt 10/01/2018 08:00pm • Credit card debt is one of those things that can sneak up on you when you least expect it. It's lurking behind that balance transfer credit card that's begging you to use it for new purchases. It hangs out in dark alleys and tells you to take a vacation you can't afford to earn a sign-up bonus. If n VOTER VOICES: Montgomery Co. voters sound off on Hogan, Jealous and the issues that matter to them 10/01/2018 04:17am • This story is part of the series, "Voter Voices." WTOP asked voters across Maryland what issues concerned them, and who would be getting their vote in the upcoming election for governor. Other chapters have included stops in Howard County, Baltimore City, Frederick County, and Prince George's The Difference Between Interest Rate and APR 09/30/2018 08:00pm • Homebuyers shopping for a mortgage usually look for the lowest interest rate. But another number -- the annual percentage rate, or APR -- is just as important when trying to determine how much house you can afford. The difference between the interest rate and APR is simple, says Bryan Sherman, a con The Truth About Credit Card Debt Settlement 09/30/2018 08:00pm • In general, your credit card company wants its money back -- all of it. Part of your agreement when using the card is that you'll pay back all the charges you've made, plus any interest and fees that you accrue. But, in some cases, credit card issuers realize that getting everything you owe simply i 5 Tips for Investors Nearing Retirement 09/30/2018 08:00pm • Sooner or later the retirement plan gets a kickoff time, but setting a date is just one of the final steps in changing from the accumulation phase to the distribution phase, when you start spending those hard-won assets. The final 12 months are critical to assuring retirement goes as desired, and ex Should I Fund My Business with a Credit Card? 09/27/2018 08:00pm • If you're starting a business and looking for quick and easy financing, one source is as close as your wallet. Personal and business credit cards are an attractive way to pay for some of the bills you'll face as a business owner, especially in the early stages when cash flow can't always match expen Take a College Tour Through Vermont 09/27/2018 08:00pm • Winters in the Green Mountain State attract plenty of skiers, snowboarders and other outdoor adventurers, but these four schools have lots of other attributes that make them distinctive. U.S. News visited Bennington College and Middlebury College, two liberal arts institutions, before venturing nor Are You Too Broke to Be a Parent? 09/26/2018 08:00pm • In the United States, fertility rates are declining. One of the key reasons young people are opting not to reproduce: Kids are too expensive. That conclusion comes from a survey conducted by Morning Consult for the New York Times, which found that, among respondents who had or expected to have fewe 7 Ways to Manage Unexpected School Expenses 09/26/2018 08:00pm • Americans are expected to spend more than $27 billion to get their kids ready to go back to school this fall, with the average family dishing out nearly $700 on school supplies, clothing and electronics, according to survey findings from the National Retail Federation. And while the shopping rush m Using an Income-Share Agreement to Pay for College 09/25/2018 08:00pm • After his family's finances took a downward turn, Casey Popp needed to find another way to pay for college during his sophomore year. Until then, "I had a couple of scholarships and some standard loans and a lot of financial monetary support from my parents," says Popp, a Chicago native. "We were i How to Manage Old, Unpaid Student Loans 09/25/2018 08:00pm • Older borrowers owe a larger amount of student loan debt than they did a decade ago. In fact, nearly 40 percent of federal student loan borrowers age 65 and older are in default, according to a 2017 report released by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. While a statute of limitations exists fo When Is a Cash-Out Refinance Loan a Good Idea? 09/25/2018 08:00pm • In a cash-out refinance mortgage, you take a loan against your home in excess of what you owe, leaving you with cash available to spend. Adding to the debt against your home could be a smart move if the cash is used for the right purpose. Using it for the wrong purpose, however, could lead to finan