Happy New Year, Class of '10! And Welcome to Your College Financial Aid Base Year

3 Mistakes Guaranteed to Increase Your College Costs
Written by: Marc R. Hill | Distributed: 2009-04-02 | Word Count: 959 | Page Views: 876 | Votes: 4 | Rating: 3.75
The decision to reduce your college costs is entirely in your hands. While it's commonly believed that there's nothing you can do to reduce these expenses, as a financial planner and as a parent, I can assure you that the strategies not only exist, but they're also very effective. But on the flip side of the college funding coin, there are some pricey mistakes that any parent can make. Let's take a look at three of these mistakes.

The Most Dangerous Christmas Gift to Give A High School Senior
Written by: Marc R. Hill | Distributed: 2008-12-23 | Word Count: 642 | Page Views: 1176 | Votes: 4 | Rating: 2.25
Saving money is only one consideration when putting a child through college. To fully leverage your educational investments, you have to understand how the financial aid formula will be affected by how and when you use your investments. The choices you make could cost or save your family tens of thousands of dollars. Simple Tricks for Reducing College Tuition Costs...

All of Author's Articles on this site: Marc R. Hill Articles

Understanding Your 401(k), IRA and Other Pre-Tax Investments
Written by: Irene A. Majchrzak | Distributed: 2010-08-03 | Word Count: 1005 | Page Views: 1130
What does all of the bad economic news mean to you, the average investor. Well, if you are still working and contributing to your pre-tax 401(k)'s, 403(b)'s, or IRA savings your strategies for salvaging your retirement will include reviewing all of the investment options found in your 401(k), etc.

Xerox Follow Apple on the Comeback Trail
Written by: Jennifer Robinson | Distributed: 2010-07-27 | Word Count: 1238 | Page Views: 1591 | Votes: 1 | Rating: 0.00
In many ways the companies share similar fortunes. Apple (founded by Steve Jobs, Stephen Wozniak, Ronald Wayne) produced the first successful personal computer with a graphical operating system. Xerox (founded by Chester Carlson, Joseph C Wilson) were the inventors of Xerography (later called the photocopier).

Payday Advance Loans Are Now Only One Toll Free Call Away
Written by: Tom Tierney | Distributed: 2010-07-27 | Word Count: 599 | Page Views: 894
A friend of mine recently went through financial troubles and asked me, knowing that I'm a finance writer, if I could push him in the right direction for a short term loan to help out with his expenses. Here's his story:

Stock Market Falls Sharply
Written by: Irene A. Majchrzak | Distributed: 2010-07-27 | Word Count: 879 | Page Views: 1025 | Votes: 1 | Rating: 1.00
The stock market has been having a bad week. Wednesday the market ended the day down over 300 points. I heard reports that this was the result of investors taking their profits. Happens all the time. Then within a few days, the prices on many great stocks is so low that the investors are buying the stocks right back up.

Finding the Best Credit Card Applications
Written by: Jeffrey Weber | Distributed: 2010-07-27 | Word Count: 403 | Page Views: 823
Online credit card applications can be confusing. That's the way the banks want them. This article will help eliminate some of the confusion.

Do You Know the Difference Between an Investment Advisor and a Broker?
Written by: Tome Tomaj | Distributed: 2010-03-11 | Word Count: 408 | Page Views: 1129 | Votes: 4 | Rating: 4.25
As an fee-only investment advisor I come across clients from all walks of life. Lately I have noticed something in common with many of these investors. Many do not know the difference between an investment advisor and a broker who manages and/or makes securities recommendations for their clients' investment portfolios. With the almost unprecedented volatility in the securities markets, you cannot afford to dig your head in the sand when it comes to whom is managing your assets.

Understanding Term Life Insurance and Getting Quotes
Written by: Brian Greenberg | Distributed: 2010-01-13 | Word Count: 520 | Page Views: 1113 | Votes: 1 | Rating: 2.00
Buying term life insurance can be a scary process but understanding the different types of life insurance can remove the fear. What you should know about term life and how requesting life insurance quotes online can be easy and very convenient.

The Decline in the Personal Savings Rate - What Happened to the Discipline?
Written by: Tome Tomaj | Distributed: 2009-12-15 | Word Count: 873 | Page Views: 974 | Votes: 2 | Rating: 3.50
As more and more American baby boomers are nearing and entering their retirement years, many of them are concerned about whether their retirement savings will last them long enough to ensure their current quality of life, and rightly so.

What My Mother Taught Me About Credit Cards And Family Finances
Written by: Braxton Heitz | Distributed: 2009-12-01 | Word Count: 1285 | Page Views: 1617 | Votes: 19 | Rating: 2.74
My mother is an amazing woman. She made some of the hardest jobs imaginable look easy. No matter how hard her day was, she always had a smile and perfect hair.

