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Student Loans

Tuesday’s need-to-know money news

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taxesToday’s top story: What you need to look for in a tax professional. Also in the news: Banks made $11 billion dollars in overdraft fees in 2015, strategies for starting out with student debt, and how to balance saving for college and retirement.

What to Look for in a Tax Professional
Finding the right person to trust.

Banks Made $11 Billion From Overdraft Fees Last Year
How much of it was yours?

Strategies For When You’re Starting Out Saddled With Student Debt
Starting off on the right foot.

Balancing Act: Strategically Saving For College And Retirement
Finding a way to do both.

Thursday’s need-to-know money news

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61Io5+dfZZL._SL1500_Today’s top story: How to tackle private student loans. Also in the news: Re-evaluating your life insurance needs, a potentially embarrassing new way to pay with a credit card, and ten retirement saving strategies you should know about.

3 Ways to Tackle Private Student Loans
A whole different set of rules.

Re-Evaluating Your Life Insurance Needs
Determining how much insurance you need at different stages of your life.

MasterCard Wants You To Pay For Stuff With Selfies
What could possibly go wrong?

10 Retirement Saving Strategies You Should Know About
How to grow your savings faster.

In debt and need cash? Payday loans are not your only option. RSVP for the NerdWallet & NAACP webinar on March 1 at 5pm to learn about alternatives.

Wednesday’s need-to-know money news

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imagesToday’s top story: Choosing the best student loan refinancing offer. Also in the news: Taking 15 minutes a month for your financial health, using your 1040 for a retirement savings check-up, and how couples can financially prepare for the inevitable.

How to Choose the Best Student Loan Refinancing Offer for You
Sorting through the options.

15 Minutes a Month to Maintain Financial Health
Easy steps that can build longterm success.

Use Your 1040 For A Retirement Savings And Investment Tax Check-Up
The perfect time to take stock of your finances.

Widow/widower financial preparedness 101: 5 things to do right now
Making a difficult time less complicated.

Tuesday’s need-to-know money news

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635522783074355959-holiday-cardsToday’s top story: How to protect yourself against online identity fraud. Also in the news: Myths about student loan consolidation, why fewer retirement savings options could be a good thing, and the hefty cost of those Oscar gift bags.

Follow These Steps to Guard Against Online Identity Fraud
Doing whatever it takes to protect your identity.

5 Myths about Student Loan Consolidation
Don’t fall into a deeper debt trap.

How a Simpler Approach to Retirement Savings Can Make You Richer
Lots of options isn’t always a good thing.

The Taxability of Oscars Gift Bags
All that swag comes with a hefty tax bill.

Q&A: Paying off student loan

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Dear Liz: am going to pay off one of my daughter’s private student loans. One has a balance of $8,500 at 4% interest and the other is for $7,500 at 6%. Which one should I pay off?

Answer: You have a lucky daughter, either way.

In addition to balances and rates, the other variable you need to consider is whether the rates are fixed or adjustable. These days, many private student loans have fixed rates, but in the past most of this debt had variable rates. Variable rates mean higher costs and larger payments when interest rates rise.

If both loans have variable rates, or both are fixed, then paying off the highest rate debt first makes the most sense. If the lower rate loan is variable and the higher rate one is fixed, you’ll have to guess whether interest rates are likely to rise enough in the next few years to instead pay the larger balance first. Some people might want to pay off a variable debt just to eliminate the uncertainty, while others are willing to gamble that rates aren’t likely to jump two full percentage points before the loan is scheduled to be paid off.