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March has been friendly to Northern Virginia homeowners 04/17/2017 04:19am • WASHINGTON – For many homeowners in Northern Virginia, things are looking up this spring season. “We’re seeing a strong robust spring market,” said Ryan Conrad, CEO of the Northern Virginia Association of Realtors. Conrad said the number of homes sold is up 15 percent compared to last Use Your Tax Return to Cut Next Year's Tax Payment 04/16/2017 08:00pm • Once a tax return is filed, most taxpayers want nothing more than to get their refund, stuff the paperwork into a file cabinet and forget the whole ordeal until next time. But that can be a mistake, as the fresh return may tell you how to cut your bill next year. "One of the biggest mistakes people Northern Va. toll lanes to move forward 04/14/2017 04:34am • WASHINGTON — Toll lanes on Interstate 395 are set to take another step forward next week, when a state transportation panel is expected to approve a $45 million loan for the project. The Virginia Transportation Infrastructure Bank Advisory Panel will recommend Tuesday that the Commonwealth Tran The MBA Investment: Weigh Starting Pay, Inflation 04/13/2017 08:00pm • Pursuing an MBA degree requires a significant investment of time and money, so it's prudent to consider whether that investment will pay off in the long run. U.S. News data on MBA compensation provide reason for optimism. Between 2011 and 2016, the average starting salary and bonus among graduates Overhaul Your Portfolio As Interest Rates Rise 04/13/2017 08:00pm • With interest rates on the rise and expected to rise further, now may be a good time to start thinking about tweaking your portfolio. What has worked over the last few years of very low interest rates may not work as well as interest rates rise and the economy improves. "Our expectation would be tha 7 Money Lies That Could Hurt Your Marriage 04/13/2017 08:00pm • Money issues are fairly common in relationships. After all, it's impossible to please two people all of the time. Those issues get even more complicated if you add lies to the mix. In a recent survey of 500 U.S. adults by MagnifyMoney, 1 in 5 divorcees said money was the cause of their divorce. In f College Seniors: Know These 4 Financial Tips for Your Last Month of College 04/13/2017 08:00pm • Maggie Bean, a senior at Vermont's Champlain College, is already preparing herself to deal with personal finance in the real world. As she enters her last month of college, she says: "I've slowly started educating myself." Bean, 20, hopes to land a job in book publishing in New York City. Her finan Repealing Dodd-Frank: The Long-Term Impact of Financial Deregulation 04/12/2017 08:00pm • President Donald Trump is setting his sights on eliminating the Dodd-Frank Act, a set of financial regulations aimed at preventing another credit crisis like the one that occurred in 2008. While bank investors have cheered a possible end to the burdensome regulations, deregulation of the financial Scholarships Help Address Teacher Shortage 04/12/2017 08:00pm • Much of the debate surrounding college these days involves the ability to find a job after graduation. One profession in high demand is teachers -- nearly every state reports teacher shortages to the U.S. Department of Education, according to a 2016 report by the Learning Policy Institute. Accordin When Does It Pay to Rent, Even When the Numbers Say It's Cheaper to Buy? 04/12/2017 08:00pm • If you're wondering whether you're better off financially renting or buying a home, you can easily find an app for that. Calculators at Bankrate.com, The New York Times, Zillow and Realtor.com all let you input the relevant numbers to determine which option makes more economic sense. A 2016 analysi Wells Fargo & Co Down On Mixed Earnings, Buffett Sale 04/12/2017 08:00pm • Wells Fargo & Co. (ticker: WFC) stock was trading lower Thursday after the bank reported mixed first-quarter earnings on Thursday morning. In addition, one of Wells Fargo's largest investors disclosed that he has been trimming his stake in the big bank. WFC reported first-quarter earnings per sh How Spring Cleaning Contributes to Financial Wellness 04/11/2017 08:00pm • 'Tis the season to rid your house of all the clutter and cobwebs that accumulated during winter. While some people relish the opportunity to scrub clean the gray and cold of the previous season, others dread the annual task, and not just for the tedium that can make up spring cleaning. Decluttering 5 Strategies for Handling Student Loan Delinquency 04/11/2017 08:00pm • Last month, the Federal Reserve Bank of New York issued its quarterly report on household debt, which showed student loan delinquencies continue to increase. As of the last quarter of 2016, 11.2 percent of all student loan borrowers were 90 days past due or more on their loans, with some of these bo 5 Numbers to Check to Compare Financial Aid Awards 04/11/2017 08:00pm • After the initial celebration of receiving college acceptance letters, it's time to dig into the hard -- and sometimes confusing -- work of comparing financial aid packages. As students pore over their financial aid award letters, there are some key figures to use to make a fair comparison. And whi 4 Reasons to Be Worried About the Economy 04/10/2017 08:00pm • It's time to worry about the economy, and that's not just because they call economics the dismal science. The reason is because there is a lot to be concerned about. All is not well with the economy, despite the stock market surge since the election last November. Credit problems lie ahead. If we