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How to Manage Student Loan Debt During Government Shutdown 01/22/2019 07:00pm • Much has been reported about the struggles of furloughed federal workers during what has become the longest government shutdown in U.S. history. As each day passes without a resolution to the crisis, a growing portion of the 800,000 affected employees face the bleak prospect of falling behind on the 7 of the Best Paying Closed-End Funds 01/22/2019 07:00pm • An alternative for some investors.Investors can be excused for worrying about the stock and bond markets. Stocks have had some scary plunges, and bonds are under threat from rising interest rates. In a rough market, some experts recommend an alternative to the mainstream mutual funds -- closed-end f How to protect your credit score during government shutdown 01/22/2019 08:00am • If you're one of the 800,000 federal employees who are not getting paid during the government shutdown, you're in a tough spot, for sure. Most likely, you've morphed into survival mode, which may or may not include thinking about your credit score. I totally get that. But what if I told you it's Tips when searching for a house to accommodate disabilities, special needs 01/22/2019 12:32am • WASHINGTON — When Molli Bishop began house hunting in 2017, her search was narrowed by a few specifics. She needed a home that had a bedroom on the main level. Some sort of covered parking was also at the top of her wishlist, as was a bathroom that could be modified to meet the needs of her you Low-Interest Loan Options for Furloughed Federal Employees 01/21/2019 07:00pm • When you're living paycheck to paycheck, missing one pay period because of a work furlough can derail plans for your budget and overall financial health. In the case of the current partial government shutdown, many financial institutions are scrambling to give the federal workers affected a chance t 10 Reasons Volatility Is Good for the Stock Market 01/21/2019 07:00pm • Don't panic over stock market moves.A volatility spike in U.S. stocks in the past couple of months eliminated 2018 gains and left investors uneasy about the prospects of a bear market. The S&P 500 index is down 10 percent since October 1, while the CBOE S&P 500 Volatility Index (VIX) jumped 10 Financial Moves to Make When Interest Rates Rise 01/21/2019 07:00pm • After many years of low rates, the U.S. Federal Reserve raised the federal funds rate nine consecutive times in the last three years, including four times in 2018 alone. Furthermore, the Federal Reserve forecasts two more increases for 2019. Short-term interest rates track the current federal funds How Bond Investors Can Cope With a Bear Threat 01/21/2019 07:00pm • Depending on which pundit sounds off on which day, we're in a bear market, a volatile market, a market correction, a market comeback -- or some sort of mystery market that not even a crystal ball and 10 university economists can crack. You can almost hear the sigh in Angelo DeCandia's voice when th How to Set Up Your First 401(k) 01/21/2019 07:00pm • New employees have many expenses competing for their limited paychecks. Student loan bills, food, rent and utilities can easily consume a starting salary. But 20-somethings have one very important thing going for them. Young people are in the best position of their lives to start saving for retirem Furloughed federal workers are warned of employment scams, bogus loans 01/21/2019 03:52am • WASHINGTON — As federal workers and contractors miss paychecks, consumer experts are warning them to be wary of scam artists who might seek to exploit their troubling situation. The Montgomery County Office of Consumer Protection said anyone in financial distress should watch out for bogus loan 3 Tips for Investors in a Government Shutdown 01/17/2019 07:00pm • If you're worried about how your investments will fare during a government shutdown, you shouldn't be, at least if you're in your portfolio for the long haul. But that doesn't mean that even investors who don't invest specifically in potentially affected companies or sectors that rely on government How to Get a Mortgage With Bad Credit 01/17/2019 07:00pm • You've found your dream home and made an offer. Now comes the hard part: getting a home loan to finalize the purchase. Applying for a mortgage means putting your finances, including your credit score, in the spotlight. A bad credit score could add an extra wrinkle or two to the mortgage approval pr When $1 Million in a 401(k) Is Really $600,000 01/17/2019 07:00pm • That $1 million in your 401(k) account looks mighty good. It's more than you've ever had in your life, and that money will fund your retirement. But it's not quite yours. Your retirement account is tax-deferred, not tax-free. And Uncle Sam hasn't been paid yet. "Some people have this notion that whe After the 'yes': Advice for the newly engaged 01/17/2019 05:06am • WASHINGTON — "To everything there is a season," the Bible tells us, and that includes engagements. While some of you have been stressing about baking pies, shopping for gifts and then exercising off all that pie, others have been dropping to a knee, Putting a Ring on It and making big plans. Can Practicing 'Minimalism' Improve Your Financial Health? 01/16/2019 07:00pm • When it comes to her lifestyle, Chelsea Ricketson finds that practicing minimalism doesn't just help her mentally or spiritually -- it helps her financially. "When you become an entrepreneur, you get quickly creative about: What do I need to spend money on and what don't I?" says Ricketson, 30, who