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	<title>Help Me Financial</title>
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	<link>http://helpmefinancial.com</link>
	<description>Your Financial Advisor</description>
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		<title>Web-conferencing Tool Used by Finance Guys</title>
		<link>http://helpmefinancial.com/blog/web-conferencing-tool-used-by-finance-guys/</link>
		<comments>http://helpmefinancial.com/blog/web-conferencing-tool-used-by-finance-guys/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 18 Jan 2013 06:29:07 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>admin</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Blog]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://helpmefinancial.com/?p=17</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Previously, financial advisors built their clientele primarily through personal connections and referrals. This typically consisted of financial reps meeting their clients face to face, observe their body language and gather important clues about their prospects lifestyle, personality and outlook. However, it later became quite impractical to every time drive to client’s home for any discussion. [...]]]></description>
				<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Previously, financial advisors built their clientele primarily through personal connections and referrals. This typically consisted of financial reps meeting their clients face to face, observe their body language and gather important clues about their prospects lifestyle, personality and outlook. However, it later became quite impractical to every time drive to client’s home for any discussion. Apart from the time lost in this process, it even became worse due to heavy traffic conditions and exhaustion due to long distances covered.</p>
<p>That’s where the importance of web conferencing tools like <a href="http://www.onlinemeetingreviews.com/reviews/gotomeeting/">GoToMeeting </a> and others come.<span id="more-17"></span></p>
<p>Being easy to setup and having great usability, many of financial services’ clients opted to join web conferencing sessions. Even the older customers who weren’t computer savvy were also able to learn and join the sessions immediately.</p>
<p>Another good part was that web conferencing tools allowed finance reps to keep connected even while being away from the office. It makes them easy to meet with their clients or partners even from remote locations.</p>
<p>Third good thing is that web conferencing reduces the average meeting time with the clients as compared to a face to face meeting. Both the client and financial rep can get right down to business without wasting time on chitchat. This makes web conferencing highly efficient by improving results and saving time. In fact, the both client &amp; financial rep appreciate the efficiency, flexibility and time savings of web conference.</p>
<p>Further, web conferencing helps financial advisors in achieving strong trust and relationship with their clients. Since financial services business is based on personal &amp; longstanding relationships, it needs to be strengthened through quick communication and increasing client loyalty.</p>
<p>Here comes the best part. In financial services industry, online meetings need to have certain competitiveness by using latest technology. Drawing tools and collaborative features impresses clients and add to the positive experience. Extremely impressive are the security features provided by web conferencing tools such as GoToMeeting; ultimately it’s the client’s confidential information at stake.</p>
<p>Finally, web conferencing tools like Goto Meeting (You can read Gotomeeting review here: <a href="http://www.onlinemeetingreviews.com/reviews/gotomeeting/">http://www.onlinemeetingreviews.com/reviews/gotomeeting/</a>.) allow executives to show financial projections under different economic scenarios to clients in real time. Just a change in input variables changes the result and leads to positive discussions.</p>
<p>Conclusion:</p>
<p>It is certain that web conferencing tools have certainly made client’s confidence on financial planning services companies better than before. It has helped to validate their decisions and have got their trust established.</p>
<p>You can find web conferencing tools reviews here: <a href="http://www.onlinemeetingreviews.com/reviews/">http://www.onlinemeetingreviews.com/reviews/</a></p>
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		<title>Taxes on Retirement Plan Distribution after age 70 1/2</title>
		<link>http://helpmefinancial.com/taxes/taxes-on-retirement-plan-distributions-after-age-70-12/</link>
		<comments>http://helpmefinancial.com/taxes/taxes-on-retirement-plan-distributions-after-age-70-12/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 24 Dec 2012 09:27:06 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>admin</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Taxes]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://helpmefinancial.com/?p=11</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Once you turn 70½, you must take withdrawals from your retirement plans. The IRS specifies the minimum amount you must take each year. Failure to make minimum withdrawals can result in severe tax penalties. The IRS requires that you take at least the amount equal to thebalance in your retirement account at the end of the prior year divided by the number of [...]]]></description>
