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Don’t Just Set Your Goals; Achieve Them: Tips for a Financially Fit 2008
Justin Garland, American Consumer Credit Counseling
With 2008 upon us, many people use this time to look optimistically towards the year ahead by setting financial goals and planning for the future. How often do you look back at the winter months and feel truly satisfied that you accomplished the goals you set out to?View Article »
What You Need to Know About Mortgages in 2008
Jeanne Hogarth, The Federal Reserve Board
New kinds of mortgages are making it possible for some consumers to become homeowners for the first time. However, they come with cautions. View Article »
Investing in Uncertain Times
Bob C. Sircy, Jr, Financial Advisor, Southwestern Investment Services, Inc. / Raymond James Financial Services, Inc.
We live in uncertain times—but who hasn’t? Regardless of the uncertainty we still need to manage our money for the future…so what do we do? View Article »
Credit Scams
Pastor Herrera, Jr., Director, County of Los Angeles Department of Consumer Affairs
Some companies promise to get you a credit card no matter how bad your credit is. View Article »
Avoid ID Theft: Deter, Detect, Defend.
Carol Kando-Pineda, Attorney, Federal Trade Commission
Identity theft is a serious and costly crime. It strikes nearly 10 million U.S. consumers a year, and imposes billions of dollars in unnecessary costs on businesses. View Article »
Digging Out of Debt
Tanisha Warner, Marketing & Communication, Money Management International
Paying off debt is a matter of making more money than you spend and then allocating the extra funds to outstanding balances – easier said than done, right? To some it may be just that easy, but to most, debt is so common that it eventually becomes a way of life. View Article »
Sweepstake Scams
Linda Golodner, President emeritus, National Consumers League
We all want to win the sweepstakes or to believe we have won a prize. But when you see: Congratulations!!!! You’ve won a Prize!!! You’ve won a trip to Hawaii!! It’s your lucky day!! Make sure that it is your lucky day – and you are not the victim of a scam! View Article »
Scholarship Scams
Linda Golodner, President emeritus, National Consumers League
The amount of money needed to go to college keeps going up – and up – and up. The cost of tuition and room and board is far more than most parents and students can afford. So families seek loans and financial aid to help out. View Article »
Avoiding Investment Fraud: Signs of a Scam
Sally Hurme, Money Matters, AARP
Have you ever gotten a “great offer” or a “hot tip” on an investment? It might come from someone you know, someone you’re releated to – or it might just be an offer you get out of the blue, by phone, in an email, or from a pop-up ad online. View Article »
Why Women Experience Money Malfunctions
Marcia Brixey, Money Wi$e Women
After reading these alarming statistics about women and money, you’ll know why it’s time to get your financial plan in place. View Article »
5 Money Mistakes Women Should Avoid
Cindy Hounsell, President, Women’s Institute for a Secure Retirement
Here are some common mistakes that women make—and you can learn to avoid. View Article »
After A Disaster, Expect the Best and Worst
Pastor Herrera, Jr., Director, County of Los Angeles Department of Consumer Affairs
Fires, floods, earthquakes and other disasters can strike at any time. Often, these disasters bring out the best in us; neighbors helping neighbors, the bravery of fire, police and public officials; and the help provided by government and public-service groups. View Article »
Avoid Predatory Lenders and Get a Good Home Loan
Pastor Herrera, Jr., Director, County of Los Angeles Department of Consumer Affairs
The term predatory loan refers to a variety of abusive lending practices. Predatory lenders use high-pressure sales tactics. They only offer you high interest loans with lots of junk fees tacked on, even though you may qualify for a better loan. View Article »
Reverse Mortgages – Should You Get One
Pastor Herrera, Jr., Director, County of Los Angeles Department of Consumer Affairs
Reverse mortgages are for senior citizens who own homes and want monthly income. When you bought your home, the bank loaned you the money to buy it and you paid them back with monthly mortgage payments. View Article »
How Credit Scores Can Help You Become More Creditworthy
Rod Griffin, Senior Manager, Public Education, Experian
Credit scores have become a very important part of a person’s financial life. Lenders use them to analyze the information in your credit report, and as a result, the numbers play a pivotal role in whether or not your application is approved or declined. View Article »
What is a Credit Reporting Agency, and What Does it Do?
Rod Griffin, Senior Manager, Public Education, Experian
Credit scores have become a very important part of a person’s financial life. Lenders use them to analyze the information in your credit report, and as a result, the numbers play a pivotal role in whether or not your application is approved or declined. View Article »
Protecting Personal Information: Five Steps for Direct Sellers
Lesley Fair, Federal Trade Commission
As a successful direct seller, your customers and business associates expect a lot from you. Great products, top-notch service, and the unique personal touch that can set you apart from other sellers.View Article »
Identity Theft – Reduce the Risk
Pastor Herrera, Jr., Director, County of Los Angeles Department of Consumer Affairs
Identity theft is the highest raising crime. It’s important to take precautions to reduce your risk of becoming a victim of identity theft. Try to work in these simple routine into your schedule. View Article »
Telemarketing Fraud – Protect Yourself and Get Help
Pastor Herrera, Jr., Director, County of Los Angeles Department of Consumer Affairs
Fraudulent telemarketers steal billions of dollars from consumers every year. Fraudulent telemarketers usually work out of cheap, rented offices with nothing more than a telephone and a desire to take your money. View Article »
Identity Theft: What to do if it happens to you
Brandolyn Thomas Pinkston, Administrator, South Carolina Department of Consumer Affairs
Identity theft is the unlawful use of your personal information (credit card numbers, your name, address, social security number, business tax ID number, etc). Identity thieves are just that – they impersonate their victims and use other’s information. View Article »
Put Your Money to Good Work: Socially Responsible Investing Tips
Sally Greenberg, Executive Director, National Consumers League
There’s been a lot of buzz in recent years about “socially responsible investing,” but what is it? Socially responsible investing (SRI) is a strategy for investing that combines the goals of maximizing monetary returns with making positive contributions to society at the same time. View Article »
Timing Your Retirement
Sally Hurme, Money Matters, AARP
It used to be pretty easy to predict when you’d reach retirement. Most people started on Social Security as soon as age 62, and many others knew their journey would end the day they were eligible for their pension. View Article »
Credit Card Disputes
Pastor Herrera, Jr., Director, County of Los Angeles Department of Consumer Affairs
State and federal laws give you the right to dispute credit card billing errors and have them corrected. This page explains how to handle billing disputes with your credit card company. View Article »
How to Choose a Reputable Credit Counseling Agency
Tanisha Warner, Marketing & Communication, Money Management International
Today, a majority of consumers are experiencing some sort of financial difficulty causing a significant impact on their everyday lives. In fact, Americans carry more than $2 trillion in consumer debt. View Article »
Collection Agencies
Pastor Herrera, Jr., Director, County of Los Angeles Department of Consumer Affairs
The first rule of handling collection agencies is: Don’t ignore them! You have rights under the law, but you have to respond immediately to protect yourself. View Article »
Teen Consumer Competition Filling Financial Education Void
Lisa Hertzberg, LifeSmarts Program Director, National Consumers League
Financial Literacy – what a perfect theme for the 2008 National Consumer Protection Week! Here we are, just a couple weeks into the new year, and it’s already clear by the media saturation on foreclosures, sub-prime lending, and bankruptcies that the national “credit crunch” will have as good a chance of defining 2008 as the presidential election. View Article »
