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8 Tips for Planning a Volunteer Vacation 02/15/2017 07:00pm • Volunteer vacations have grown in popularity over the past several decades. Today there are hundreds of opportunities to travel to nations around the globe and spend a week or two volunteering for a wide variety of good causes. While some volunteer vacations are designed for young people and famili 10 Important Investments Before Having a Baby 02/15/2017 07:00pm • How to save for a baby.Everything changes when you have a child. Pre-planning your finances before a baby arrives can make a difference later. A USDA report says middle-income, married parents are projected to spend $233,610 raising a child born in 2015. That's about $13,000 per year annually, with Texas splits with other states to defend Trump's travel ban 02/15/2017 06:56pm • SAN FRANCISCO (AP) ��� The state of Texas on Wednesday defended President Donald Trump's ban on travelers from seven predominantly Muslim nations as an assertion of presidential authority intended to protect the country from terrorists, splitting with states that have denounced the order as a religi Alexandria property value increase among lowest in 20 years 02/15/2017 07:54am • WASHINGTON ��� The City of Alexandria, Virginia, has released its real estate assessments for property owners, and the news isn't encouraging. ���This year���s assessments are consistent with a sluggish regional economy,��� City Manager Mark B. Jinks said in a statement. ���The increase from last Costs to fix Metro could bog down budgets for schools, police 02/15/2017 05:06am • FAIRFAX, Va. ��� Schools, roads, public safety and other key budget needs could be squeezed out by ballooning needs at Metro after years of neglect, Nothern Virginia leaders��were warned Tuesday. New estimates put Loudoun County's total costs for fiscal year 2020 around $50.8 million, $31.5 milli Trump's Tax Reforms May Be Another Reason to Avoid Municipal Bonds 02/14/2017 07:00pm • The new administration seems firmly committed to slashing individual tax rates. That's good, but it raises the issue of whether it still makes sense to invest in municipal bonds. These securities typically have some favorable tax-related attributes. Interest income from muni bonds is usually exempt 8 Tax Tips for People With Disabilities (and Their Caregivers) 02/14/2017 07:00pm • According to 2015 data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 53 million adults in the U.S. (or one out of every five) live with a disability. Whether they're working or not, people with disabilities and their caregivers often have higher costs associated with medical care or daily liv Student Loans: What DeVos Might Do 02/14/2017 07:00pm • After one of the more contentious Senate confirmation hearings in recent memory -- and a first-ever vice presidential tie-breaking vote, Betsy DeVos has been confirmed as the new U.S. secretary of education. While much has been written about this controversial appointment in recent weeks, there's be 7 Habits of Highly Successful Savers 02/14/2017 07:00pm • According to a 2016 study conducted by GOBankingRates, more than two-thirds of Americans have less than $1,000 saved, with 34 percent admitting to having absolutely no money in their savings account. Though today's consumers are more aware than ever about the importance of savvy spending, these sta Fairfax Co. budget, tax rate proposal signals new normal 02/14/2017 04:41pm • FAIRFAX, Va. ��� A few months after Fairfax County voters rejected a meals tax to support local schools, county officials have proposed a budget that would provide a small increase in school funding but would not pay for some of the county's top priorities. County Executive Ed Long, the county's Md. bills would limit help in enforcing immigration laws 02/14/2017 06:36am • WASHINGTON �����After taking office, President Donald Trump signed an executive order that threatens federal funding cuts to so-called "sanctuary communities" where law enforcement officials don���t cooperate fully with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Now, some Maryland lawmakers are re Put Real Estate or Gold in Your Retirement Account 02/13/2017 07:00pm • Do you have a hankering to diversify beyond the typical stock, bond and exchange traded-fund holdings that generally comprise the bulk of one's retirement investments? For the more entrepreneurial minded and adventuresome investor, the self-directed individual retirement account is an option that a How to Approach 4 Awkward Financial Talks With Your Partner 02/13/2017 07:00pm • So you need to talk about money with your spouse -- or live-in boyfriend or girlfriend. This could be awkward. In fact, 68 percent of Americans in relationships say finances are more of a source of tension with their partner than their sex life, according to a new report from the financial planning Is Apple Inc. (AAPL) Stock Really Worth $150? 02/13/2017 07:00pm • Goldman Sachs (ticker: GS) gave Apple Inc. ( AAPL) shareholders an early Valentine's Day present on Monday, raising its price target to from $133 to $150 per share. Naturally, AAPL stock responded well to the news; shares rose about 1 percent in response to the praise, hitting 52-week highs in the Should You Pay Your Taxes With a Credit Card? 02/13/2017 07:00pm • When you receive your W-2s and start preparing your taxes, you can quickly determine if a tax refund isn't in your future. You may even discover that you owe the government a tax payment. From mailing a check to electronic payments, there is a wide range of options for paying taxes. You may be surpr