Question by Rukus1: Do I need a financial advisor?
I am a ups driver and my wife works at a language school we are both 30 and make about 120k a year. i have about 21k in stocks. I contribute 20% to my 401k ( which does NOT match) and we both have ROTHs worth only about 4k each. We have 4 years left on our 5/1 ARM for 236k on our condo which is worth about 310-330k. . we owe $ 4200 on a credit card with 0% int until feb. and $ 2200 with 9.9%. we recently signed with ameriprise financial and dow im wondering if we really need it. he is chargin us $ 500 a year. we’d like to build our wealth as quickly as possible and figure putting any money we have left over from bills to work for us is the best way.

Best answer:

Answer by Marissa Di
The first financial advise always given is use any extra money to pay off debts. Financial advisors are then an option. The extra you are putting away, some advise use to pay off the two credit card debts. About the ARM, do they allow amortization? Do you intend to reside there in four years?
When it comes time to refinance the loan, and you have amortized, you may be in a much more comfortable position, if you amortize at least 7 months of each year.

Know better? Leave your own answer in the comments!

Valley Forge, PA (PRWEB) May 15, 2012

Say youre a fifth-grader, and its the first day of school. Your teacher starts with some surprising news: This year, youll need to pay rent for your desk.

Fortunately, you can earn a salary for the rent by doing a classroom job or earning bonuses through exceptional performance. And if youre a good saver, you can do more: bid at class auctionsor even buy your desk and never pay rent again.

Those lessons about earning, budgeting, saving, and delaying gratification are at the core of My Classroom Economy (http://www.myclassroomeconomy.org), a new financial education program that investment management firm Vanguard is offering free of charge to teachers. The program uses fun, experiential learning and a simulated microeconomy to teach K through 12 students how to make wise money decisions. My Classroom Economy, which meets many common core curriculum and personal finance education standards, introduces more complex financial life skill concepts as students grow older.

The basic tenets of financial responsibilitysaving adequately, living within your means, and delaying gratification of purchasesare important at any age. But if learned early on, these principles can help more young people create financial security as they become older and need to make more difficult financial decisions. My Classroom Economy is designed to help teachers supplement what many parents are doing at home to teach their children smart money skills, said Vanguard CEO Bill McNabb. Outreach of this type is a natural extension of Vanguards long history of providing plain talk financial and investor education.

Vanguard teamed with award-winning educator Rafe Esquith to create the program and make it available to teachers throughout the United States. My Classroom Economy is based on teaching concepts developed by Mr. Esquith, who has taught at Hobart Boulevard Elementary School in Los Angeles since 1984 and is widely recognized for his innovative and successful teaching techniques. He is the author of books There Are No Shortcuts, Teach Like Your Hair’s on Fire, and Lighting Their Fires.

If more kids are financially responsible and they become better citizens, we all win. Having more people gain an understanding of money will help all of us and our economy, Mr. Esquith said.

My Classroom Economy builds on Mr. Esquiths work with an interactive program that includes an instructional website (http://www.myclassroomeconomy.org) featuring teacher guides and downloadable student materials. The program is a simulated economic system in which students earn school “dollars by completing classroom jobs and performing exceptionally. They use their salary to rent their desks. They can earn additional income by completing extra-credit assignments, achieving exceptional grades, or participating in extracurricular activities. They can also be fined for not meeting classroom expectations regarding schoolwork or behavior.

At the end of each month, students may spend their discretionary income at a class store or auction where grade-appropriate items like markers, small toys, and lunch with the principal are sold. Students assess their budget, bills, and income to determine how much they can spend. Alternatively, they can choose to save money by not buying at all or delaying purchases. With their savings, they can eventually buy their desks outright and thus stop paying rent. Supersavers can also purchase the desks of other students and earn rent themselves.

The program adapts to the increasing sophistication of students as they grow older. For instance, middle school students begin paying for electricity and taxes in addition to their rent, requiring them to budget for multiple expenses.

High school students can purchase certificates of deposit and desk or car insurance. They can also open a classroom investment account using a custom-designed investment simulator to choose a diversified asset allocation among stocks and bonds. Students are taught to think of investing as a long-term proposition by experiencing 32 years of returns within a single school year.????

My Classroom Economy meets many of the common core state curriculum standards developed by the National Governors Association Center for Best Practices and the Council of Chief State School Officers. It also meets several of the personal finance education standards developed by the Jump$ tart Coalition? for Personal Financial Literacy.

Vanguards unique ownership structure, in which the management company is owned by the Vanguard funds, enables the firm to maintain a client-centered focus. Vanguard seeks to take a stand for all investors, treat them fairly, and give them the best chance for investment success.

