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'Kings Dominion' repeal among 2019 Va. education bills 01/08/2019 05:37am • WASHINGTON — Virginia lawmakers will take another swing at repealing the so-called "Kings Dominion Law" regarding school start dates this year, along with a litany of other education-related bills. While one proposal would repeal the law entirely, allowing local school systems to start any time Fastest Ways to Improve Your Credit Score 01/07/2019 07:00pm • If you're planning to apply for a loan or credit card within the next six months or so, you might worry that you don't have time to raise your credit score. But if you take steps to improve your credit history now, you might see an improvement in your score in as little as a couple months. Actions i How Much Credit Card Debt Is Too Much? 01/06/2019 07:00pm • Credit card debt is on the rise. According to data released by the New York Federal Reserve in November 2018, credit card debt is up by $36 billion in the last year. And you may be paying the costs. How do you know when your credit card debt goes from normal to out of control? Here's a look at the w Ways to Build Credit as a Student 01/03/2019 07:00pm • Establishing credit while you're in school can help make the transition into post-graduation life much easier. Good credit can help you qualify for lower interest rates on a student loan refinance, pass an employment background check or get approved for an apartment lease. But when it comes to buil What Is a Student Loan Servicer? 01/03/2019 07:00pm • Student loans account for a large and increasing share of consumer debt, especially for younger borrowers. According to third-quarter 2018 Federal Reserve data, borrowers in the U.S. owed more than $1.5 trillion in student loan debt. That mountain of debt is handled by student loan servicers -- the Will 2019 be the year of the millennial homebuyer? 01/03/2019 07:00pm • Only 32 percent of millennials owned a home in 2015, according to a 2018 Millennial Homeownership Report from the Urban Institute. However, that might change in 2019. While interest rates are rising, housing prices are expected to stabilize, offering additional affordable options to first-time ho What Happens When You Stop Making Credit Card Payments? 01/02/2019 07:00pm • Whether the reason is a layoff, a medical emergency or a pile of debt that is more than you can afford, struggling to pay credit card bills is a problem many people face. When you quit making credit card payments, you can be charged late fees and higher interest rates and take a hit on your credit. 3 Myths About Public Service Loan Forgiveness for Physicians 01/01/2019 07:00pm • The average cost of attending medical school in 2018-2019 is about $37,000 per year for in-state students and almost $61,000 for out-of-state attendees at public universities, according to the Association of American Medical Colleges. Graduates of public medical schools from the class of 2018 had a 10 Great ETFs for Beginning Investors 01/01/2019 07:00pm • It's a great time to get started.It can be daunting for new investors to figure out the stock market even in the best of times. And after 2018, which marked the worst performance for the S&P 500 since the dark days of the financial crisis, it can be intimidating if you're just getting started. B 50 ways to improve your finances in 2019 01/01/2019 09:00am • Ring in the new year. The start of a new year is a time to make financial resolutions, ditch bad money habits and consider ways to improve your financial health. Throughout the past year, U.S. News has published stories with great advice on how to save money, pay down debt and reach your financi What Is My Debt-to-Income Ratio? 12/30/2018 07:00pm • Your debt-to-income ratio is an important metric when it comes to determining whether you qualify for certain types of loans. It's typically associated with mortgage loans, but lenders may use it to determine eligibility for auto loans, personal loans or other types of credit. It's one of those key 10 Steps to Achieve Financial Freedom 12/27/2018 07:00pm • Start living within your means.You're in good company if you're living paycheck to paycheck, says Jon Brodsky, U.S. country manager for personal finance comparison website Finder.com. "It's common in every single income bracket," he explains. While Brodsky argues people shouldn't beat themselves up 8 Trends Real Estate Investors Should Be Watching 12/27/2018 07:00pm • Real estate can be a refuge.Your New Year's celebrations aren't complete without a portfolio review. As stocks continue to fizzle and pop, real estate investment strategies may look more promising. Historically, real estate has outperformed the stock market, acting as a stabilizer for investors when 3 ways to improve a less than perfect credit score 12/27/2018 03:29pm • WASHINGTON — Your credit history might be of interest to everyone from potential employers to insurance companies, so an economics expert thinks fixing less-than-perfect credit should be on to-do lists for 2019. Here are his three suggestions: Pay whatever’s possible The largest portio 9 Sectors That Investors Should Watch in 2019 12/26/2018 07:00pm • Health care will remain a top performer. Health care, consumer discretionary and real estate were among the best performing sectors in 2018, and at least two of these sectors should rise in early 2019. Sam Stovall, chief investment strategist at CFRA Research in New York, says the beginning of the y