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How to Avoid Financial Scams 01/29/2018 07:00pm • If you think you're impervious to financial scams, think again. Fraudsters are an ever-present threat, stealing your personal information and exploiting your weaknesses to get access to your money and account information. In 2017, cybercrime impacted the lives of more than 143 million Americans, co Distribution Network Powers Keurig, Dr Pepper Snapple Group Inc. (DPS) Deal 01/28/2018 07:00pm • Keurig Green Mountain, the privately held coffee giant best known for its ubiquitous K-Cups, is merging with the publicly traded Dr Pepper Snapple Group Inc. (NYSE: DPS), the carbonated beverage giant, in a deal worth $18.7 billion. DPS stock owners will receive $103.75 per share in a cash divide How to Help Adult Children Become Financially Independent 01/28/2018 07:00pm • It's natural for parents to want to provide for their children -- perhaps even after their kids are no longer kids at all. Increasingly, parents are continuing to financially assist their children well into adulthood. But while giving your kids monetary help can provide a lifeline in the short term What is a 401(k)? 01/28/2018 07:00pm • A 401(k) plan is a workplace retirement savings account. 401(k) accounts get their odd name from the section of the tax code that created and governs them. Workers and employers can both make deposits to the account until they hit annual contribution limits. The federal government provides tax brea When Paying $100,000 for a Graduate Degree Is Worth the Cost 01/28/2018 07:00pm • The decision to go to graduate school is usually an expensive one, and most students are willing to borrow large sums of money for an advanced degree. According to Sallie Mae's inaugural report on " How America Pays for Graduate School," the majority of grad students say an advanced degree is the n Get Your Fixed-Income Portfolio Ready for Rate Hikes 01/25/2018 07:00pm • Additional interest rate hikes are a virtual certainty this year, following last year's three increases. What's less certain is how frequently the Federal Reserve will raise rates. Rising rates, an indication of positive economic health, typically meet with less enthusiasm from fixed-income investor A Reverse Mortgage Can Be Smart Investment 01/25/2018 07:00pm • Reverse mortgages, or home equity conversion mortgages, are touted as a way for homeowners live longer and more affordably in their homes. And while most seniors do so out of necessity, a reverse mortgage can also be part of an investment strategy or insurance policy that extends retirement savings Consider Doing Some Financial Housecleaning in the New Year 01/25/2018 07:00pm • The new year is a time when many of us make money resolutions and set goals for the upcoming year. The more concrete the goal, the more likely you are stick to it and see it through. Financial goals are especially relevant for the new year because many components of our finances, such as earning in 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