				<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p style="text-align: justify;">Once you turn 70½, you must take withdrawals from your retirement plans. The IRS specifies the minimum amount you must take each year. Failure to make minimum withdrawals can result in severe tax penalties. The IRS requires that you take at least the amount equal to thebalance in your retirement account at the end of the prior year divided by the number of years you are expected to live based on actuarial tables approved by the IRS. For example, if you are 72 years old and had $500,000 in your retirement account on December 31 last year, your minimum required distribution this year would be this:<br />
<span id="more-11"></span></p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">Next year you would repeat the calculation using the new balance and actuarial life expectancy to recalculate the minimum amount. You can obtain life expectancy tables in IRS Publication 590, <em>Individual Retirement Arrangements</em>, Appendix C, Table III.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">If you are married and your spouse is 10 or more years younger than you and is your onlybeneficiary, you may use the joint life expectancy table for which the required minimum distribution would be lower. In our example, if your spouse was only 52, your joint life expectancy would be 33.2 years and your minimum required distribution would be $15,060. You are not limited to your spouse as joint surviving beneficiary. However, having a non-spousal beneficiary forces you to use the uniform life expectancy table and not the joint life expectancy table.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">Lowering your minimum required distribution will help you save taxes on your retirement plan, but you may also be able to take a larger distribution and offset it with deductions.</p>
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		<title>When must you start taking Retirement Plan Distributions?</title>
		<link>http://helpmefinancial.com/blog/when-must-you-start-taking-retirement-plan-distributions/</link>
		<comments>http://helpmefinancial.com/blog/when-must-you-start-taking-retirement-plan-distributions/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 24 Dec 2012 09:25:06 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>admin</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Blog]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://helpmefinancial.com/?p=9</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[You can take out any amount at any time from your retirement plan without facing an early withdrawal penalty once you have reached age 59½, but you must begin withdrawing minimum annual amounts from your plan once you reach age 70½. You must begin withdrawing minimum annual amounts from your plan once you reach age 70½. If you fail to take [...]]]></description>
				<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p style="text-align: justify;">You can take out any amount at any time from your retirement plan without facing an early withdrawal penalty once you have reached age 59½, but you <em>must</em> begin withdrawing minimum annual amounts from your plan once you reach age 70½.</p>
<p>You must begin withdrawing minimum annual amounts from your plan once you reach age 70½.</p>
<p>If you fail to take out the required minimums, you may face a 50 percent excess accumulation tax. TheInternal Revenue Service imposes the tax on any part of the annual minimum distribution that you fail to take.<span id="more-9"></span></p>
<p>If you are still working at age 70½, however, you can delay beginning your required minimum distributions until you retire—with two exceptions: If you own at least 5 percent of the company or if your plan is an IRA, you must begin making regular distributions <em>even if</em> you are still working.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">Your required beginning date is the deadline to begin taking distributions from your plan. If your plan is an employer plan, you have two possibilities: your deadline is April 1 of the year following <em>the later of</em> either:</p>
<ul>
<li>The year you attain age 70½, or</li>
<li>The year you retire</li>
</ul>
<p style="text-align: justify;">For example, if you retired at age 68 and reached age 70½ any time during the year 2007, your required beginning date would be April 1, 2008. Beginning the second year after you turn 70½, (or after your beginning date, if it’s later), you must take your required distribution during the calendar year—in other words, from January 1 through December 31. You may not wait until April 1 of the following year to take the distribution.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">There also are a few other special rules. For example, people participating in a government or church plan also may be able to delay their required beginning date. If you have specific questions in this area, you may want to consult a plan or tax advisor.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">You also need to carefully consider the timing of your first year’s payments in light of possible tax consequences down the road. What does this mean? Consider the following example. Eleanor turned age 70½ in 2006 and delayed taking her first required distribution until March 2007. That same year, her second year after turning 70½, she had to take another required distribution before December 31. The result? Taking two distributions in the same year pushed Eleanor into a higher income tax bracket.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">This is a complex topic, and one you may want to review periodically as you either approachretirement or move beyond that milestone.</p>
