Planning ahead for college is not just about getting good grades and accumulating a list of extracurriculars and awards. It’s also a process of understanding how to pay for tuition and living expenses during the college years. Parents tend to focus on a college degree as the payoff for all the time, effort, and money they have invested in education. They invest a lot to help their child get accepted to good schools and get situated comfortably. But completing high school and entering college marks typically involves student loan debt as well. The payoff for anyone with student loan debt is budgeting successfully for monthly…

That positive pregnancy test sure can bring a rush of emotions! Once you’re able to navigate through the first few weeks, you’ll need to start thinking logically. Mainly, how are you going to financially support another human being? The average cost to raise a child to 18 years has risen to about a quarter million dollars. That doesn’t even include college! Buckle down, because it’s time to start planning and saving. Review Health Insurance Plans A pregnancy typically means plenty of doctor appointments and a hospital stay. You might want to research what options you have as far as plans go,…

The Wall Street Journal recently reported that if Americans put 3% of their salaries towards a retirement plan, it still may not be enough for a comfortable retirement. The problem is many people don’t even want to part with that 3%. In fact, almost half of the people surveyed had no retirement funds at all. And many of those who are contributing to a 401(k) are not putting in the required amount to get their full employer match, leaving $42,855 behind on average per year. As these people get closer to retirement, the savings crunch can be extremely stressful and the well-deserved break…

Quality of schools are moving further down the list when it comes to picking a new home.  In a survey of 2,000 Americans, 60% ranked school districts as important to the purchasing of their home.  But surprisingly more people ranked mobile service and hospitals as important. What tops the rankings? The survey conducted went more in depth into what home buyers rank as most important.  In the survey, things that ranked even more important than schools were: crime rates (96% of people surveyed), local taxes (90%), and amenities (84%). 76% ranked mobile service and hospitals as important. One reason for ranking…

Getting preapproved is the true beginning to any serious home search. Unlike pre-qualification, the preapproval process takes your full financial picture into account in order to develop a better estimate of the home loan for which you are eligible. With this information, you’ll be able to determine your housing budget, which is necessary in order for your real estate agent to find great property options that meet your requirements without blowing your financial outlook. With markets throughout the country becoming increasingly competitive, buyers who begin the search without a preapproval from a qualified lender are at a real disadvantage when…