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How to Prepare for Financial Shocks in Retirement 08/10/2015 08:00pm • You've always lived below your means and were a diligent saver, and now you've built a pretty sizable nest egg. Or maybe you've just been lucky enough to work for a company that has a well-managed 401(k) plan and has always matched your contributions. However you did it, you now have a reasonable r How to Avoid a Vacation Rental Nightmare 08/10/2015 08:00pm • You scoured vacation rental sites and reviews for weeks to find the right place for your upcoming getaway. The home listing said it's "steps from the beach" and the rooms looked spacious and clean. You've paid in full and are ready to start relaxing only to arrive at the property to find a complete How Social Security Has Changed Over 80 Years 08/09/2015 08:00pm • President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed the Social Security Act on Aug. 14, 1935. Regular monthly payments to retirees began in 1940 and have continued ever since. But there have been several important adjustments to the program, including changes in the retirement age and increases in benefits to k 5 Things You Should Know About Social Security 08/09/2015 08:00pm • Social Security was initially a program that provided payments to retired workers when President Franklin D. Roosevelt signed the bill on August 14, 1935. But the 80-year-old program has since been amended to include payments for the spouses and dependent children of workers who prematurely pass aw GOP trumpets opposition to Va. voter form change 08/09/2015 03:57pm • WASHINGTON -- After calling for a big turnout, Virginia Republicans say 90 percent of the public comments on proposed changes to voter registration forms in the commonwealth oppose the change. The changes would allow a single signature attesting that a person is eligible to vote to replace check Local kids get in on the John Oliver, D.C. statehood fun (audio) 08/09/2015 02:44pm • WASHINGTON – Local kids and their parents gathered on the lawn in front of east side of the U.S. Capitol Building to sing-along with John Oliver’s Washington D.C. statehood song in support of the District's movement.  “When the John Oliver video came out, we saw that was like ‘This i Season for savings begins with Md., Va. sales tax holidays 08/07/2015 12:55pm • BETHESDA, Md. – As summer winds down and the new school year quickly approaches, Maryland and Virginia sales tax holidays may help local residents save some money. First up is Virginia with a sales tax holiday weekend.  It began Friday and runs through Sunday. Shoppers will be exempt f 7 Financial Steps to Take When Getting a Divorce 08/06/2015 08:00pm • The financial effects of divorce could be worse than any downturn in the economy. An average bear market lasts 15 months and results in a 32 percent loss in investments, according to investment firm Edward Jones. Meanwhile, a divorce can wipe out 50 percent of a person's assets and never ends, says Steps to Take Now to Save This Winter 08/05/2015 08:00pm • As we enter into the later summer months, there is still plenty of warm weather to look forward to, and hopefully mild, comfortable temperatures in fall. While a cold winter is a harsh reality for many parts of the country, it's not something we have to completely dread. The holiday season brings t 5 Ways to Get a Big Head Start on Holiday Shopping 08/05/2015 08:00pm • Each year around the holidays, you may look at your calendar and realize with horror that you aren't prepared. There isn't enough money or time to buy gifts or upgrade decorations to replicate the amazing holidays you remember as a kid. So why not start preparing for the December shopping onslaught I-66 widening could delay aid to other congested commuter routes 08/05/2015 05:55pm • FAIRFAX, Va. -- While transportation officials in Richmond decide how to pay for widening and adding toll lanes along Interstate 66, local transportation leaders are discussing how the project could eat up funding for other Northern Virginia road and transit improvements. The Northern Virginia Rewards 101: A Guide to Maximizing Points and Miles 08/05/2015 07:00am • Navigating the complex and ever-changing miles and points universe is a challenging task for any traveler. Once you pinpoint the programs that offer a variety of redemption options and elite status privileges, you also have to determine which program best fits your lifestyle and travel goals. And wi Discover High-Tech Tools That Help With College Savings 08/04/2015 08:00pm • Saving for college is no longer as simple as stashing money in a savings account, says Marcos Cordero, CEO of Saving for College LLC, which publishes the website Savingforcollege.com. With dozens of state-sponsored 529 plans, which are tax-advantaged college savings accounts, as well as other inv Is Social Security a 'Bond' in Your Portfolio? 08/04/2015 08:00pm • Social Security payments sap our take-home pay with every check. Though many financial advisors overlook the importance of this government-assured source of retirement income, a rising chorus of experts are urging investors to think strategically about the role Social Security income will play in t 7 Ways to Deal With Financial Anxiety Before Retirement 08/04/2015 08:00pm • If you started saving as soon as you got out of college, had a stable job throughout your career and lived below your means all your life, you have likely amassed more than enough to live comfortably for the rest of your life. However, many people who did everything right still feel nervous about l