Search

WashingtonFirst Bankshares completes $20 million capital raise 12/30/2014 05:38pm • WashingtonFirst Bankshares said Tuesday it raised approximately $20 million in equity through a private placement of 1,377,219 shares of newly issued common stock at a price of $15 per share. Purchasers of stock consisted of institutional investors that were existing stockholders in the company, acc My 15 business predictions for 2015 (and results of my 2014 picks) 12/29/2014 12:33pm • Here are my predictions for 2015. My 14-year record is 73 percent accuracy. Geopolitics, geo-competition and the supply/demand dynamic for crude oil won't find equilibrium anytime soon, causing prices to fluctuate, but average less than $70 per barrel. Buoyed by consumers buoyed by low gas prices a Taking care of business: 5 winners in politics this year 12/29/2014 12:15pm • A dysfunctional Congress didn't give businesses much to celebrate in 2014, but there were some winners at the intersection of money and politics. Here are five: The political establishment The Tea Party remains a powerful force in the Republican Party, but with one notable exception (the defeat of E 4 Ways to Raise Your Credit Score in 2015 12/28/2014 07:00pm • When you're writing out your New Year's resolutions this year, why not add "improve my credit score" to your list? Boosting your credit score can have positive effects -- including getting you better rates on future credit, helping you buy a home or car, and even making you a more competitive job 15 Sectors to Watch in 2015 12/28/2014 07:00pm • Which sectors are poised for growth? Even as they're waiting to watch the ball drop at Times Square, investors hope not to drop a ball of a different sort in 2015 -- whether that means missing out on a big opportunity in one sector or hanging on too long in another. Here, we present 15 sectors to 12 Ways to Survive a Forced Early Retirement 12/25/2014 07:00pm • When most workers plan for retirement, they expect to work until their full retirement age, which is 66 or 67 for people born after 1942, or even longer. But some workers find themselves out of a job at an age when it's difficult to find another one -- and at a time when they expected to be in thei Letters ask for community service over jail for former Virginia governor 12/23/2014 08:40pm • WASHINGTON - As prosecutors ask a judge to sentence former Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell to more than 10 years in prison, McDonnell’s friends, family and supporters have sent hundreds of heartfelt letters to the judge asking for leniency. McDonnell’s defense team is asking for a sentence of 6,0 Find Solutions for Older Americans With Student Loan Debt 12/23/2014 07:00pm • Much has been written of late about the dramatic rise in older Americans holding college debt, either for themselves or their children. What hasn't gotten nearly as much attention, however, are the practical solutions this population can use to take control of the debt. Here are some helpful tips on Have Bonds Lost Their Safety? 12/23/2014 07:00pm • Historically, bonds have provided an anchor for most investors' portfolios. We have all been told that as you get older, you should put more of your money in bonds and less in stocks. The Barclays U.S. 10+ Year Corporate Bond Index has returned an average of 7.17 percent annually over the past 10 ye FAQ: Best Colleges Rankings vs. Obama's College Rating Framework 12/23/2014 07:00pm • The U.S. Department of Education has released a framework that describes how the administration will execute its new college rating system, first proposed in August 2013. The administration says its first ratings of institutions will be released before the start of the 2015-2016 school year. Here ar Should You Use Balance Transfer Credit Cards to Pay Off Holiday Debt? 12/23/2014 07:00pm • Many people feel apprehensive in the month of January. The days are short, the gym is crowded and if you weren't cautious in December, the January credit card bill might pack a wallop.It's really best not to finance holiday giving and celebration on credit -- set a calendar alert reminding yourself 6 Mistakes Consumers Make When Taking Out Loans 12/22/2014 07:00pm • Loans are inevitable for most adults. If you buy a house or car, use a credit card or go to college, you'll likely need to take out a loan. U.S. household debt currently stands at $11.7 trillion, according to a recent Federal Reserve Bank of New York survey that draws on information from 40 million 10 Colleges Where Students Pay the Most for Room and Board 12/22/2014 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: WTOP source: McDonnell's 'house of heartache' 12/19/2014 12:13pm • WASHINGTON -- Former Virginia Gov. Bob McDonnell has been living apart from his wife Maureen ever since their September convictions on corruption charges, a source close to the family tells WTOP. “Not a day’s gone by that one of those family members hasn’t cried. They’re just devastated, 5 Steps to Improve Your Credit in 2015 12/17/2014 07:00pm • As 2014 winds down, you're probably thinking about resolutions you could make and aspects of your life you'd like to improve upon in the next year. Maybe you'd like to move into a bigger house or refinance your current mortgage to save a little money. Or maybe you'd like to get a new job or upgrade