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		<title>Distribution of Retirement Benefits at death</title>
		<link>http://helpmefinancial.com/blog/distribution-of-retirement-benefits-at-death/</link>
		<comments>http://helpmefinancial.com/blog/distribution-of-retirement-benefits-at-death/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 24 Dec 2012 09:21:50 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>admin</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Blog]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://helpmefinancial.com/?p=6</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Retirement fund assets go directly to the benefiiary named on the account. In most cases, the beneficiary should be named individuals, but sometimes a trust or a charity is an appropriate beneficiary. Using the beneficiary option allows the proceeds to bypass probatecourt. The beneficiary, if a married qualified retirement plan participant does not specify otherwise, defaults to the spouse. That is appropriate in many, but [...]]]></description>
				<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p style="text-align: justify;">Retirement fund assets go directly to the benefiiary named on the account. In most cases, the beneficiary should be named individuals, but sometimes a trust or a charity is an appropriate beneficiary. Using the beneficiary option allows the proceeds to bypass probatecourt. The beneficiary, if a married qualified retirement plan participant does not specify otherwise, defaults to the spouse. That is appropriate in many, but not all, family situations. Furthermore, the spouse would have to consent in writing in order for the plan proceeds to be payable to anyone else.</p>
<p><span id="more-6"></span><br />
If the plan participant or IRA owner has no spouse at the time of death and has not chosen any other beneficiary, the retirement funds will probably be made payable to his or her probate estate.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">If the plan participant or individual retirement account (IRA) owner has no spouse at the time of death and has not chosen any other beneficiary, the retirement funds will probably be made payable to his or her probate estate. Rarely is this a good idea, whether it occurs by default or by the deliberate selection of “my estate” as beneficiary. Retirementmoney payable to the estate would then be treated like any other account: subject to creditors and distributed according to the decedent’s will, or state law if there is no will. Retirement assets paid to one’s estate lose two advantages of these funds: probate avoidance and income tax deferral. Therefore, it is important to name both primary and secondary (alternate) beneficiaries.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">Qualified retirement plan participants and IRA owners in community property states should remember in their planning that community property rules apply to retirement assets. A spouse has a 50 percent interest in money earned by the other spouse during the marriage, including one half of the increase in retirement plans and accounts.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">For many older people, their retirement plans and IRAs are their largest assets. For many of these people, what is left upon death is the main source of the legacy they would like to leave. It is, therefore, important to give some thought to beneficiary designations and planning for distributions before and after one dies.</p>
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		<title>Annuity Tax advantages</title>
		<link>http://helpmefinancial.com/blog/annuity-tax-advantages/</link>
		<comments>http://helpmefinancial.com/blog/annuity-tax-advantages/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 24 Dec 2012 09:19:15 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>admin</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Blog]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://helpmefinancial.com/?p=4</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Perhaps the second most attractive annuity feature is the ability to defer taxes during theaccumulation period. As long as the earnings generated remain in the annuity account, no federal or state income taxes are due. Once the money is annutized—given over to theinsurance company in exchange for a stream of payments over a predetermined period of time—a portion of each payment is taxed according to an IRS formula, while [...]]]></description>
				<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p style="text-align: justify;">Perhaps the second most attractive annuity feature is the ability to defer taxes during theaccumulation period. As long as the earnings generated remain in the annuity account, no federal or state income taxes are due. Once the money is annutized—given over to theinsurance company in exchange for a stream of payments over a predetermined period of time—a portion of each payment is taxed according to an IRS formula, while another portion is considered a return of premium, assuming premiums were paid with taxable dollars.</p>
<p><span id="more-4"></span></p>
<div style="text-align: justify;">As long as the earnings generated remain in the annuity account, no federal or state income taxes are due.</div>
<p style="text-align: justify;">If the annuity is designated as an individual retirement account (IRA), moneys invested into it may be tax deductible. This means thatcontributions into the annuity are not taxed in the year contributed. As such, they too can grow tax-deferred until annuitized. At that time, each payment, but not the account value, will be fully taxable. This tax deferral is a considerable advantage, since it allows the annuitant to put off his or her tax bill for many years.</p>
