Search

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 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 How Do Corporate Credit Cards Work? 01/16/2019 07:00pm • Companies use corporate credit cards so that employees can charge authorized business expenses such as hotel stays and flights without relying on their own credit cards or cash. A corporate card usually carries a company's name as well as the name of the employee designated as the cardholder. Broad Should College Students Have Credit Cards? 01/15/2019 07:00pm • Parents might be apprehensive about giving their college student access to a credit card, but if they don't, it could cause problems down the line. Those who delay building a strong credit history may have trouble qualifying for credit cards and loans or even renting an apartment later on. With pla 6 tax breaks for homeowners 01/15/2019 07:00pm • Whether you're gearing up to file your taxes this year, researching what's ahead for next year or simply contemplating the benefits to buying a house in the future, there's a lot to consider. Under the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, which takes effect for tax filings for the 2018 calendar year, standard How to Pay Off Multiple Student Loans 01/15/2019 07:00pm • The Student Loan Ranger receives many questions from readers. On occasion, we like to share some queries that other borrowers are likely to relate to. Here's a sample of one we've addressed recently. The question has been edited for clarity and to protect the reader's privacy. Q: I graduated gradu Love and Money: 8 Signs You're Financially Compatible  01/14/2019 07:00pm • Determine if your partner shares your financial values. While kindness, intelligence, humor and shared interests are crucial attributes single people often look for in a partner, taking stock of whether you're financially compatible can help you build the foundation of a healthy relationship. With s Maryland estimates shutdown impact on state residents 01/14/2019 05:46pm • ANNAPOLIS, Md. (AP) — Maryland officials estimate the ongoing federal government shutdown is affecting about 172,000 residents in the state. The state's Bureau of Revenue Estimates said Monday in a report that each biweekly payroll those residents are not paid results in about $778 million in l Considerations Before Maxing Out Your 401(k) 01/13/2019 07:00pm • You probably already know that contributing to your 401(k) plan will improve your retirement finances. But shoveling as much money as possible into a 401(k) account shouldn't always be your top priority. There are some circumstances when it makes sense to pay down debt and build up some savings outs Federal workers, contractors share #ShutdownStories with WTOP 01/11/2019 05:31pm • Are you a federal worker or contractor affected by the partial government shutdown who did not receive a paycheck today? WTOP wants to know how you're dealing with the situation. Join the conversation on Facebook, message us or email talkback@wtop.com to share your story. WASHINGTON — Some Feds with student loans don't get a break during the shutdown 01/11/2019 11:09am • WASHINGTON — Federal employees who are not getting paid during the partial government shutdown might run into more financial trouble if they have student loans they need to deal with in the meantime. Student loan payments are still being collected because funding for the Department of Education 6 Economic Indicators to Understand 01/10/2019 07:00pm • If you want to understand the overall health of the economy, pay attention to key financial market indicators, including the unemployment rate, national debt and the consumer price index. These data points paint a picture of the country's financial well-being. "There are a number of common economic Can You Settle Student Loan Debt? 01/10/2019 07:00pm • When you took out a student loan to pay for school, you probably didn't expect it to go into default. But more than 1 million federal student loan borrowers default each year, according to the Urban Institute, a think tank focused on economic and social policy research. If you're in over your head, How to Recover After a Period of Unemployment 01/10/2019 07:00pm • For 800,000 federal workers, the beginning of 2019 didn't start on a high note. With an ongoing partial government shutdown, these federal employees are either working without pay or waiting at home until a budget deal allows them to return to their jobs. If previous government shutdowns are any ind