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Student Loans

Wednesday’s need-to-know money news

July 20, 2016 By Liz Weston

money-vacation-saveToday’s top story: Overcoming the obstacles between you and retirement. Also in the news: What the President wants to tell college students, what happens when your debt goes to collections, and how to pay less for staying cool this summer.

5 Obstacles Between You and Retirement (and How to Overcome Them)
Clearing the pathway to a solid retirement.

5 Things the President Wants to Tell College Students
Messages for students and student loan borrowers.

What Happens When Your Debt Goes to a Collector?
Not every debt collection process is the same.

Stay cool, but pay less for electricity this summer
Your wallet’s hot enough.

Filed Under: Liz's Blog Tagged With: college, debt, debt collection, financial aid, Retirement, retirement planning, Student Loans

Tuesday’s need-to-know money news

July 19, 2016 By Liz Weston

Zemanta Related Posts ThumbnailToday’s top story: Carrying a credit card balance for the first time. Also in the news: Closing the bank of Mom and Dad, why the starter home is in decline, and an employee benefit that could help with student loans.

Carrying a Credit Card Balance for the First Time
Managing the debt.

Closing the Bank of Mom and Dad
Take your business elsewhere.

More first-time buyers skip starter home stage for bigger, better
The decline of the starter home.

This employee benefit could become as popular as the 401(k)
Seeking help with student loans.

Filed Under: Liz's Blog Tagged With: banking, credit card balances, Credit Cards, employee benefits, home buyers, real estate, Student Loans

Monday’s need-to-know money news

July 18, 2016 By Liz Weston

2Today’s top story: Six things that scare your financial advisor. Also in the news: How to report a tax cheat, releasing a student loan co-signer, and the top 10 affordable cities for renters.

6 Things That Scare Your Financial Advisor
What keeps them up at night.

How to Report a Tax Cheat and Get a Reward
Helping Uncle Sam and your wallet.

You Can Release a Student Loan Cosigner If You’ve Made Timely, Regular Payments
Sweet freedom.

Top 10 most affordable cities for renters
Is yours on the list?

Filed Under: Liz's Blog Tagged With: co-signers, financial advisors, rentals, renters, renting, Student Loans, tax cheats, Taxes

Q&A: Co-signing a grandchild’s student loan

July 18, 2016 By Liz Weston

Dear Liz: My granddaughter, who will graduate college in a year, has asked me to co-sign her third private loan, which will bring her total debt to $30,000. She needs three people to co-sign. Her parents and the other grandparents have agreed and she wants me to be the third party. I love my granddaughter and trust her intentions, but I really don’t like co-signing a loan for anyone. If I refuse, I’ll really be in the doghouse. Is there any way I could guarantee that I would only be responsible for this loan if the others don’t pay?

Answer: Co-signers are equally responsible for paying a debt. There isn’t a hierarchy. If your granddaughter fails to pay a loan, it will affect the credit reports and credit scores of anyone who co-signed that loan.

It would be unusual for any student loan to require three co-signers. What she may have meant is that her parents co-signed her first loan, her other grandparents co-signed the second and now she wants you to co-sign the third.

In any case, there’s no way to get the guarantee you want. If you’re not comfortable co-signing, don’t. Your family members should be the ones in the doghouse if they pressure you in any way to go along with this scheme.

Filed Under: Q&A, Student Loans Tagged With: co-signing, q&a, Student Loans

Friday’s need-to-know money news

July 15, 2016 By Liz Weston

pokemon-goToday’s top story: Protecting your kids and your data while playing Pokemon GO. Also in the news: Bankruptcy means test, the hidden student loan cost no one talks about, and what to do when you’ve been dumped by your bank.

Pokémon Go: How to Keep Your Kids and Your Data Safe
Gotta catch ’em all!

The Bankruptcy Means Test: What It Is, Why It Matters
Determining your bankruptcy eligibility.

The Hidden Student Loan Cost No One Talks About
Introducing interest capitalization.

Help! My Bank Dumped Me
What to do when your bank breaks up with you.

Filed Under: Liz's Blog Tagged With: banking, Bankruptcy, bankruptcy means test, banks, data breach, interest capitalization, Pokemon GO, Student Loans

Q&A: Refinancing an education loan

July 5, 2016 By Liz Weston

Dear Liz: You were asked a question about whether it would be wise to refinance a parent PLUS loan through a private lender and you said yes because the interest rates are so much lower. Doesn’t this ignore the benefit of the IRS tax credit? I figured out that my interest rate is effectively a couple of percentage points lower because I get a $2,500 tax credit every year.

Answer: As long as you’re refinancing with another education loan, the interest is still tax deductible. The deduction is “above the line” — meaning you don’t have to itemize to get it. The student loan interest deduction can reduce your taxable income by up to $2,500 if your modified adjusted gross income is less than $80,000 for singles and $160,000 for married couples filing jointly. The amount you can deduct is phased out at higher incomes and disappears after $90,000 for singles and $180,000 for marrieds.

If you’re not clear whether you’re refinancing into an education loan (rather than, say, a personal loan), you should ask your lender.

To clarify, it’s not always a good idea to refinance, even if you get a better rate. That’s because federal education loans have consumer protections that private lenders don’t offer. For example, you can pause your payments for up to three years if you lose your job or have another financial setback. Private lenders may offer hardship deferments, but typically those max out at 12 months.

Filed Under: Q&A, Student Loans Tagged With: q&a, refinancing, Student Loans

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