About Vanguard

Vanguard, headquartered in Valley Forge, Pennsylvania, is one of the worlds largest investment management companies. Vanguard manages more than $ 1.84 trillion in U.S. mutual fund assets, including more than $ 200 billion in ETF assets. Vanguard offers more than 170 index and actively managed funds to U.S. investors and more than 60 additional funds in non-U.S. markets. For more information, please visit http://www.vanguard.com.

URLs in release:

My Classroom Economy: http://www.myclassroomeconomy.org

Rafe Esquith: http://www.hobartshakespeareans.org/

Common core curriculum standards: http://www.corestandards.org/the-standards

Jump$ tart: http://www.jumpstart.org/

Jump$ tart national standards: http://www.jumpstart.org/assets/files/standard_book-ALL.pdf

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Credit Report Mix-Ups Cause Financial Nightmares: Report
Could you imagine being denied a loan because someone who shares your name has tarnished your credit history? It could happen. Credit reports are often mistakenly mixed-up, resulting in a financial nightmare for many who have paid their bills on time, …
Read more on Huffington Post

Credit Report Mix-Ups Cause Financial Nightmares: Report
Could you imagine being denied a loan because someone who shares your name tarnished your credit history? It could happen. Credit reports are often mistakenly mixed-up, resulting in a financial nightmare for many who have paid their bills on time, …
Read more on Huffington Post

CREDIT MARKETS: Corporate, Muni Bonds Hit Record Low Yields
Still, the rush for safe-haven investments after the weak April US jobs report sent corporate-bond yields in the Barclays US Investment-Grade Index on Friday down 0.03 percentage point to 3.25%, a fresh record low in the index, which dates back to 1973 …
Read more on Wall Street Journal

Carson City, Nevada (PRWEB) May 07, 2012

Nevada State Treasurer Kate Marshall has joined forces with reality TV star Vicki Gunvalson and best-selling author Liza Mundy to help women learn how to take better control of their money and family finances by attending the Nevada Womens Money Conference, sponsored by the Nevada State Treasurer’s Office in cooperation with the International Association of Working Mothers.

Two events will be held: in Las Vegas on Saturday, June 2, 2012, at the Historic Fifth Street School; and in Reno on Saturday, June 9, 2012, at the Siena Hotel.

Marshall said the goal of the Nevada Women’s Money Conference is in line with her offices motto, “Investing in Nevadas Future,” and is part of the Board of Trustees of the College Savings Plans of Nevada goal of improving financial fitness in our schools and for Nevada residents.

The Nevada Womens Money Conference will offer a full-day educational and networking event, which will provide women with the financial contacts, knowledge and tools to build a secure financial future,” Marshall said.

As the Chairman of the Nevada College Savings Board and as someone who believes wholeheartedly in financial fitness, I am grateful for the opportunity to share with women across our state information that can change their lives and their families financial security.

Vicki Gunvalson, star of the Bravo television series The Real Housewives of Orange County, will be the Las Vegas keynote speaker. An accomplished entrepreneur and financial expert, she is the author of More Than A Housewife and founder of Coto Insurance and Financial services.

Liza Mundy, Washington Post staff writer and author of The Richer Sex How the New Majority of Female Breadwinners is Transforming Sex, Love and Family, will be the Reno keynote speaker. Her book Michelle A Biography was a New York Times” bestseller.

Other celebrity speakers will include:

Marcia Brixey, President of Money Wi$ e Women Educational Services and author of The Money Therapist: A Womans Guide to Creating A Healthy Financial Life.

Gerri Detweiler, Director of Consumer Education, Credit.com, and author of the books Reduce Debt, Reduce Stress; Debt Collection Answers; and Invest in Yourself Six Secrets to a Rich Life.

Gail Perry-Mason, radio and television financial personality and author of Money Matters for Families and co-author of Girl, Make Your Money Grow featured on Oprahs Debt Diet.

Conference attendees will learn how to reduce financial stress; feel confident with money matters; fix credit; pay off debt; maximize income; save for college and retirement; develop a financial support network; and how to build a more secure financial future.

The Nevada Womens Money Conference will also offer discussion sessions with professional financial mentors, the Financial Resources Expo and networking events.

Registration is $ 50 per person, which includes admission to speaker and discussion sessions and the Financial Resource Expo, plus morning coffee, luncheon, and afternoon tea networking sessions. Registration is limited to 500 attendees in Las Vegas and 300 in Reno. For more information or to register online for the Nevada Womens Money Conference, go to http://nvwomensmoney.org.

Conference sponsors include Nevada State Bank, Upromise Investment, Inc., USAA, and Putnam Investments.

ABOUT THE PRESENTERS:

Nevada State Treasurer Kate Marshall

Kate Marshall was first elected State Treasurer in 2006 and re-elected to second term in 2010. With two young daughters and as someone who benefitted from a college education herself, Kate is committed to providing parents, other caregivers, and friends with greater resources for saving for a college education for their children. More info at http://www.NevadaTreasurer.gov.

