Credit Issues
Establishing credit You must first establish a credit record if you want to have ready access to loans when you need them. You establish a credit record by borrowing money from a lender who reports to a credit bureau. So, what’s the problem? The problem is that few...
Read More
Managing Debt
Debt Management What is debt management? As a modern consumer, you need credit. When you were growing up, you may have heard your parents or grandparents say, “If you can’t pay for it with cash, then you can’t afford to buy it.” That may have been sound advice...
Read More
Getting Help from a Financial Professional
Are you suddenly on your own or forced to assume greater responsibility for your financial future? Unsure about whether you’re on the right track with your savings and investments? Finding yourself with new responsibilities, such as the care of a child or an aging parent? Facing other life events,...
Read More
My child is heading off to college this fall. What insurance issues does this raise?
Answer: As you send your child off to college, you probably have a lot of things on your mind, such as whether your child will eat right and get enough sleep, how to pay tuition, and what to do with that empty bedroom. And although insurance may seem like...
Read More
What is an income-driven repayment plan for student loans?
Answer: The federal government offers several income-driven repayment plans for borrowers with federal student loans. Under these plans, a borrower’s monthly student loan payments are calculated based on his or her discretionary income and family size, which are verified and updated each year. Borrowers must qualify for these plans–enrollment...
Read More
Should I invest my extra cash or use it to pay off debt?
Answer: To answer this question, you must decide how your money can work best for you. Compare the money you might earn on other investments with the money you would pay on your debt. If you would earn less on investments than you would pay on debts, you should...
Read More
Can I refinance my student loans?
Answer: No, you can’t refinance student loans. However, if you have multiple federal student loans, federal consolidation of your loans may make your debt more manageable. To be eligible for federal loan consolidation, you must have at least one federal student loan in grace, repayment, deferment, or default status....
Read More
I get a lot of credit card offers. How can I tell which one is best?
Answer: Start by carefully reading the advertisement or application you’ve seen or received. It may seem like a lot of jargon, but that fine print contains important information about terms and costs. Here are three points to consider when comparing credit card offers: Annual percentage rate (APR): What interest...
Read More
All About Credit Scores
It’s difficult to imagine functioning in today’s world without credit. Whether buying a car or purchasing a home, credit has become an integral part of our everyday lives. Having easy access to credit goes hand in hand with having a good credit score, so it’s important to know how...
Read More
How Student Loans Impact Your Credit
If you’ve finished college within the last few years, chances are you’re paying off your student loans. What happens with your student loans now that they’ve entered repayment status will have a significant impact–positive or negative–on your credit history and credit score. It’s payback time When you left school,...
Read More
How to Cut Costs if You’re Spending Too Much
No matter how tightly you try to control your spending or how strictly you follow your spending plan, at some point you are likely to wonder how you can cut costs. In order to find out how to cut costs, you first need to find out where and when...
Read More
Strategies When You Can’t Pay Student Loans
Introduction You’ve been repaying your student loans faithfully for five years but, all of sudden, things have taken a financial turn for the worse. You’ve been laid off from your job, your car needs repairs, and you suddenly find yourself with unexpected medical bills. In short, you are facing...
Read More
Credit Cards
The miracle of plastic It’s so convenient. Pull out a plastic card and you can purchase a designer suit at that new boutique, dinner at your favorite restaurant, groceries at the supermarket–or all three. Need cash? Use the card at a nearby automated teller machine (ATM) and walk off...
Read More
Establishing a Credit History
GET LIFE INSURANCE FIRST WHILE YOU ARE YOUNG AND IT IS VERY CHEAP. CLICK FOR FREE TERM LIFE QUOTE: https://www.naaip.org/gfsfinancial/compare-life# What is credit? When you say you want credit, you are probably asking for payment terms on a purchase. You are seeking to purchase goods or services today...
Read More