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Make 2017 Your Best Financial Year Ever 01/02/2017 07:00pm • Do you want to improve your finances in 2017? Making resolutions is common this time of year, but in order to actually follow through and achieve success, it is important to make a specific plan. Write down your financial goals and talk about them with your spouse or family to create accountability How to Claim the Retirement Saver's Credit 01/02/2017 07:00pm • Low- and moderate-income workers who save for retirement in a 401(k) plan, individual retirement account or myRA could qualify for the saver's credit. This valuable tax credit can be claimed in addition to any tax deduction you earn by contributing to a traditional retirement account. Here's how to How President Trump Will Redefine the Real Estate Investment Market 01/01/2017 07:00pm • The U.S. real estate market is in a state of flux as 2017 opens for business. Higher interest rates, thanks to the Federal Reserve's recent rate hike, have shaken the mortgage markets in the last few weeks, with 30-year mortgage rates creeping up on 4.5 percent in many markets. That should have pro How to pay off a mortgage early 12/31/2016 07:00pm • It's a common enough practice: paying extra on a mortgage to retire the debt early and save a bundle in interest costs. But with interest rates rising, is it still a smart strategy? Some experts think prepayments are never a good option, as stocks and other investments have paid off better. Other Md. property values growing at 'steady pace' 12/30/2016 01:15pm • WASHINGTON — Property values in Maryland are continuing a steady upward climb, according to a fresh assessment of residential and commercial properties released this week by state officials. The Maryland Department of Assessment and Taxation says during the last three years, property values in High-end restaurant The Shaw Bijou announces major changes 12/30/2016 09:20am • WASHINGTON — Kwame Onwuachi's fine-dining restaurant The Shaw Bijou has only been open for two months, and already the "Top Chef" contestant is announcing major changes. On Dec. 29, the chef told the public via a written statement that his new NW D.C. concept "fostered an environment and resta Inflation may be harsh reality in 2017 12/30/2016 07:00am • With the Standard & Poor's 500 index and Dow Jones industrial average at all-time highs, and with yields on Treasury notes rising, some market watchers say the action may suggest a hedge against the return of inflation. This idea is rooted in the thought that the incoming Trump administration Year in Review: the Biggest Financial Headlines of 2016 12/29/2016 07:00pm • The year 2016 did not want for financial news. A comprehensive accounting of the business stories that broke over the last 12 months could fill a book -- but since most people would rather move on with their lives and see what 2017 has in store, a brief recap is probably more appropriate. With that 5 investing tips from experts for 2017 12/29/2016 07:00pm • If your New Year's resolutions involve tweaking your portfolio, here are some ideas from experts about what 2017 may hold and how you can try to take advantage through the stock market. Tax cuts and more health care reform. Trip Miller, managing partner with Gullane Capital Partners, says changes 7 Tools for Building a Better Retirement 12/29/2016 07:00pm • The beginning of a new year provides an opportunity to look back and review what worked in the past and find opportunities that can help us live better in the future. A big part of that is building up your savings to eventually help you achieve financial independence. Everyone who aspires to build w How to recover from your holiday spending spree 12/29/2016 06:00am • Christmas can't come quickly enough for some people's bank accounts. Between teacher gifts, hostess presents and last-minute additions to the holiday menu, you may find your already stretched budget is bursting at the seams. While overspending is never ideal, shoppers who go overboard are in good Where to Travel During the Rainy Season 12/28/2016 07:00pm • When it comes to travel, the wet season often has a negative connotation, conjuring images of unhappy, umbrella-toting tourists puddle-hopping between shuttered restaurants and closed shops under cloudy skies. Still, as counterintuitive as it sounds, sometimes it's best to travel during the wetter m Buying a car? Say no to the 84-month loan 12/28/2016 05:00am • It's easy to make an argument for taking out an 84-month car loan. After all, if you need to buy a car, and you love this car -- and stretching out the payments for seven years makes your budget more manageable -- well, why not? Besides, plenty of consumers are taking out 84 month car loans. Expe When Should Borrowers Refinance Their Mortgages? 12/27/2016 07:00pm • The Federal Reserve says it will raise interest rates steadily in 2017. Bond yields have been rising in anticipation of more government borrowing in the Trump era. And mortgage rates have been drifting up, with the 30-year, fixed-rate loan now averaging 4.32 percent compared to 3.8 percent in June, Are Stock Buybacks Really Dead? 12/27/2016 07:00pm • Dividends tend to be the most celebrated way that companies return cash to shareholders, and it's because it's the most direct. A company literally pays you cash for the shares you hold, and you decide how to invest that cash from there. However, stock buybacks -- while their effect isn't as direct