Nevada College Savings Board

The Nevada College Savings Board administers four national college savings plans, which offer savings opportunities for families planning ahead for the childrens future higher education needs: the SSgA Upromise 529 Plan, the Vanguard 529 College Savings Plan, the USAA 529 College Savings Plan, and the Putnam 529 for America Plan. More info at http://www.NevadaTreasurer.gov/collegesavings.htm.

The International Association of Working Mothers

The International Association of Working Mothers is a charitable, tax-exempt, 501(c)(3) organization dedicated making a significant difference in building and sustaining healthy communities by unlocking the potential of the working mothers through advocacy and education. More info at: http://www.IAmAWorkingMother.org.

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San Mateo, CA (PRWEB) April 25, 2012

The first quarter of 2012 brought significant upward momentum for the economy, and some evidence of potentially savvier decisions about debt by consumers, according to the Freedom Financial Network Quarterly Comment on consumer debt and credit issues. With Financial Literacy Month in full swing, the companys executives reminded consumers to now stay alert to avoid excessive debt.

Data at the end of March indicates that consumer confidence rose in March, in tandem with increased consumer spending, which rose to its highest in several months. At the same time, unemployment declined, personal income also rose, and non-revolving consumer credit rose.

Non-revolving consumer credit includes debt accrued for substantial purposes, such as buying vehicles or borrowing for education, and a significant portion of this quarters change was in educational funding, said Kevin Gallegos, vice president of Phoenix operations for Freedom Financial Network (FFN). While any type of debt can be misused, we generally consider these types of debt healthy debt, because they help individuals to build a brighter future.

While it can be a wise decision to invest in education or purchase a vehicle needed to get to work, Gallegos pointed out that it is important for consumers not to be over-confident and enter into excessive debt. Generally, financial experts agree that total debt payments should never exceed 36 percent of gross income. That includes all payments for housing, car loans, student loans, child support, and homeowners association or condominium fees.

Recent financial data as reported:

1.????Total consumer debt continues to climb. The latest data from the Federal Reserve Board show that total consumer debt has been climbing for at least four quarters. In February, the most recent month on record, total consumer debt (excluding mortgage debt) was $ 2.52 trillion. That marks an increase of $ 113.5 billion, or nearly 5 percent, over consumer debt at year-end 2010.

2.????Non-revolving credit reaches all-time high. After climbing for the 10th consecutive month, non-revolving consumer debt which includes auto and RV loans, and education loans reached an all-time high of $ 1.72 trillion in February. That figure is $ 32.5 billion higher than year-end 2011, an increase of nearly 2 percent, and an annual increase of 7.75 percent.

3.????Revolving debt declined in February. In contrast, total consumer revolving debt which includes credit card debt declined for the second month in a row. The annualized rate of decline was 3.25 percent. The new total revolving debt stood at $ 798.6 billion in February.

4.????Personal income continues to rise. The Bureau of Economic Analysis reported that personal income rose again in February, after several consecutive months. Februarys increase was 0.2 percent, or $ 28.2 billion. Disposable personal income increased by the same percentage, by 0.2 percent ($ 18.9 billion).

5.????Spending increased more. In February, following several months of low increases, personal consumption expenditures rose by 0.8 percent ($ 86.0 billion).

6.????Household debt ratio continues trend of decline. During 2011s fourth quarter, the household debt service ratio (the estimated ratio of debt payments to disposable income) declined again to 10.88. (First quarter data has not yet been released.) The household debt service ratio has declined for 12 consecutive quarters.

7.????Employment numbers slightly improved. The U.S. unemployment rate declined 0.1 percent in March to 8.2 percent. That is a year-over-year improvement of 0.7 percent from the 8.9 percent rate in March 2011.

FFN co-founder and CEO Andrew Housser added, It bodes well for a continuing, gradual economic recovery that several important indicators have been trending upward. Nevertheless, consumers still face significant cost pressures in terms of rental housing, food prices and gasoline prices, and it is important that they remain vigilant with their credit to avoid dangerous levels of debt.

The FDR Quarterly Comment pulls together significant statistical releases and provides quarterly comment on timely debt and credit issues that matter to consumers. To schedule an interview with Kevin Gallegos or Andrew Housser, contact Aimee Bennett at 303-843-9840 or aimee(at)faganbusinesscommunications(dot)com.

Freedom Financial Network (http://www.freedomfinancialnetwork.com)

Freedom Financial Network, LLC (FFN), provides comprehensive consumer credit advocacy services. Through its Freedom Debt Relief, Freedom Tax Relief and ConsolidationPlus products, FFN works as an independent advocate to provide comprehensive financial solutions, including debt settlement, debt resolution and tax resolution services for consumers struggling with debt. The company, which has resolved more than $ 1.5 billion in debt for more than 120,000 clients since 2002, is an accredited member of the American Fair Credit Council (formerly The Association of Settlement Companies) and a platinum member of the International Association of Professional Debt Arbitrators. The company holds the Goldline Research Preferred Provider certification for excellence among debt relief companies.

