We cover the basics and more about personal finance, answering frequently asked questions about credit and debt, identity theft, saving for college, retirement, estate planning, insurance, taxes, job hunting, and raising money-savvy kids. Check out the articles, columns, blog posts, radio shows and videos for tons of personal finance advice.
Personal Finance Advice From Church
Churches teaching their congregation how to solve their financial problems? That's right. Raising financial awareness is quickly becoming a top priority for many congregations. Indeed, some religious institutions teach congregants about purchasing, about land, about real estate, about investments, about stocks and bonds and other personal finance topics that will empower members and improve their personal finances.
New Home Loans From The FHA Made Easier
New FHA home loans may offer a better alternative than loans from sub-prime lenders. These loans offer some important and specific benefits to first-time buyers with less than perfect credit, or who may need to borrow more and have a higher debt-to-income ratio than conventional lenders will accept. Plus, if you've got loan troubles, FHA now offers cash to lenders to help prevent foreclosure.
Ilyce Glink on WSB Radio – May 15, 2005
Ilyce discusses the New York Times article "Who is Rich in America," which investigates class and the definition of rich. Ilyce also takes calls include real estate investment scams, how to invest retirement funds, and getting the full amount from an insurance company after a car crash.
Ilyce Glink on WSB Radio – May 8, 2005
On this Mother's Day show, Ilyce talks about early Mother's Day holidays and similar holidays celebrated in other countries, and she asks listeners for the best and worst piece of advice from their own mothers. Ilyce also takes calls on establishing a portfolio and the dangers of a real estate bubble.
Taking First Steps After Bankruptcy
A single mother is getting back on her feet after filing for bankruptcy because of unexpected medical expenses. She had to sell her house to pay off her debt, but now she'd like to start planning to buy a new home and save for retirement. She has good income, but she needs to continue to raise her credit score and keep putting any extra money aside to save for a house.
Online Banking Makes Bills Easy
Online banking lets you do your banking anytime, anywhere you have Internet access. If you are tired of sitting down at the table and writing out checks to pay your bills, you might find online banking refreshing. A few clicks and you're done with bill paying. But, as Ilyce Glink points out below, online banking and online bill payment are not foolproof. You have to be careful.
Filing Taxes On Your Own
Tax time again! Whether you are using a paid tax preparer or filing solo, you'll need to stay on top of the tax laws. Using software and filing online helps keep track of the myriad of changes to the tax laws each year. If you don't know what deductions you can take, the IRS's website offers hundreds of publications that explain the deductions available for each profession.
Marriage And Money
Marriage and money are tightly intertwined. While it's true that some people marry for money, it's more often the case that couples divorce because of money matters. A pre-marriage conversation regarding personal finances is a good first step to making sure that you and your loved one are on the same page when it comes to money matters.
Personal Finance and Declining Dollar
As the U.S. dollar declines in value it makes American assets such as the Chicago Skyway more desirable to foreign investors. How does a declining dollar value affect your pocketbook? When you travel you may get less currency in exchange for U.S. dollars. In addition to a declining dollar, Americans have been able to borrow money to buy items such as cars at low interest rates.
Don’t Get Caught In Investment Scams
Be wary of investment scams. If you know about Ponzi schemes, unlicensed securities dealers, and other investing scams, you are less likely to join the ranks of the many unfortunate investment fraud victims out there, some of whom have lost their entire life's savings to these scams.