Search

Why Taking a 401(k) Loan Is Risky 11/13/2016 07:00pm • If you're in a short-term cash crunch, should you raid your 401(k) plan and take out a loan? Many Americans do, according to a study from the Pension Research Council at the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania. That study showed 20 percent of 401(k) plan participants had loans outstand 4 ways to know you're getting bad financial advice 11/03/2016 08:00pm • What one doesn't know can cost them when saving for retirement. Often the reason costs rise are because advisors or brokers take advantage of this knowledge gap. Eric Nelson, CEO and managing principal at Servo Wealth Management in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, recalls talking to a client who had rece 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 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 5 Steps to Put Your Spouse on a Budget 09/06/2016 08:00pm • Money is the biggest cause of stress in a relationship, according to a survey conducted by Harris Poll and SunTrust Banks. The survey found that many of us can't even agree on who is more responsible with the family finances. Survey participants were twice as likely to list themselves as "savers" a When a Collector Calls About a Debt You (Possibly) Don't Owe 08/22/2016 08:00pm • Getting a call from a debt collector is always worrying. But it's even more unsettling when the collector is calling about a bill you don't remember owing. Is it a loan that you forgot exists? Did the collector mix you up with someone else? Is it a scam? Here's how to clear up the confusion. 1. Ask How I Repay My Student Loans: Real Borrowers Share Stories 08/16/2016 08:00pm • The Student Loan Ranger strives to provide the best advice on managing student loans. We have the industry experience and expertise to back up our advice, but we also understand that, for some readers, hearing firsthand experience from those managing their own student loans can be the most effectiv 5 Surprising Things That Could Leave You Poor 08/11/2016 08:00pm • If you want to live the good life, financially-speaking, you might expect to need a job that pays well and a plan for how to responsibly spend the money you earn. However, there could be more to it than that. Your health habits, friends and even how many times you check your credit score could all h Living paycheck-to-paycheck, even on a six-figure salary 08/11/2016 11:37am • WASHINGTON — CareerBuilder says 75 percent of Americans claim they are living check-to-check just to make ends meet, at least sometimes. Its survey says 38 percent of working Americans occasionally barely make it to the next payday. Another 15 percent say they usually live paycheck-to-payche Addiction in the Workplace: Tips for Employers 08/03/2016 08:00pm • Ted is an account manager in a productive financial firm. He's fun-loving and always a hoot at the company happy hours. But over the five years Ted has worked at the firm, his drinking has escalated. As he gained responsibilities and more stress, the weekly happy hour quickly transitioned into a dr What You Should Know About Online Lending Services 07/25/2016 08:00pm • You've seen the commercials. You need money, and these websites can give it to you, often within 24 hours and without a credit check. Should you take the offer? Common sense would suggest no. Everyone knows that there is no free lunch, and the terms of many quick and easy loans mean that a financial Pokemon Go: Collecting All the Data? 07/12/2016 08:00pm • Pokemon Go debuted on iOS and Android last week, and quickly became one of the hottest apps on the market. Within five hours, it hurtled to No. 1 on the download charts for iOS users, according to data-tracking intelligence firm Sensor Tower. As the name implies, the app is based on the popular Pok 3 Money Management Tips for Creative Professionals 05/10/2016 08:00pm • Budgeting and planning for unexpected expenses can be challenging for everyone, but creative professionals -- including independent photographers, artists, writers, stagehands, entertainers and others -- have some extra curveballs to cope with. Instead of drawing a salary, creative pros often piece What to Do When You Can't Pay Your Bills 04/13/2016 08:00pm • There's a special type of anxiety that takes hold when you don't have money to pay your bills. It's a feeling you can't quite explain unless you're in the situation. But no matter how bad things get, there are two things to remember: Losing control of your money doesn't mean you're irresponsible or Financial Sector Is Struggling, But Some Bargains Are Available 03/02/2016 07:00pm • The financial sector was expected to perform well this year, amid hopes that a strengthening housing market and the Federal Reserve's interest rate hike would help the bottom line of banking stocks. It hasn't quite worked out that way. Instead, the financial sector is the worst performer this year,