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		<title>Arkansas Student Loans</title>
		<link>http://helpmefinancial.com/student-loans/arkansas-student-loans/</link>
		<comments>http://helpmefinancial.com/student-loans/arkansas-student-loans/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 30 Apr 2012 09:50:59 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>admin</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Student Loans]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Uncategorized]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[arkansas]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://badcreditstudentloans.cc/?p=702</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Arkansas residents who have state pride and are planning to attend college within Arkansas will be well paid for their state pride.  This is because as a way to keep the high caliber higher education students within their state, Arkansas has created some great Arkansas student loan options that are only available to Arkansas residents [...]]]></description>
				<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Arkansas residents who have state pride and are planning to attend college within Arkansas will be well paid for their state pride.  This is because as a way to keep the high caliber higher education students within their state, Arkansas has created some great Arkansas student loan options that are only available to Arkansas residents attending school within the state of Arkansas.</p>
<p>If you are a college student in need of a little extra funding, (and let’s be honest, what college student couldn’t use a little extra tuition money these days?) then these would be some excellent Arkansas student loan options for you to consider.<span id="more-702"></span></p>
<h2>1. Arkansas Student Loan Authority</h2>
<p>The Arkansas Student Loan Authority, or the ASLA is a program designed to offer funding to students attending college within Arkansas.  They have helped many students attain their higher educational goals by providing them with funding options that are not available to students from other states.  This is a huge benefit to Arkansas students.  More information on the programs they offer can be found on their <a href="http://www.asla.info/" target="_blank">website</a>, or by contacting them on the phone at 1-800-443-6030.</p>
<h2>2. The Arkansas Association of Financial Aid Administrators</h2>
<p>This is another state sponsored program that is dedicated to helping students in Arkansas who plan to stay in Arkansas fill in the gaps of their economic needs for college.  There are a lot of bad credit student loans in Arkansas that only offer their services through the AASFAA, so if you don’t look into their services, then you will miss out on some very exclusive and helpful Arkansas student loans.</p>
<h2>3. The Preston R. Woodruff Scholarship</h2>
<p>This is a small scholarship, only about $1,000, but there are many of them given out every year, and who doesn’t want an extra grand to put towards whatever student needs you might have from tuition to books to pizza money?  This is a scholarship only offered to students in Arkansas.</p>
<h2>4. Student Loan Guarantee Foundation of Arkansas</h2>
<p><a href="http://www.slgfa.org/" target="_blank">The Student Loan Guarantee Foundation of Arkansas</a> is an amazing program for Arkansas college students looking for financial aid.  If you have wanted a guaranteed student loan in Arkansas, then this is the program to look into.  More information about the SLGFA on their website or by contacting them through other means.  Any student financial aid employee will know how to contact them as well.  <a href="http://www.slgfa.org/" target="_blank">http://www.slgfa.org/</a></p>
<p>As you can see, Arkansas tries to take good care of their students.  In fact, even if you are not originally from Arkansas, you can take advantage of some of these programs if you can prove your current residency.</p>
<p>This usually means having lived in the state for more than 1 year and having a semi-permanent address.  All of the loan options we have listed here are only available to Arkansas residents and Arkansas students, but there are other loan options available to all students in America.</p>
<p>To take advantage of these federal loans, you will want to fill out your <a title="Students Who Fail to Complete a FAFSA Are Missing Out On Valuable Opportunities" href="http://helpmefinancial.com/students-who-fail-to-complete-a-fafsa-are-missing-out-on-valuable-opportunities/">FAFSA application</a>- something every college student should do whether they think they need financial aid or not.</p>
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		<title>Arizona Student Loans</title>
		<link>http://helpmefinancial.com/student-loans/arizona-student-loans/</link>
		<comments>http://helpmefinancial.com/student-loans/arizona-student-loans/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 27 Apr 2012 09:49:25 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>admin</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Student Loans]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Uncategorized]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[arizona]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://badcreditstudentloans.cc/?p=698</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[This is a rough time for students.  The average cost of University tuitions is rising at twice the rate of the national inflation.  This means trouble for students wanting to further their education. Many students are having to fill in this monetary gap by taking out student loans for students with bad credit or young [...]]]></description>
