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Liz Weston

Friday’s need-to-know money news

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money-vacation-saveToday’s top story: How to save money without disrupting your lifestyle. Also in the news: What you can learn from your tax return, discovering your FI number, and why millennials should consider a robo-advisor.

How to Save Money Without Disrupting Your Lifestyle
Saving doesn’t have to be painful.

5 things you can learn from your tax return
Things worth paying attention to.

Use the FI Formula to Find Out How Much You Need to Be Financially Independent
Finding your FI number.

3 Reasons Millennials Should Consider a Robo-Advisor
Smaller fees make robo-advisors more attractive to new investors.

Thursday’s need-to-know money news

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2Today’s top story: How the new advisor rule will effect your retirement investments. Also in the news: Why a better FICO score leads to a better retirement, how to avoid retirement rip-offs, and protecting your tax returns from criminals.

What the New Advisor Rule Means for You, Your Retirement Investments
Introducing the fiduciary rule.

How a Better FICO Score Leads to Better Retirement
What you save in interest could improve your retirement.

5 ways to avoid retirement rip-offs
Choose wisely.

How criminals could steal your tax return
Criminals are going tax phishing.

Wednesday’s need-to-know money news

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taxesToday’s top story: Should you pay your taxes with a credit card? Also in the news: Smart money moves for April, tax myths about IRS audits and why having more money won’t fix your financial problems.

You can pay your taxes with credit card, but should you?
The convenience could become costly.

Smart Money Moves for April
Time to spring forward.

10 Tax Myths About IRS Audits That You Shouldn’t Believe
Myth busting the IRS.

More money won’t fix your financial problems if your habits suck
More money, more problems.

‘Alternative’ Credit: Your Scores Still Matter

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Startup and traditional lenders alike are looking for the new prize: creditworthy people who don’t have good credit scores.

To find them, companies are experimenting with all kinds of alternative data that’s typically not part of credit reports, such as utility bills, social media posts and how often you change your address.

In addition, some online lenders proclaim they don’t use credit scores in their decisions or don’t have a minimum score requirement.

In my latest for NerdWallet, why thinking credit scores no longer matter could be an expensive mistake.

Tuesday’s need-to-know money news

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Student-LoansToday’s top story: How to lodge a student loan complaint. Also in the news: How adult kids living at home can help your tax bill, using direct contributions from your paycheck to save for college, and the best time of year to sign up for a rewards credit card.

How to Lodge a Student Loan Complaint
Getting to know the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.

Adult kids at home? 4 ways they can help cut your tax bill
Claiming your adult as a dependent.

Saving For College? Don’t Miss Out On Tax-Advantaged 529 Plans From Your Employer
Direct contributions from your paycheck could make saving easier.

The Best Time of Year to Sign Up for a Rewards Credit Card
How to play the game.

Monday’s need-to-know money news

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College SavingsToday’s top story: What to buy and what to skip in April. Also in the news: What all those terms and conditions you ignore really mean, how to save for a home when you have student debt, and steps for helping kids become financially savvy.

What to Buy (and Skip) in April
Spending your cash wisely.

What those terms and conditions really say
You could be giving up many consumer protections.

How To Save For A Home When You Have Student Debt
There are ways to manage both.

9 steps to helping kids and teens become financially savvy
A great way to celebrate National Financial Literacy month!