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5 Tips for Buyers to Have a Successful Home Inspection 10/17/2016 08:00pm • Throughout the homebuying process, you will encounter a number of expenses including, but certainly not limited to, an appraisal, transaction fees and a survey -- but none is more important than the home inspection. Dollar for dollar, there is no better use of your money, as a home inspection will 5 Things You Need to Know About Prepaid Cards 10/17/2016 08:00pm • Prepaid cards have gained popularity. According to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, in 2012, prepaid cards had $65 billion uploaded on them; by 2018, that amount is expected to spike to $112 billion. It's easy to understand their appeal. Younger people like prepaid cards because they see it 6 Things to Consider Before Buying a Condo in Chicago 10/17/2016 08:00pm • For many aspiring homeowners in Chicago, buying a condo is a way to break into the market without breaking the budget. Condos offer the rewards of ownership with less maintenance than a single-family home, and they're often the best option for those looking to buy in highly desirable neighborhoods. How to Deal With an Unexpected Expense When You're Broke 10/17/2016 08:00pm • A financial disaster is hard enough to navigate. But it gets even harsher when you have no emergency fund or backup plan to help you work your way out of it. So, what's an unlucky person to do after, say, a broken-down car or job loss leaves you short on cash and high on stress? Fortunately, the fin AMC makes investment in Bethesda-based entertainment company 10/17/2016 01:33pm • WASHINGTON — Bethesda-based video-streaming and film company RLJ Entertainment, formed by BET founder Robert Johnson four years ago, is getting a significant investment from AMC Networks. AMC will loan RLJ Entertainment $65 million in exchange for the right to acquire up to 50 percent of the c 5 Things to Consider Before Buying a Home in Los Angeles During the Drought 10/14/2016 08:00pm • Five years into a severe drought that prompted the governor to declare a state of emergency in 2014, Californians are making some lifestyle changes. Los Angeles gets most of its water from melted snowpack in the Sierra Nevada range and from the Colorado River. However, these sources are limited, an If the Payday Lending Industry Goes Out of Business, What Will Replace It? 10/13/2016 08:00pm • Need money badly? You don't need to have good credit to find plenty of businesses willing to lend you cash. That isn't good news. Financial companies that lend money to people desperate for cash tend to have high-interest strings attached, and offer little time to repay the debt. On almost a daily How Homebuyers Can Receive Down Payment Assistance 10/13/2016 08:00pm • Many people wait longer than necessary before purchasing a house because they think they need a large down payment. But anyone who otherwise qualifies for a mortgage can buy a home for as little as 3 percent down plus closing costs -- and zero down if you're a veteran. "Everybody thinks it's 20 perc 4 Ways Debt Can Impact Your Love Life 10/12/2016 08:00pm • Certain life events can impact your love life. In TD Bank's 2016 Love and Money survey, many respondents singled out things, such as getting married, living together, having children and buying or owning a home with a significant other, as the most significant indicators of commitment in a relation What Does the American Dream Mean for Millennials? 10/12/2016 08:00pm • When asked to define the American dream, Laura Judge has to take a minute to think. "I think of someone overcoming great obstacles," the 32-year-old resident of Lowell, Michigan, finally says. It's not a term she would use for herself or any of her friends, either. Rather than having to pull herself 15 Financial Steps to Take Your First Year After Graduation 10/12/2016 08:00pm • Ace your first year in the "real world."It's so important to start your post-college life on the right financial foot. The money decisions you make today could benefit -- or haunt you -- in the future. Here are 15 financial steps to take your first year after graduation.Establish credit.Good credit Prepare Your Finances for a Layoff 10/11/2016 08:00pm • Trouble is a-brewing at your company, and there are signs that your job might be slashed. Maybe there have been layoffs already. Maybe you sense your boss isn't pleased with your performance. Whatever it is, you've got to start hunkering down and prepare for several months -- or more -- without a p Is Your Bank Overcharging You? 10/11/2016 08:00pm • Overdraft charges, out-of-network ATM fees and other fees are big business for American banks, to the tune of $42.3 billion for the year ending on June 30, 2015, according to analysis from Moebs Services, which collects and analyzes data on financial institutions. Fees have only gotten pricier in 20 5 Retirement Planning Mistakes Self-Employed Workers Should Avoid 10/11/2016 08:00pm • As of 2015, an estimated 15 million U.S. workers have said "no, thanks" to a regular 9-to-5 gig, opting instead to go the self-employment route. While being your own boss offers a degree of freedom and flexibility that's not always present in a traditional career, one thing that's lacking is access How the Self-Employed Can Have a 401(k) 10/11/2016 08:00pm • Millions of Americans have 401(k) plans, which have all but replaced the traditional pension in the workplace. But what about the self-employed -- like workers in the "gig economy" who don't have a big organization to provide benefits? Actually, if they think they're left out in the cold, they may b