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How to Save Even When You Don’t Think You Can
By: Ashley Patrick Sometimes it can feel like the world is against us and no matter what we do, we can’t seem to get ahead. Every time we try to save money, something “pops” up that we didn’t think about or plan for. Even though it can feel like no matter what we do,...
First steps on how to overcome divorce or separation
By: Valery Danko With the recent pandemic we have seen a tremendous increase in divorces worldwide. The pandemic just outlined issues that existed a long time before. Therefore, I felt an urge to share this message NOW to support you, because I have been through...
3 Places to Save Money Around the Holidays
You know the holidays are right around the corner and you should begin your festive budgeting sooner rather than later for the next three months. However, if you’re like most of us, the prospect of limiting your spending the next few months can come as a bit of a...
Longevity Brings Increased Risk of Cognitive Decline (A Planning Issue For Women)
By: Michelle Petrowski, CFP®, CDFA Although not yet retired myself, years ago, when I was a young mother with 2 children under the age of 3, I became the caregiver to my dad, who was disabled in his mid-50’s. My parents had divorced after 30 years of marriage and...
After College: Revised Pay As You Earn — Could It Be The Best Plan for Repaying Your Student Loans?
By: Tom Melecki This concludes our review of the Federal Direct Loan Program‘s (FDLP’s) conventional repayment plans and income-driven repayment plans, including Income-Based Repayment, Income-Contingent Repayment, and Pay As You Earn. Today we’ll examine the last of...
6 Ways to Help Your Elderly Parents With Finances
By: Venessa Worthington Whatever age your parents are, it’s never too soon to begin talking with them about their finances. You want to be sure your parents are well taken care of, so it’s vital to check in with them on their money situation. Here are six ways to help...
After College: Things to Do As Your First Student Loan Payment Comes Due
By: Tom Melecki If you graduated from college last spring, chances are your obligation to begin repaying your Federal Direct Loans has begun. If you’ve not yet heard from the student loan servicer Washington hired to collect your payments, you need to contact it...
Top 3 Financial Challenges Millennial Women Face Today & How to Overcome Them
By: Agatha Singer Millennials have it hard in all matters of money and finance. And according to a recent survey, millennial women have it even harder than men. The main financial challenges before them are repaying student loans, inability to save much, and struggles...
After College: Strategies for Your College Finance Plan
By: Tom Melecki We’ve discussed why students and their families need College Finance Plans (CFPs) and summarized strategies to use in your CFP’s “Before College” and “During College” phases. Let’s review some “After College” strategies. Almost 70% of college graduates...
Why we should start taking identity theft more seriously
By: David Lukić A lot of people hear about identity theft in the news but still fail to take it seriously. It is one of those things that people assume won’t happen to them, but in the modern age people have to be incredibly careful. What is Identity Theft and Online...
Further Faster Financially
By: Daniel G. Mazzola A 2019 Federal Reserve survey reported 4 of 10 Americans do not have enough cash to cover an unexpected $400 expense. The COVID-19 pandemic has made life difficult for people who have lost a job and are living from paycheck to paycheck,...
Before, During, and After College: Resources To Help You Understand Your Federal Student Loans
By: Tom Melecki Few students and parents are familiar with their rights and responsibilities as student loan borrowers. Even fewer know of the resources available to help them obtain such information. The Federal Direct Loan Program makes 90% of all student loans so,...
Roth IRA Conversions: The Time Is Now
By: Daniel G. Mazzola Early estimates peg the cost of the CARES Act, the package providing economic relief to Americans impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, at $2 trillion. The government has run itself into an immense debt to give its citizens assistance, and the...
Before and During College: Help Your Student Avoid Credit Card Traps
By: Tom Melecki There’s nothing inherently wrong with college students having credit cards. In fact, 56% of them posses at least one. But help your student beware of all those offers from banks and other credit card providers at this time of year. After all, a credit...
Your Budgeting Worksheet
A budget is an important part of financial well-being. Knowing your monthly income and expenses creates mindfulness around your money. If you want to take control of your cash flow but aren’t sure where to start, we encourage you to read our budgeting guide and...
The Power of Human Capital
By: Daniel G. Mazzola A week ago I found myself badly in need of a haircut. Unwilling to drive to Georgia, I enlisted the aid of a friend whose experience in cutting hair was limited to styling her own. I was nervous but desperate times call for desperate measures....
Seven Practical Tips to Manage Your Finances During the Covid 19 Crisis
By: Aimee L. Richter Don’t put your head in the sand. Sit down and list your monthly expenses and then make an action plan. See the budgeting spreadsheet. Call your credit card company. Many companies are being extremely responsive to people’s financial issues. They...
5 Financial Decisions to Gain Your Mental Strength
By: Catherine Burke You do not know what lies in the future for you, and nobody knows the after-effect of the corona pandemic will last for how much time. Your office may offer you a salary-cut, hour-cut from office duty, and God forbid you may face a job loss too. If...
Debt and Divorce: How You Can Get a Fresh Start
By: Veronica BaxterYou have decided to divorce, but before you finalize the property settlement agreement, make sure you know your rights and responsibilities regarding your debt, your ex’s debt, and your joint debt. Don’t be left holding the bag! Here are some...
Gathering and Leveraging Resources
by Elisa BalabramCurrently most if not all humans are facing stress, some are sick, some are overworked, some are unemployed, some businesses are closed or might close, some parents are homeschooling their kids unintendedly, some are mourning loved ones, some are...
Education Tax Credits: AOTC
by Ann Garcia Currently two tax credits exist to help defray higher education expenses, the American Opportunity Tax Credit (AOTC) and the Lifetime Learning Credit. Each is slightly different but for most families, the AOTC is the most beneficial. . Eligibility is...