				<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>This is a rough time for students.  The average cost of University tuitions is rising at twice the rate of the national inflation.  This means trouble for students wanting to further their education.</p>
<p>Many students are having to fill in this monetary gap by taking out student loans for students with bad credit or young credit.  Each state has their own unique set of bad credit student loans meant to help the students trying to struggle through school in their own state.<span id="more-698"></span></p>
<p>If you are a resident of Arizona and intend to, or are currently attending a college within the state of Arizona, then here are some places for you to look for an Arizona student loan:</p>
<ul>
<li><strong>Arizona Higher Education Loan Authority: </strong>The Arizona Higher Education Loan Authority, or AHELA is a program designed to help Arizona students pay for their higher educational journey through Arizona colleges.  They offer grants, student loans, and scholarship opportunities to those who meet their requirements.  You can get more information by going <a href="http://www.ahela.org/" target="_blank">here</a>.</li>
<li><strong>The G.I. Bill:</strong> Arizona has a very high amount of recent military veterans.  Arizona has the honor of being one of the most patriotic states in the union as they have one of the highest rates of military members.  This military service comes with some educational benefits.  If you are an Arizona college student and are looking for an Arizona student loan, then look into taking advantage of your G.I. Bill benefits.  There is more information to be found on <a href="http://www.gibill.va.gov" target="_blank">this site</a>.</li>
<li><strong>Arizona State Credit Union:</strong> Many Arizona banks are hurting in this down economy.  One of the ways they are making up for it is by increasing the amount of student loans they are giving out.  The Arizona State Credit Union is one the Arizona institutions helping students in the state by offering low risk Arizona student loans.  There are other local banks doing the same, but the Arizona State Credit Union is the best place to look first for a private student loan for Arizona students.</li>
<li><strong>AZ Student Loans:</strong> This is another program a lot like the aforementioned AHELA.  They are devoted to helping Arizona college students find the funding they need to go to their chosen Arizona colleges.  They have a great database of the best Arizona student loans that come and go depending on demand and availability.  They have all the applications on <a href="http://www.azcash.com/" target="_blank">their site</a> and there are some people that can help you navigate through these to get the best results from your efforts.</li>
</ul>
<p>If you live in Arizona and want to attend school in Arizona, then your state pride will only be a benefit to you because these places are meant to help people just like you.</p>
<p>We also want to make mention that on top of these State sponsored Arizona student loans, there are some good federal student loan options that can help you as well. You would be remiss if you didn’t apply to them as well.</p>
<p>Make sure you <a title="FAFSA Tutorial – Making the FAFSA Process Easier Than Ever" href="http://helpmefinancial.com/fafsa-tutorial/" target="_blank">fill out your FAFSA</a> to take advantage of these other bad credit student loans.</p>
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		<title>5 Ways to Raise Your Low Credit Score</title>
		<link>http://helpmefinancial.com/student-loans/5-ways-to-raise-your-low-credit-score/</link>
		<comments>http://helpmefinancial.com/student-loans/5-ways-to-raise-your-low-credit-score/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 23 Apr 2012 10:05:48 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>admin</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Student Loans]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Uncategorized]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[low credit score]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://badcreditstudentloans.cc/?p=678</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Low credit and bad credit is a curse that many Americans are dealing with right now. Low credit can keep you from doing many things in this society from buying a house, qualifying for a loan, renting a residence, purchasing a car, and even renting important items. It can be very frustrating to be bogged [...]]]></description>
				<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Low credit and bad credit is a curse that many Americans are dealing with right now.</p>
<p>Low credit can keep you from doing many things in this society from buying a house, qualifying for a loan, renting a residence, purchasing a car, and even renting important items.</p>
<p>It can be very frustrating to be bogged down by a low credit score, but you don’t have to stay that way. There are some good things you can do to raise your low credit score.  Here are 5 ways to raise your low credit score:<span id="more-678"></span></p>
<ol>