Student Credit Cards Can Help Lay The Foundation For Prosperous Adult Living
Written by: Braxton Heitz | Distributed: 2009-11-24 | Word Count: 948 | Page Views: 1533 | Votes: 11 | Rating: 2.82
Credit is one of the most fundamental aspects of the financial structure we have built our society. In fact, a great credit score can be one of the most valuable assets an individual will ever have in his or her life.

Using a 401K Loan to Stop Foreclosure
Written by: Daniel Lamaute | Distributed: 2008-02-11 | Word Count: 465 | Page Views: 5588 | Votes: 14 | Rating: 2.29
A bankruptcy or foreclosure can cripple one's ability to obtain decent credit for many years. In addition, some employers and landlords won't hire or rent to a candidate with terrible credit history. Thus, it is a good idea to discuss all options with a financial planner before ending in bankruptcy or foreclosure.

Why Over 3,000 US Companies Have Chosen the Frankfurt Stock Exchange to Go Public
Written by: Ron Crowe | Distributed: 2008-07-31 | Word Count: 786 | Page Views: 4008 | Votes: 13 | Rating: 2.38
The Frankfurt Stock Exchange, one of the world's largest trading centers for securities, has over 3,000 United States companies listed. North American and other foreign companies are choosing Europe, over the United States, to go public because of the punishing Sarbanes Oxley Act introduced in the United States in 2002.

A Better Way To Sell A Structured Settlement - Via Auction
Written by: Clayton Frantz | Distributed: 2007-11-30 | Word Count: 1342 | Page Views: 3806 | Votes: 8 | Rating: 2.75
Structured settlements were introduced in Canada and the United States in the 1970's. They were introduced as an alternative to lump sum payments, common in insurance settlements and lottery winnings. In the decades since, they have also been accepted as legal financial instruments in England and Australia. In a nutshell, a structured settlement by legal definition is a statutory agreement to pay a specified sum of money over a period of time, on a payment system.

Advantages and Disadvantages of Individual and Group Health Insurance
Written by: Kevin Kielty | Distributed: 2009-04-01 | Word Count: 639 | Page Views: 2878 | Votes: 9 | Rating: 2.78
The cost of individual and group health insurance coverage varies greatly as does the type of coverage they both offer. Making the switch can bring some surprises.

How to Hide Assets
Written by: Rocco Beatrice | Distributed: 2007-01-19 | Word Count: 507 | Page Views: 2711 | Votes: 6 | Rating: 1.00
How to hide your assets by repositioning your assets through an irrevocable trust with an independent trustee.

The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly: Why Your Broker May Not Be Recommending The Most Competitive Annuity
Written by: Tom Hamlin | Distributed: 2006-05-12 | Word Count: 1036 | Page Views: 2606 | Votes: 10 | Rating: 2.90
There are over two thousand life insurance companies offering over fifteen thousand different annuities, and they run the gamut from horrific (I wouldn't offer it to an enemy) to outstanding...

Identity Theft: The New Threat to Your Credit
Written by: Josh Pike | Distributed: 2006-08-24 | Word Count: 363 | Page Views: 2456 | Votes: 8 | Rating: 4.00
When we think of thieves, images of burglars creeping into homes and apartments come to mind. However, there are new thieves that can take much more than your money or possessions. If your personal information falls into the hands of an identity thief, your credit and finances can be ruined.

Micro Lending: Find Your Voice And Inspire Others To Find Theirs
Written by: Robert Thornton | Distributed: 2008-04-23 | Word Count: 748 | Page Views: 2436 | Votes: 7 | Rating: 2.57
Many, many thousands of people in the third world have achieved economic independence through the pioneering work of internationally revered Nobel prizewinner Muhammad Yunus. As the founder of the Grameen Bank, the world's first lending institution to focus solely on providing unsecured start-up capital for the working poor, Professor Yunus has gained world-wide recognition and a slew of awards for his extraordinarily effective efforts.

9 Questions To Answer Before You Prepay Your Home Mortgage
Written by: Frank Oakerson | Distributed: 2006-08-02 | Word Count: 1257 | Page Views: 2406 | Votes: 12 | Rating: 2.25
We are all different. At different times in our lives we have different goals and needs. You can ask different experts in financial planning, Texas mortgage brokers, and your banker "should I prepay on my home mortgage?" and you will get answers from "that is the greatest idea" to "that will be the worst financial mistake you will ever make". So what is a person to do? Let us look at 9 things you need to consider and have answered before you "prepay your home mortgage".

Protecting Assets from Nursing Home Costs
Written by: Rocco Beatrice | Distributed: 2007-01-24 | Word Count: 470 | Page Views: 2337 | Votes: 9 | Rating: 2.44
About protecting senior/elder assets before entering nursing home. Planning for your retirement by reducing your nursing home costs has to be done early and definitively 5 years before you plan to get sick. If offering is a taxable gift then taxes are paid on the gift by the transferor; oppositely, the receiver obtains the gift tax-free.

