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Why Taking a First-Time Homebuyer Education Course Is a No-Brainer 01/13/2016 07:00pm • When Stefanie Cates and her husband, George, were looking for a home in Sarasota, Florida, they were lucky enough to receive down payment assistance from the United Way. With that assistance came a requirement that they attend a homebuyer education course. Both Stefanie and George work two jobs, bu Keep an Eye on These College Savings Trends in 2016 01/12/2016 07:00pm • Beth Halbach wanted her friends and family to be able to give college savings as a gift for her 1-year-old daughter's birthday, but she found the gift-giving process available through her college savings plan in Minnesota to be cumbersome. She ended up using Gift of College, a third-party gift reg 10 Things Millennials Should Do to Reach the Next Financial Level 01/12/2016 07:00pm • Millennials have had a rough road when it comes to money. Not only did they come of age during the Great Recession, which made jobs scarce and benefits even scarcer, but many saw their parents lose big time in the stock or real estate markets, which scared them off of making their own investments. Why Wall Street Hopes for a Huge 2016 for Auto Stocks 01/12/2016 07:00pm • As the North American International Auto Show gets underway in Detroit, automakers are riding high, having ended 2015 with the highest sales ever recorded. The final tally for the year, according to WardsAuto, reached 17.47 million vehicles, a 5.8 percent increase from the 16.51 units sold in 2014. What to Expect Filling Out the FAFSA for the First Time 01/12/2016 07:00pm • If you're a high school senior, or the parent of one, January is when you should start thinking about filling out your first Free Application for Federal Student Aid, or FAFSA. Having an idea of what to expect in a financial aid package can go a long way in making the decision as to which college Low-Cost Public Online Bachelor's Programs for Out-of-State Students 01/11/2016 07:00pm • The U.S. News Short List, separate from our overall rankings, is a regular series that magnifies individual data points in hopes of providing students and parents a way to find which undergraduate or graduate programs excel or have room to grow in specific areas. Be sure to explore The Short List: C How to Audit Your Financial Products 01/11/2016 07:00pm • The new year comes with resolutions, albeit often short-lived, to be better in some way. Before the boost for success weans, you should take some time to conduct an audit of your financial products that may help you reach your money goals for the year. How to Start a Financial AuditStart by writing Former Va. governor McDonnell's corruption appeal reaches Supreme Court 01/08/2016 04:58am • WASHINGTON -- The Supreme Court will consider Friday whether to hear former Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell’s corruption appeal. McDonnell and his wife Maureen were convicted in 2014 of taking more than $165,000 in gifts and loans from Virginia businessman Jonnie Williams in exchange for the presti 5 Ways to Deal With Debt Before Retirement 01/07/2016 07:00pm • Like oil and water, debt and retirement don't go together very well. Living on a fixed income while still making monthly credit card or mortgage payments can be a struggle. A 2013 study from the University of Michigan Retirement Research Center found that almost a quarter of baby boomers have debt t Crowdfunding fuels startup innovation at CES 01/06/2016 02:22pm • By Steve Winter and Kenny Fried, special to wtop.com It really doesn’t seem so long ago when companies starting in business had two primary options when it came to raising money – venture capitalists and loans from family and friends. The past few decades have brought about the rise of ang 6 Tricks to Pay Off Debt in 2016 01/05/2016 07:00pm • Whether you've been left with a debt hangover after the holidays or are still struggling to pay off the debt load you've acquired over the years, make 2016 the year you free yourself of the burden of credit card debt and loans. The new year is the perfect time to put together a debt payoff plan and Explore What Perkins Loan Program Extension Means for Students 01/05/2016 07:00pm • It looks like the Perkins loan still has some life left in it after all. Right before the holidays, President Barack Obama signed bipartisan-backed legislation to extend the recently expired Perkins loan program. Congress had initially allowed the program to lapse a few months ago, but the recent 6 Facts to Know About Your 401(k) 01/05/2016 07:00pm • If the new year brought with it a change in your employment situation, it's a good time to carefully review your options for your existing 401(k) plan. Here's what you need to know to properly manage your 401(k). How much you have saved makes a difference. If you have less than $5,000, your former Your Guide to Writing Ironclad Financial New Year's Resolutions 01/05/2016 07:00pm • If you've been brainstorming your financial resolutions for 2016, you're not alone: According to Fidelity Investments' 2016 New Year Financial Resolutions Study of 2,013 adults, more Americans are making financial resolutions this year than last year. About 37 percent of respondents said they were c 10 Foolproof Ways to Reach Your Money Goals 01/05/2016 07:00pm • New Year, New YouRinging in the new year means it's time to set some big financial goals, too. Whether you want to save more money, pay off debt or buy a new home, these tips from financial experts will help you achieve even your most ambitious money dreams.Review your finances.The first step toward