Let’s Get Reading! The Best Books to Get the Money Conversation Started With Your Kids
Talking to your children about money is a difficult conversation for many parents to have. Starting the talk is the hardest part. No matter how old your children are, here are some ideas to get the ball rolling. Sometimes reading a book to children gives you a script to start that conversation, and then you…
Read MoreWhat Is a Pre-Paid College Tuition 529 Plan and Is It Right for Me?
For those of us who have children, just thinking about putting them through four years of college can feel overwhelming. In the United States, the cost of college tuition is higher than almost anywhere else in the world. And it keeps rising every year! According to a survey from the College Board (the company that…
Read MoreHow to Plan for the Cost of College with Your Kids
As a financial coach, I encourage parents to talk to their children about college as early as possible. Nowadays, college is one of the most expensive costs, next to a car or a home. Enrolling, paying, and attending college is also a complicated process. Leaving this in the hands of an 18-year-old is unfair. Your…
Read MoreHow can I build my skills while I am unemployed?
There are lots of emerging job opportunities that require specific skills. Building those job skills is necessary to fill numerous types of good-paying jobs, especially jobs in the tech industry. But you also need a specific skillset to be an educator, healthcare worker, financial services professional, plumber, or electrician. So, to answer your question, first…
Read MoreWhat loan options do I have for helping my child afford college?
Starting college is an exciting time for parents and students alike. But this excitement often comes with stress and uncertainty about how to pay for school. You may be wondering what options are available for you and your child. If you want to help your child cover the costs of higher education, you have many…
Read MoreHow the CARES Act Impacts Your Student Loans
Times are uncertain right now. Budgets are tightening and people are losing work. On March 27, 2020 President Trump signed the CARES (Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security) Act. Now people are trying to understand how the CARES Act will affect their lives. If you have student loans, you may wonder how the CARES Act…
Read MoreHow to Have Your Student Loans Forgiven
Student loan debt is very common. If you have student loans, your payments may impact how you live your life in significant ways. So as you work to pay off your student loans, it’s important to understand the options that exist for student loan forgiveness. Here are three student loan forgiveness programs you should be…
Read MoreDo I Qualify for Perkins Loan Cancellation?
Public Service Loan Forgiveness and Teacher Loan Forgiveness apply to federal student loans that you’ve borrowed, but not to any Perkins Loans. The Perkins Loan program was discontinued in 2017, but you might still be eligible for loan cancellation programs if you have Perkins Loans. Perkins Loan Cancellation through Teaching To have your Perkins Loans…
Read MoreDo I Qualify for Teacher Loan Forgiveness?
If you are a teacher or work for an educational service and also have federal student loans, you may qualify for Teacher Loan Forgiveness. Requirements for Teacher Loan Forgiveness Eligibility To qualify for Teacher Loan Forgiveness, you must have direct loans or FFEL Program loans borrowed after Oct. 1, 1998. You also need to be…
Read MoreDo I Qualify for Public Service Loan Forgiveness?
To participate in Public Service Loan Forgiveness, make sure that you meet all the requirements. You must have the right type of loans, the correct occupation, a full-time job, and the correct repayment plan. Plus, you need to make eligible payments for ten years. After ten years, if you meet all of these conditions, you…
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