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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 8 Budget Types for Businesses 01/09/2019 07:00pm • Every business, whether small or large, needs a way to track its expenses, revenue and profits. "Budgets are really important for both internal and external (reasons)," says Joseph Fahey, director of business succession planning for PNC Bank. Budgets help owners and executives make informed decisio Why You Should Reevaluate Fixed Income Investments 01/09/2019 07:00pm • For many years, fixed income investors reached for higher yields using risky investments, such as high-yield bonds, certain types of bond-like investments and high-dividend paying stocks. Fixed income investments are vehicles with predictable return and the money is paid at certain times, such as m Trump pleads on TV for wall money; Dems say he stokes 'fear' 01/09/2019 05:48am • (new Image()).src = 'https://capi.connatix.com/tr/si?token=9be9c680-c459-4acb-af21-654a2ccca384';cnx.cmd.push(function() {cnx({playerId: "9be9c680-c459-4acb-af21-654a2ccca384",mediaId: '6c0ffa98-8409-46b4-ba13-9000fddb05b0' }).render("9116153643831a1b");}); WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Tr How Taking a Semester Off Can Affect Your Student Loans 01/08/2019 07:00pm • The reasons people may have for taking a semester off from college vary. Some students may experience family emergencies or health issues. There may be concerns about running out of money or students may be presented with a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity that would take them away from school. Whatev 7 Top Investing Strategies for an Uncertain Market  01/08/2019 07:00pm • Alter your strategy in an uncertain market. The stock market's been on a roller-coaster ride. With the S&P 500 index's fluctuations in early 2019, investors need a strong stomach. It's likely that the stock market's ups and downs will continue for the rest of the year. For investors seeking stra