Student Loan Scams
August 18, 2022 / Ray Wills
Student loan-forgiveness scams are common, and they are likely to become more prevalent when deferred loan payments resume in September. For more than 40 million Americans, student loan debt is a reality. What’s not real, however, is a blanket student loan-forgiveness program offered by the government. …
5 Ways to Avoid an Overpayment Scam
March 25, 2022 / Ray Wills
Just remember that there is no legitimate reason for anyone to pay more than the accepted price. Never agree to forward money to someone you don’t know on behalf of a “buyer.” Even if the funds are real, you could be implicated in money laundering.…
Five basic benefits of working with a financial planner
February 16, 2022 / The Merrill Anderson Company
Thanks to the Internet and YouTube, doing it yourself has taken on a new life. For example, a young person we know was able to diagnose a problem with his clothes dryer, then order the key part and install it, thus saving the cost of an in-home repair. Information that once might have been hard to find outside of specialized publications has become accessible to everyone. But there are limits to self-empowerment. One area in which some people may be overconfident is financial management. There is more to financial planning than setting some goals and pinching some pennies.…
Interest Rates 101
September 24, 2020 / David Bimler
If you’ve been researching loans, you’ve certainly noticed the term interest rate. Expressed as a percentage, usually in annual terms, an interest rate is the amount of money your lender charges you for a loan. Nearly every type of loan, including mortgages, car loans and student loans, charges an interest rate. Rates vary depending on your credit score, the type of loan and the lender.…