<li><strong>Consolidate Your Debt.</strong>  Consolidation of debts is kind of a controversial thing right now, but when it is done right, it can be a huge blessing to you and can help you raise your low credit score.  If you can make the minimum payments on all your smaller debt balances, and if you can get a lender to consolidate this debt at a lower overall APR than you are currently paying, then debt consolidation is a great way to quickly raise your low credit score.</li>
<li><strong>Close Out Open and Unused Accounts.</strong>  Do you have credit accounts with stores that you aren’t using anymore?  Do you have credit cards that have been paid off or never used and are sitting open?  Get rid of these.  They look bad to credit monitoring agencies and can pull your score down.</li>
<li><strong>Pay Off Some of the Debt.</strong>  This is a no-brainer, but it can make an immediate impact on your low credit score.  If you can scrounge up a nice chunk of change to drop on a credit balance, then your low credit score will definitely move up a few points and will get the momentum going in the right direction.</li>
<li><strong>Try to Settle Any Old Debts.</strong>  If you have credit balances hanging around from more than 5 years ago, then chances are they have all but given up hope on getting payment from you, and they have more than likely already garnered a profit from you on the interest you have been paying.  Call the offices and see if they will take a lump sum of far less than the balance in exchange for closing down the whole account.  Many people will happily work with you in this manner because getting some money from you is better than getting nothing.  If you go this route, be sure and get the contract in writing that you are no longer obligated to them for anything.  Settling out old credit accounts like this will definitely be a good way to raise your low credit score.</li>
<li><strong>Raise Your Income.</strong>  One of the biggest factors that goes into determining your credit score is your debt to income ratio.  To make this ratio more appealing, you need to make more money.  Get a second job, ask for a raise, have your spouse take a job, etc.  Find a way to raise your income, and you will have found a way to raise your low credit score.  PLUS this will give you more money to use towards paying down the debts that are dragging down your credit score in the first place.</li>
</ol>
<p>There are lots of other things you can do to raise a bad credit score, but these are the 5 easiest and most effective ways to raise your bad credit score fast.</p>
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		<title>Alabama Student Loans</title>
		<link>http://helpmefinancial.com/student-loans/alabama-student-loans/</link>
		<comments>http://helpmefinancial.com/student-loans/alabama-student-loans/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sat, 21 Apr 2012 10:13:55 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>admin</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Student Loans]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Uncategorized]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Alabama Student Loan]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://badcreditstudentloans.cc/?p=681</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[The high cost of higher education just keeps getting higher.  With this down economy, it is becoming increasingly harder for students to cover the costs in the traditional ways like working and scholarships. This need for school funding is causing a lot of heartache for students who can’t go to school without the proper funding.  [...]]]></description>
				<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>The high cost of higher education just keeps getting higher.  With this down economy, it is becoming increasingly harder for students to cover the costs in the traditional ways like working and scholarships.</p>
<p>This need for school funding is causing a lot of heartache for students who can’t go to school without the proper funding.  For students in Alabama, there are some great student loan options that might not be available in other places.<span id="more-704"></span></p>
<p>Of course there are the regular federal student loans available to Alabama students. These include Stafford Loans, Perkins Loans, PLUS Loans, and the grants available through the FAFSA application. However, there are a few more tricks up the sleeve of the Alabama State educational system as they have some programs that are meant to help the students who are from Alabama and who plan to go to school in Alabama.</p>
<p>If you are an Alabama student planning to attend an Alabama college, then here are some steps you can take to take advantage of the Alabama Student Loan opportunities.</p>
<ol>
<li><strong><a href="http://helpmefinancial.com/fafsa-tutorial/">Fill out the FAFSA</a></strong>.  The main purpose of the FAFSA is to get you applied for the Federal programs, but they also have a data base of the scholarships and grants that are available to each state, and since part of the FAFSA requires filling out where you are from and where you are going to school, some of the Alabama student loan options will show up on this.</li>
<li><strong>Talk to the Financial Aid office at your school</strong>.  The financial aid offices are one of the first places Alabama State student loan opportunities will send information to.  The people working in that office should have a pretty comprehensive list of the Alabama State student loans out there for you.</li>
<li><strong>Ask about the Gulf Shore Protection Program</strong>.  As Alabama is right along the gulf shore that has been affected by so many harmful disasters as of late like Hurricane Katrina and the BP oil fiasco, there are some programs laid out where tuition money can be granted to volunteers who help to beautify the affected areas.  This program requires an application and an interview, but not only would it be a good way to get some tuition money, it will look great on any resume.</li>
