There are different types of financial aid given to students who wish to pursue higher studies out of which consolidated college loans, provided by various banks and lending agencies are the most popular. These loans are different from scholarships provided by universities, governments and private organizations, to bright students, as they have to be paid back and usually with interest. There are many varieties of consolidated student loans. For...more
One of the biggest investments you will make is in purchasing a new home. Most people will need to carefully budget and plan to make this dream become a reality. Using a mortgage calculator, you can easily predict what your monthly payments are going to be.A mortgage payment calculator is very essential especially when you want to know how much your mortgage payment will be. This will help you budget your money and foresee possible mortgage...more
Homeowners who have a mortgage through Countrywide will have new policies distributed by Bank of America which procured Countrywide in July of 2008. Mortgage adjustments policies have been updated in an attempt to aid homeowners in carrying out their loan obligations in a realistic manner due to recent economic complications. In the past, Countrywide has been under attackby the press as being an unfair lender with consumer complaints concerning poor customer service and lack of unity within the company. This has resulted in a lawsuit for predatory lending practices. However, Bank of America along with Countrywide has since produced a viable strategy for distressed homeowners whose monthly mortgage payments are over their original budgeted allowance. Countrywide projects a 34% debt-to-income ratio. After modifying their loan, homeowners will be able to get their payments on track. To qualify, the client must have a home loan originating with Countrywide and must occupy and own the dwelling. Plans offered by Countrywide for loan conversion will contain interest rate reductions and leniency in repaying the principle. There are also government plans for help with mortgages, one is...more
Have you ever purchased any large item without putting down some type of down payment? From houses to electronic equipment, it's impossible to buy anything without spending some kind of cash - even if you sign up for a sixty day payment plan.In fact, most people don't know that all taxes on any large item must be paid up front. This means that you...more
Most people know that good credit is desirable. After all, most of us spend out entire lives trying to keep our credit on the plus side of things. Interestingly, good credit is not only important when it comes to gaining a great interest rate, but it's also important for a variety of other reasons.Did you know that many employers check your credit...more
An equity-indexed annuity is a type of annuity that grows and earns interest based on a formula related to a specific stock market index.An Equity Indexed Annuity with an Income Rider is a contract between you and the insurance company which provides:1) Guaranteed return of principal,2) Returns linked to an index (subject to a cap),3) Credited gains cannot be lost,4) Guaranteed minimum interest,5) Liquidity features (nursing home, critical illness & 10% annual withdrawal),6) Taxes not due until withdrawal,7) Avoidance of Probate,8) Protection from creditors,9) No annual fees (other than the cost of the rider depending on the carrier) and10) guaranteed income you (or you and your spouse) cannot outlive.Equity Indexed Annuity Crediting MethodsFunds can be allocated between the different crediting methods and each year the allocation can be changed. Most EIA's allow for one or a combination of different indexes to be used such as S&P 500, Nasdaq-100, FTSE 100 etc.1) Fixed Account: Usually between 2.5% -3.5%Fixed account crediting is good in years when the market will decline and guaranteed growth is desired.2) Annual Point to Point with a Cap (assume 6.5%). Take the difference between...more
Even though homeowners have always been able to get a home loan modification, recently the process has become a topic of conversation because of the downturn in the economy. Today renegotiating has become commonplace. However, there are still much...more
The word annuity has its origins in a Latin term that means "annual." Today, an annuity is an investment product sold by insurance companies.Annuities can be purchased through a series of contributions or in one lump sum. The money put into the...more
If you look at your money situation and understand that you want to have a strong financial future, you need to be able to find the right person to help you. You will need to talk to a professional, who can listen to what you have to say about how...more
With today's economy reeling from the high prices of gasoline, food and everything else, it can be a little harder to become debt free but, it can be accomplished. With thousands of people loosing their homes to foreclosure, which by the way was...more
If you want your money to work for you in the present and the future, you need to start investing in financial planning. But you wont be able to do it on your own. Its up to you to bring in the income, but you need the assistance from an Atlanta...more
Secured credit cards are a reliable option for many consumers. How to tell if they're right for you, however, depends on a number of factors. Here are some signs that a secured offer could help your financial situation.You have a Low Credit ScoreAre...more