Based in San Mateo, Calif., FFN also operates an office in Tempe, Ariz. The company, with more than 500 employees, was voted one of the best places to work in the San Francisco Bay area in 2008, 2009 and 2012, and in the Phoenix area in 2008, 2009 and 2010. FFNs founders received the Northern California Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award in 2008.

(end)

How Does it Help?

Debt if not paid off on time may be greatly disturbing. It gives emotional as well as mental sufferings. However, once you find yourself stuck in a payday debt, considering a monetary help from a good and reputed lender is advisable. This is the best way to get out of the serious problem. It enables a decent negotiation for obtaining lower rates of interest. This further helps in consolidating multiple debts into one monthly sum. By using such an effective debt repayment mechanism, a payday loan trap can be easily broken. Moreover, use of above mentioned method also allows you to control your money in a much better and effective way.

Different Loan Consolidation Techniques

While applying for a debt consolidating loan, a basic understanding of various available means is very important. In general, there are two types of mechanisms used for payday loan debt consolidation. They are as follows:

Payday Loan Consolidation Program

Here, your company works closely with your creditors to decrease rates of interest on your payday debts. As a result, your payments become manageable and much more affordable. In the event of having missed payments, dues would be eliminated or reduced. This substantially minimizes your monthly payments. According to this plan, loan consolidation companies ask you to make a single monthly payment and they themselves repay funds to your creditors. So, do not worry, since both above mentioned plans are equally effective. However, as a matter of fact, you should be careful while deciding on any such plan.

Consolidation Loan

According to this method, you get a loan to pay off all your multiple payday loans. Once you are done with that, the consolidating loan amount can be paid back in easy monthly installments. However, in this case, a borrower ends up paying a heavy amount because total interest payable for the entire term keeps adding.

Benefits

Payday loan debt consolidation companies guarantee a host of benefits. For instance, you can expect a lower monthly installment to repay your debts. They also offer reduced interest rates and provide for only one single payment per month. Some of the other advantages include late fees waiver, elimination of collection calls, bankruptcy avoidance and finally a debt free life. Nevertheless, the extent of these benefits solely depends upon your chosen company. Subsequently, the choice of company becomes highly crucial. Avoid companies making towering claims, instead choose those having a realistic or practical approach.

Obtaining a quick cash advance sometimes becomes unavoidable particularly in the midst of a serious financial crisis. If not able to repay the loaned amount, the situation may take an ugly turn. It mostly happens, when there are multiple payday loans. Payday loan consolidation may just be the right option under these circumstances.

HP 12c Financial Calculator

1 Line x 10 Character – LCD 1 Year Limited 120 12C 12C#ABA 12c Financial Calculator 20 5″ x 3.10″ x 0.60″ 12c Financial Calculator User’s manual Batteries Synthetic leather pouch Business/Financial: TVM (loans,savings, and leasing) Amortization Bond price and yield to maturity Register based cash flow analysis NPV, IRR Memory for 20 cash flows SL, DB, SOYD depreciation methods % change, % of total Statistical/Mathematical: Cumulative statistical analysis Std. deviation, mean, weighted mean Linear regression Forecasting, correlation coefficient Total, Sx, Sx², Sy, Sy², Sxy +, -, *, Ö, ÷, 1/x, ±, In, ex, LOG, 10x, x² Time and Data Management: Date arithmetic Features: Entry-system logic More memory-storage registers Efficient RPN data entry reduces the number of keystrokes Memory capacity: 99 steps Keystroke programming The HP 12C RPN financial calculator is a tested performer suited for business and finance. Battery Business/Financial Calculator HP Hewlett-Packard www.hp.com
List Price:
Price: 78.99

Your Credit Score: How to Improve the 3-Digit Number That Shapes Your Financial Future (4th Edition) (Liz Pulliam Weston)

A few credit calculator products I can recommend:

Solveit!, Over 40 Financial Calculators
A Fast, Easy-to-use Collection Of Over 40 Financial Calculators. Includes Amortization, Loan Calculator, Balloon, Compound/simple Interest, Bond Value & Yields, Present & Future Value, Goal Planning, Debt Reduction, Annuity, Irr, Budget. Many More.
Solveit!, Over 40 Financial Calculators

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Toyota Financial Services (TFS) now offers an iPhone app. Incorporating personalized QR code technology, myTFS makes it easy for customers to access their accounts and make payments through their smart phone. View this clip to learn more about TFS’ helpful online resources, convenient mobile site and iPhone payment app. Discover how customers can click to pay today! Toyota Financial Services is a service mark used by Toyota Motor Credit Corporation and Toyota Lease Trust.