Credit

Is a Credit Report Freeze More Trouble Than It’s Worth?

April 11, 2012

(Guest Post by Jay S. Fleischman) Two years ago my friend decided to get into the world of home ownership. The market had tanked, and he figured it was a good investment in his future. At first, the stars were perfectly aligned. He had great credit, a stable job, and money in the bank. At [...]

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How Safe is Your Credit Card Information?

September 22, 2011

(Guest Post by Ross) Credit card fraud has been a enormous problem since the credit card was first introduced in the 1950′s. Before the internet, the main way that this type of theft was committed was by stealing and using the physical card. Today, this type of theft has grown to become much more sophisticated. [...]

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Our Credit Report Explained!

September 1, 2011

Credit is very important to our financial sustainability.  Our credit report is a measurement of our financial responsibility and our credit worthiness.  A good credit report can have a huge impact on our financial lives.  Our mortgage, our car loan, our home insurance and even our bank account being approved can all depend on our [...]

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5 Easy Tips Towards a Good Credit Score

September 22, 2010

Have you ever wondered what factors make up a great credit score? Have you ever ordered your own credit report?  If not, then I suggest you do.  It is always a good idea to review your credit report 1-2 times a year.  This makes your information is correct and up to date, as well as [...]

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Credit Chaos

July 21, 2010

Over the last few years during the financial crisis people have lost their jobs, homes, and in some cases their families. When our backs are up against the wall, it is in human nature to look for a quick fix…a band aid solution that helps temporarily but does not heal long term. A quick solution [...]

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Reading the Tea Leaves

June 10, 2010
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A hotly debated financial reform bill has passed the US Senate and very little (except some process) remains until a unified bill is slid under President Obama’s signatory pen. Discussion now shifts from debate on financial reform to understanding what financial reform has reformed and its impact on us, the consumer.  For good or for [...]

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Credit Is My Frenemy

June 3, 2010
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They say that you should keep your friends close and your enemies closer. This is how I feel about credit. I hate using it, but if I have an emergency I am glad that it’s available for me. Credit Cards can be our friend if we treat them right but they can be our worst [...]

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Less Than Perfect for a Mortgage

May 26, 2010
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Waiting for a decision on your mortgage application is like waiting for blood test results or waiting for your tax return. You secretly hope for one answer but you are also prepared for the worst. If your mortgage application result comes back negative, then don’t worry…you have other options. As a financial planner my primary [...]

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Should Couples Combine Their Finances?

May 13, 2010

In a recent interview, a journalist asked me if I thought couples should combine their finances or not. Since arguments about money are one of the leading causes of divorce and stress in relationships, it’s an important topic that I wanted to share with my fellow DINKS—and get your comments on. I told the journalist [...]

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The Loss of Personal Finance

May 10, 2010

If you live in the Washington D.C. area you may have noticed that many employment opportunities are either with the government, or with government contracting companies. Chances are if you are applying for a position in the government sector, including government contracting companies, you will have to undergo a background check. And often that means [...]

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