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9 Hidden Homebuying Expenses That Can Really Cost You 04/16/2015 10:00am • So, you're finally ready to purchase your first home -- congratulations! Not to be a Debbie Downer, but there's something we need to tell you: You're about to be really, really poor. That is, unless you did your homework and learned that homeowners spend up to 4 percent of a home's value each year o 3 Economic Indicators You Should Understand 04/15/2015 08:00pm • How seriously should you take economic indicators -- those big-picture numbers, such as the unemployment rate, Federal Reserve short-term interest rates, the consumer price index and many others? They're like the climate, advisors and academics say: The indicators show us how the economy is doing 5 Ways to Break Your Bad Money Habits 04/15/2015 08:00pm • Spend enough money, and you'll quickly learn the definition of a bad money habit. Few people need to be told not to overspend on credit or debit cards or to curb impulse shopping. You know you shouldn't, even if you always do. What you need are solutions. But solutions are hard to come by, says Ram Marriage and millennials don't mix 04/15/2015 07:20am • WASHINGTON -- Marriage doesn't work for millennials -- that's the opinion of one columnist for Asbury Park Press  in New Jersey. Anthony D'Ambrosio's recent column "5 reasons we can't handle marriage anymore" caused quite a social media stir from folks who thought this piece was full of whinin Drug Convictions Can Send Financial Aid Up In Smoke 04/14/2015 08:00pm • Next week will be April 20, otherwise known as 4/20. People in some states may celebrate the occasion thanks to recently relaxed penalties for the use and possession of small quantities of marijuana. However, college students across the U.S. need to know that many drug convictions can have a big ef Ethics law changes top Va. legislators' to-do list Wednesday 04/14/2015 01:32pm • WASHINGTON — The Virginia General Assembly returns to Richmond Wednesday to consider amendments to new ethics rules sparked by the corruption convictions of former Gov. Bob McDonnell and his wife Maureen. During the breakneck day known as veto session, lawmakers will also try to reverse t When You Change Your Name, Tell These Organizations 04/12/2015 08:00pm • From raucous bachelor and bachelorette parties to the subsequent -- and perhaps more peaceful -- honeymoon, tying the knot can be an unforgettable milestone.As much as you'll want to simply enjoy the entire experience, there are a handful of administrative tasks that will require your attention. One 12 Tips for Spring Homebuying in a Seller's Market 04/12/2015 08:00pm • With spring finally here for most of the nation, prospective homebuyers can look at houses and condos without traipsing through snow and ice. Better weather, plus the traditional belief that families search for homes so they can move in between school years, makes spring a major homebuying season in The Financial Talk Every Couple Needs to Have 04/07/2015 08:00pm • So you diligently saved for retirement since you landed your first job after college. You took advantage of professional advice in selecting your investments, you regularly increased your savings rate until you were socking away 15 percent of your income and you made paying off your credit cards a p 12 Millennial-Inspired Ways to Spend Less 04/07/2015 08:00pm • Big savings, small budgets.Millennials might be young, but many of these 19 to 34 year olds are savvy with their money. That's partly because they came of age during the Great Recession and learned firsthand how important it is to save money for rainy days. Inspired by technology and a willingness t Understand Financial Aid, Payment Options for Summer Classes 04/07/2015 08:00pm • Congratulations, undergraduates. You made it to April! Now, you're likely bracing for finals, finishing semesterlong projects or sweating how little time you have for either task. Classes are the first thing on your mind, yet enrolling in more of them may be the last thing you're thinking of. That c 5 Steps to File a Student Loan Complaint 04/07/2015 08:00pm • Michael Gill-Branion was struggling to get consistent information about his student loan repayment options. As he worked to find an affordable repayment plan, he was surprised to see that his wife's name was included on his federal loans, which had previously been in default. When he tried to make The Compromises Millennials Make to Be Homeowners 04/06/2015 08:00pm • For millennials who head down the aisle and start decorating nurseries, a mortgage is a scary prospect to add to an already heavy debt load. It makes sense that they've delayed the homebuying process compared to previous generations, as only 36 percent of homeowners are age 35 and younger, according 3 Questions To Ask Before Choosing Target-Date Funds 04/06/2015 08:00pm • Over the past few years, target-date funds have been growing in popularity. According to Morningstar's 2014 Target-Date Series Research Paper, estimated net flows in target-date funds tripled from 2007 to 2013, growing from $200 billion to $600 billion. Before going any further, let's briefly descri 3 Sectors That Could Benefit From Rising Interest Rates 04/06/2015 08:00pm • With the 2008 global financial crisis finally in the rearview mirror, improvement in the U.S. economic picture has increased expectations that the Federal Reserve will raise interest rates in 2015. The Standard & Poor's 500 index has been climbing in a bull market since March 2009, fueled in pa