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Want to Buy a Home? Consider These 3 Little-Known Mortgage Sources 03/21/2017 08:00pm • Buying a home is a deeply personal decision, and most people prefer the familiar when it comes to decisions about money and getting a mortgage. According to national consumer surveys, as many as two-thirds of homebuyers check in with friends and family first when starting the homebuying process. Bu What Is Compound Interest? 03/21/2017 08:00pm • When it comes to investing, compound interest really is the most powerful force in the universe. Remarkable in both its simplicity and its power, compound interest is the concept of reinvesting, along with the original principal sum, the interest earned on your investment. As a result, you earn inte The Time Might Be Right to Invest in Argentina 03/20/2017 08:00pm • Argentina has a rightly deserved reputation as a perennial economic basket case, but that doesn't mean the malaise will continue. Indeed, it seems things might be turning the corner, and some investors are starting to get excited. A recent report from Brown Brothers Harriman says there has been a "s 11 Tips to Spring Clean Your Retirement Investments 03/20/2017 08:00pm • The arrival of spring triggers a sense of optimism, a fresh start and a time to sweep out the cobwebs. As you spring clean your house, don't forget about your finances. This is the perfect time to take stock, review and set new financial goals to keep you on the path to retirement. Too many people Financial Sector Is Positioned to Lead Stocks Higher 03/20/2017 08:00pm • The higher the stock market rises, the more important it is for investors to be selective in the stocks they choose. In a new report, Credit Suisse analyst Lori Calvasina says the financial sector has the most upside for investors in the near future. The Financial Select Sector SPDR Fund (ticker: XL 3 Reasons Why You Need to Save Your Tax Refund 03/19/2017 08:00pm • It's tax time. For many Americans, this also means that it's tax refund time. According to the Internal Revenue Service, the average refund is $3,071, and although it's tempting to take that cash and treat yourself, you probably know the best financial course of action is to save that money for a r Choose the Right Contribution Rate for Your 401(k) 03/19/2017 08:00pm • There's really no getting around it -- choosing the optimal 401(k) contribution rate is serious business -- akin to laying the foundation of a new home, or planning a household budget before raising a family. Your 401(k) contribution rate -- the amount deducted from your check every pay period that Pros and Cons of Taking a 401(k) Loan 03/16/2017 08:00pm • Borrowing from your 401(k) account might sound like a good idea if you need the cash to pay off debt, buy a car, go on vacation or fund a business startup. After all, if it's vested, it's your money, tax day may be years off and you're paying back yourself -- not some credit card firm or payday loa Got Your First Credit Card? 5 Good Habits to Start Now 03/16/2017 08:00pm • If you have recently applied for your first credit card, this statistic might interest you: The average household with revolving credit card debt is carrying a balance of $6,885 and is paying $1,292 a year in interest, according to a recent NerdWallet.com study. Think about that. Every year, familie Tips for 'spring cleaning' your finances 03/16/2017 11:58am • WASHINGTON — I love the start of each season, especially spring. It symbolizes a new beginning to the year ahead, and what better time than spring to rejuvenate your own finances. Here are my spring cleaning tips to breathe new life into your personal finances. Rebalance your portfolio If Why 850 isn't really the perfect credit score 03/16/2017 11:00am • It's a myth that you have to have a perfect 850 credit score to get the best rates on loans and other financial products. If you aren't a member of the elusive "perfect credit score" club, don't sweat it. There isn't a single credit card or loan product that requires an 850 credit score. I 7 of the Best Cheap Stocks to Buy Under $10 03/15/2017 08:00pm • The best cheap stocks to buy nowThe stock market has made plenty of people rich, but sometimes it seems inaccessible to average investors. Whether it's terminology, risk or merely the process of opening a brokerage account, Wall Street can seem like an insider's game for the wealthy. But for beginni Fellowships Can Reduce Graduate School Expenses 03/15/2017 08:00pm • The potential return on investment surfaces quickly these days in many conversations surrounding college degrees. Earning potential nudges aside the notion of knowledge for knowledge's sake, particularly with undergraduates running up an average of more than $37,000 in student loan debt . With that Why You Should Start Estate Planning in Your 20s 03/15/2017 08:00pm • Estate planning isn't only for the rich or the old. Even the young and broke need to be thinking about how their assets will be distributed in the event of a tragedy. "It doesn't have anything to do with net worth. It has everything to do with taking care of the people you love," says Meg Muldoon, a Decode These 10 Vexing Financial Terms 03/14/2017 08:00pm • Say what?Meeting with a financial professional can be key to getting your finances on track. But one thing that doesn't make it easier: When your financial advisor seems to be speaking an entirely different language. U.S. News tapped certified financial planners to round up their least favorite fina