<li><strong>Apply for a loan from First Educators Credit Union</strong>.  This is a smallish credit union locally situated in Birmingham Alabama.  As the title of their company suggests, they have the goal of helping to educate others by getting them through school.  Some of the loans that come from here have high interest rates, so be careful about that, but also know that local businesses like this are generally much more forgiving and much more patient about explaining what you are signing up for.  There won’t be any unpleasant surprises when working with them.</li>
</ol>
<p>Being from Alabama is something you can be proud of, so be sure to take advantage of the Alabama student loan options that are available to only a select few like you.</p>
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		<title>Student Loans for Students in Alaska</title>
		<link>http://helpmefinancial.com/student-loans/student-loans-for-students-in-alaska/</link>
		<comments>http://helpmefinancial.com/student-loans/student-loans-for-students-in-alaska/#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 20 Apr 2012 11:25:34 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>admin</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Student Loans]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Uncategorized]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[alaska student loan]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://badcreditstudentloans.cc/?p=685</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[A large percentage of college students these days are having to supplement their income with student loans in order to meet the rising costs of education in an economy where the rise in wages, especially for those without a college degree, are non-existent. This influx for the need of student loans has been a big [...]]]></description>
				<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>A large percentage of college students these days are having to supplement their income with student loans in order to meet the rising costs of education in an economy where the rise in wages, especially for those without a college degree, are non-existent.</p>
<p>This influx for the need of student loans has been a big burden for many students, and has sadly even ended the educational journey for some students.</p>
<p>For Alaska college students, there are some unique opportunities for school funding that can help Alaska college students avoid having to prematurely end their educational goals.<span id="more-685"></span></p>
<p>Here are just some of the Alaska student loans available to students who are from Alaska and who plan to attend college within the border of Alaska.</p>
<ul>
<li><strong><a href="http://helpmefinancial.com/how-to-get-federal-student-loans-step-by-step-instructions/">Federal Loans</a>: </strong>These are not loans just for Alaska college students, but they are available to Alaska college students just like they are to everyone else.  These federal student loans include Stafford Loans, Perkins Loans, PLUS loans, and the grants offered through the FAFSA application.  Anyone looking for Alaska student loans should also apply for all of these student loan programs.</li>
<li><strong>The Alaska Commission on Postsecondary Education, or the ACPE:</strong> This is a program that provides low cost loans to students attending college within Alaska.  The idea of the program is to promote the college campuses in Alaska and to keep their money and their talent in the local sphere.  The interest rates and payment plans are reasonable and are created to work with what they know college students can handle.  There is more information on these loans at <a href="http://akadvantage.alaska.gov/" target="_blank">this site</a>.</li>
<li><strong>The Alaska Supplemental Educational Loan: </strong>These loans are a lot like the Perkins loans in that they are not meant to pay an entire tuition, but are meant to fill in the gaps left by other sources of tuition funding.  This Alaska student loan won’t cover all your costs, but it can be a big blessing.  In order to apply and qualify for this Alaska student loan, you must be a current resident of Alaska, so make sure you have proof of residency ready when applying.</li>
<li><strong>Career Specific Exchange Program Loans:</strong> This is a very unique program in Alaska that you won’t find in every state.  The idea is to recruit students to get their education in certain needed fields in Alaska.  In return for a low cost Alaska student loan, students will be required to work for a certain contracted amount of time within the state of Alaska.  If you are planning to work and live in Alaska after your graduation for at least two years, then this is the perfect Alaska student loan program to apply for.</li>
<li><strong>The Alternative Consolidation Loan:</strong>  This is a loan program sponsored by the ACPE that is meant to help Alaska college students consolidate their student loans into one lump loan and help them pay it down.  The ACPE knows that while their residents are wrapped up in student loan debt, they will not be as able to contribute to the local and state economy.  They have tried to ease this burden on the student, and by extension, their state, by providing this very safe and manageable consolidation program.</li>
</ul>
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