Identity Theft: The New Threat to Your Credit
Written by: Josh Pike | Distributed: 2006-08-24 | Word Count: 363 | Page Views: 2456 | Votes: 8 | Rating: 4.00
When we think of thieves, images of burglars creeping into homes and apartments come to mind. However, there are new thieves that can take much more than your money or possessions. If your personal information falls into the hands of an identity thief, your credit and finances can be ruined.

In Fear of Retirement
Written by: Daniel Lamaute | Distributed: 2008-05-08 | Word Count: 646 | Page Views: 1285 | Votes: 7 | Rating: 3.86
Many baby boomers are staring at retirement like a deer caught on oncoming headlights. They are not sure what to do or what else to do. They fear that whatever they have in savings just might not be enough. Less than 1 out of 5 workers felt very confident about having enough money for a comfortable retirement, according to the April 2008, EBRI Retirement Confidence Survey. And with good reasons, inflation is zooming at the same time that asset values are flagging.

A Recipe for Good Credit
Written by: Josh Pike | Distributed: 2006-08-17 | Word Count: 369 | Page Views: 1315 | Votes: 7 | Rating: 3.57
If your credit is not as good as you want it to be, take action now! It's easier than you think to improve your credit.

Why Should I Invest In Mutual Funds?
Written by: Eric Krammer | Distributed: 2008-01-29 | Word Count: 470 | Page Views: 1337 | Votes: 6 | Rating: 3.50
Hoping that the lottery will make you rich is as unreasonable. However, mutual funds have proven that they are a good investment tool that has been successfully used by many, which has resulted in accumulation of a real fortune.

Equipment Financing and The Five Cs of Credit Evaluation
Written by: Sean Marten | Distributed: 2007-10-17 | Word Count: 698 | Page Views: 1363 | Votes: 6 | Rating: 3.50
Equipment financing lenders, as well as banks, use the Five Cs to evaluate loan applications: Character, Credit, Cash Flow, Capacity and Collateral. However, while banks look at small-to-medium size companies from a Fortune 500 perspective, equipment financing companies see applicants from a small business perspective, which highlights a sixth C: Common Sense.

Reverse Mortgage Costs Are Not Too High
Written by: N. Sioris | Distributed: 2008-07-29 | Word Count: 1120 | Page Views: 1072 | Votes: 6 | Rating: 3.50
Reverse mortgage costs are repeatedly cited as one of the main reasons for seniors not to get a reverse mortgage loan. However, the same folks that harp on costs as being a reason not to use this financial resource rarely offer a less expensive option or an alternate proposal. Don't fall into the trap of listening to the negative hype without doing your own research. Find out what the true costs are and whether they are justified or not. Compare the cost of a reverse mortgage to the cost of selling your home, downsizing or moving into assisted living. Pull back the curtain and take a good look, then make your own determination. Don't base your decision on an uninformed friend, relative or media reporter.

Taking Advantage of the Stock Market
Written by: Irene A. Majchrzak | Distributed: 2009-07-09 | Word Count: 738 | Page Views: 1007 | Votes: 8 | Rating: 3.50
Is the market rebounding? The Dow, leveling out each week because it gets a rise in the market one day and a pullback the next day, comes from investors' taking their profits. This will probably continue for a year or so until the really large investors such as Hedge Fund Managers, Institutional Investors like Mutual Fund and 401(k) managers start purchasing the really great stocks at lower prices for the longer term. You may have questions... This article will show you how you can take advantage of the current stock market conditions...

Medicaid Asset Protection
Written by: Rocco Beatrice | Distributed: 2007-01-23 | Word Count: 646 | Page Views: 1427 | Votes: 7 | Rating: 3.43
Learn how to include senior Medicaid asset protection as part of your senior tax planning strategies. What are the tax implications of Medicaid and why it needs to be planned carefully? About seniors Medicaid asset protection as part of the senior tax planning strategies. Explains the new 5-year look back provisions for seniors to qualify for Medicare assistance into nursing home program.

How to Invest in a Rough Economy: Investment Advice from the Experts
Written by: Sarah Simmons | Distributed: 2009-07-08 | Word Count: 692 | Page Views: 865 | Votes: 8 | Rating: 3.38
The stock market crash of 2008 lost many investors a lot of money, and had many other investors bailing out of stocks for the safety of savings and checking accounts, treasury bills and gold. However, it is still possible to invest - and yes, even make money - during the current rocky economy.

Section 179 - 4th Qtr Tax Saving Strategy for Small Business
Written by: Sean Marten | Distributed: 2007-12-05 | Word Count: 345 | Page Views: 2050 | Votes: 6 | Rating: 3.33
Use the power of available deductions to boost your business's bottom line in 2007. Purchase new or "new to you" used business equipment now. Then place it in service by December 31st to realize exceptional tax savings.