SmartCredit offers an interactive credit report that’s easier to read and understand than a traditional credit report. Rather than making you scroll through pages of account history, the Smart Credit Report lets you flip through your credit report information piece by piece as if you were turning the pages of a book. What Can You … Read more
A 529 plan is a type of tax-advantaged investment account specifically designed for college savings. With tax-free growth and withdrawals for higher education, it’s widely considered one of the best accounts to use when saving for higher education. However, many parents worry that having a chunk of change set aside for college could impact their … Read more
Few things excite parents, relatives, financial planners, and college-bound students like the availability of Section 529 College Savings Plans. While these accounts do not make money for college expenses magically appear—you still need to save funds diligently over a long period of time—they do make the management of that money easier and more effective while … Read more
What Is an Income Share Agreement? Through an income share agreement (ISA), a student agrees to pay for their college education, or a portion of their education, by making pre-determined payments after graduation based on a percentage of their income. The payments are set up to reflect what a payment would be for a similar … Read more
Applying for a mortgage loan is a complex process. It’s normal for lenders to request several documents to confirm who you are and verify that you’ll be able to make the monthly payments. Being prepared with all your documents prevents delays and keeps the mortgage process moving ahead. Some lenders may request additional documents, particularly … Read more
The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is a powerful tool that helps millions of students each year get access to not only federal assistance, but many other forms of aid to pay for college. Filing a FAFSA isn’t just a one-time move, however. Students must file a FAFSA renewal each school year to … Read more
It’s always stressful when you get into a car collision. It’s even worse if the driver of the other vehicle leaves the scene, making it a hit-and-run. Here’s what you should do if you get into a crash, and the other driver doesn’t stick around. Key Takeaways Fleeing the scene of a car accident could … Read more
Key Takeaways Residual value is the expected value of a car at the end of the lease term. Lenders estimate the value based on the agreed upon cost of the car and the desired lease term. It’s one of the most critical factors for your monthly lease payment amount. Cars with high residual value are … Read more
You’ve submitted your Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), and you’re glad that’s over with. But then you’re selected for FAFSA verification. If you’re asked to verify your FAFSA, don’t worry. It’s a common extra step in the student aid application process. Many students are selected for verification at random, and some colleges have … Read more
529 plans are a type of tax-advantaged investment account that is widely considered one of the best ways to save for college. When the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act was implemented, it changed the rules around 529 plans. You can now also use the distributions for elementary and secondary (K-12) public, private, or religious schools, … Read more