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Plan Well, Retire Well 2015

Why Everyone Should Check their Credit!

When the topic of credit comes up in one of my classes, people tend to have lots of questions about it. However, I am always shocked on the amount of people who don't check their credit on a regular basis. Below are some great reasons on why you should check your credit report! Check Your...
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Cut the Cost of Student Loans

Recently a friend asked me, "Could she pay back her student loan more quickly and avoid some of the interest charges?" This is a great question! The answer is yes; most federal and private loans allow people to pre-pay their loans without penalty. Illinois students who borrow money for their...
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Financial Education: Not Enough for All Financial Problems

I believe in the importance of financial education; I am a financial educator. I believe with good information people can avoid many costly errors and utilize their money to reach their dreams and goals. But it's not enough! And, as I talked to people during Money Smart Week I realized that it may...
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Financial March Madness

March is a big part of a financial time of the year. For those sports fans, especially of college basketball, the all-important "bracket" is the subject of many studies, guessing and possible financial "investing". It can be an exciting or agonizing time as favorite teams are defeated, and a "...
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The Game of Saving

We often play games to entertain us or to help teach life lessons in a pretend or safe environment. How about making savings a game? For many people, asking or requiring them to save as part of their overall spending plans, may feel like a punishment. I have to save this money so I...
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Small Steps to Saving

To reach financial goals, like college or down payment on a home or a special trip, we need to save money. But it can be hard to start saving. One way strategy that works is to start small and to save regularly! And when I say, start small – I mean small. How much do you think you'...
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NEW Twists on Scams and Identity Theft

Recently I heard an excellent presentation by Ella York, an attorney from the Illinois Attorney General's office. Identity theft is the #1 issue that is reported by consumers to the Illinois Attorney General's office. I appreciated Ms. York's well-thought out presentation and came away with several...
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Sasha Learns: How to Buy a House - The Hunt

So far in this series we've talked about renting verses buying, credit, and finding a realtor. Today's blog post will be slightly more fun as we'll briefly talk about the pre-approval process and the house hunt!! The Pre-Approval Process Getting pre-approved is an important step in...
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5 Easy Steps to Save for Big Ticket Items

Please welcome guest blogger, Tammy Greynolds from America Saves! Very few of us have money at the ready to cover an emergency, never mind the money for the larger purchases we'd like to make. This is why it's that much more important to prioritize savings to cover both...
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myRA -- Easy to Start Saving!

To save money in most retirement saving plans, you often need a minimum already saved to get started. Not the myRA offered my the US government. I think the low amount needed to start saving and the NO FEES are the best parts of the myRA, and making checking out this saving option...
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Sasha Learns: How to Buy a House - Finding a Realtor

After deciding whether to rent or become a homeowner, checking your credit and possibly fixing it, the next step you'll want to do is find a real estate agent! Just like any other advisor, you need to establish some rapport with them. Below are a few traits and other items you should look for in a...
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New Year Resolutions - Strategies to Make Them Work

It's easier to make New Year Resolutions than to keep them! Let's take a look at some strategies to keep your financial resolutions on track. State the resolutions effectively. Research by behavioral economists suggests that how we frame our resolutions may affect how successful we...
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