What are 529 Plans? - 10/28/10 09:12 AM
College-savings accounts have improved, and now more states offer a deduction for contributing to one. Watch as Jane Clark, Associate Editor of Kiplinger's Personal Finance Magazine explains what a 529 plan is and the advantages of 529 college savings plans. The advantages include federal and state tax breaks and a relatively high ceiling for deposits.
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Protecting Credit During Divorce - 10/26/10 08:45 AM
Chances are you know someone who is facing the challenges of divorce. Going through this process can be emotionally and financially difficult. Failing to address important credit issues, however, will only make things worse. Remember, a divorce decree does not absolve credit contracts or relieve responsibility for any and all debt incurred during the marriage. The following is a proactive plan to maintain healthy credit both during and after a divorce.
Know Your Credit – Obtain copies of credit reports from all three bureaus right away (Experian®, Equifax, and TransUnion®).
Organize The Facts – Make a list of ALL open accounts and create a … (7 comments)

Upside Down? You Can Refinance Up to 125% of Your Home’s Value - 10/19/10 01:45 PM
Even if you owe up to 125% more on your mortgage than your home is worth, you may be able to refinance. For example, if your home is worth $200,000 but you owe more than that, qualifying homeowners can now refinance up to $250,000.
According to First American Core Logic, more than 15.2 million homes had negative equity in June 2009. This represents nearly 33% of all mortgaged properties across the country. Where in the past, being upside down on your loan would have precluded your ability to seek relief, you now may have an opportunity.
The Making Home Affordable program was … (1 comments)

Make It a Great Day - 10/19/10 01:42 PM
According to Jeffrey Gitomer, "You wake up in the morning and decide at that moment what kind of day you're going to have." Watch Jeffrey's message about the importance of setting the proper tone to your day. It's a simple yet profound idea that will have a positive effect on both your workplace and your home. (www.gitomer.com)
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Choosing a Fixed Rate Loan - 10/18/10 09:07 AM
Fixed rate loans generally come with one of two options; the 30-Year Fixed and the 15-Year Fixed. If a borrower is planning on being in the same home for a long period of time, a 30-Year Fixed may be more attractive because it offers stability. The monthly payment will remain consistent over the life of the loan. If interest rates are at historic lows at the time the borrower is seeking to obtain financing, this is a good program to consider. A 15-Year Fixed loan program offers the same stability, but the accelerated amortization schedule makes the monthly payment substantially higher. … (1 comments)

What You Need to Know About Social Security - 10/12/10 09:33 AM
Five ways to make sure you get the biggest possible check. By Laura Cohn, Kiplinger’s Personal Finance
1. Patience pays off. The longer you wait, the bigger the check. You can start collecting Social Security as early as age 62. If you do, however, you could suffer a reduction in benefits of 25% or more for the rest of your life. And if you continue to work, you could run up against the earnings cap, which in 2010 dings you $1 in benefits for every $2 you earn over $14,160. But wait until your normal retirement age of 66 (for those born between … (0 comments)

Mileage Rates for 2010 - 10/05/10 09:16 AM
If you drive a car, truck or van for work, you’ll want to make sure you know the standard mileage rates that the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has set for 2010. These mileage rates are used to calculate deductible costs for driving an automobile for business, charitable, medical and moving purposes. As of January 1, 2010, the standard mileage rates for 2010 are as follows:
· Businesses = 50 cents per mile driven· Medical or moving = 16.5 cents per mile driven· Charitable organizations = 14 cents per mile driven
These are slightly lower than last year’s rates due to generally … (2 comments)

Update: The Birth of Our Son! - 10/04/10 09:44 AM
As many of you know, I wrote a post a little while back celebrating my arrival at 200,000 points on Active Rain and I also mentioned that my son would be born soon. I wanted everyone to know that he's here!
Weston Daniel Walters was born on September 27th. He is 6 lbs 8 oz and 19 inches long!
Here are a few pictures from a very proud father:

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
This picture is one of the first of our entire family taken at the hospital.

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Tap Into Google Local - 10/04/10 09:24 AM
Your Personal Chamber Of Commerce
The Internet has revolutionized the way we live in countless ways. We are able to access news as it's happening, email friends and relatives all over the world, and purchase anything from cars to vacation packages with a few clicks of the mouse.
What's ironic is that we frequently neglect to use this amazing resource when it comes to finding things in our local area. That's where Google™, the world's leading search engine, comes in. Google has produced a search tool, called Google Local, which you can use to locate anything from an Italian restaurant or … (6 comments)

Inspiration from Connor Doran - Indoor Kite Flying - 10/04/10 09:17 AM
America's Got Talent showcase many different forms of talent from all across the U.S. This is an inspirational story about Connor Doran, a young many that suffers from epilepsy. His talent is indoor kite flying, but the best part of the video is his attitude. According to his mother, anytime Connor gets told he can't, he tells his mother that he can. Enjoy this video and remember that anytime you get told you can't remember Connor Doran: … (3 comments)

Focus on Your MITs - 10/04/10 09:15 AM
How do you keep from being distracted from the most important things you need to do each day? Watch as productivity guru Jason Womack shares a couple of ideas to keep you on track. (www.WomackCompany.com) What are your most important things? Contact me to let me know your productivity tips or for more productivity ideas that you can use.
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