Making an International Money Transfer – Costs, Rates and Risks

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Transferring money domestically is pretty straightforward and you can normally work with one bank or financial institution to take care of the entire process. However as I and other friends who have moved overseas have found, transferring money across countries is not as straightforward. Further, the process, terminology and requirements tend to vary across countries. [...]

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Refinancing Myth: Looking Beyond the Monthly Payment and Calculating the True Cost of Your Refinance

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Mortgage lenders often attract homeowners seeking to lower their mortgage interest rate with some simple math, usually presented in one of two ways: 1) Comparing the nominal closing costs to the total savings from 30 years of a lower monthly payment, or 2) How few months it will take before you break even with your [...]

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10 Blue Chip Stocks to Invest in For 2011 Offering Growth and Dividend Protection

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With 2010 more than half way done and the economic outlook uncertain to say the least, investors are now looking ahead to what the best stocks in 2011 could be.  They need to ensure that they still have growth in their portfolios to deal with inflation and higher taxes, while also picking stocks that protect [...]

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2012 COLA (Cost of Living Adjustment) Set to Increase by 3.6% For Social Security Recipients

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[Updated for 2012 Social Security changes] The official 2012 COLA (cost-of-living adjustment) increase is 3.6%, as announced by the SSA. This will mean increased payments to social security recipients, federal employees (in 2013) and other groups whose pay/benefits are tied to COLA. The 2012 COLA increase would be the first in two years and is a much needed [...]

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Solving the Housing Foreclosure Crisis by Cutting Mortgage Principal Balances – Big Mistake

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Mortgage interest rates are at their lowest point in decades (about 4.5%) and the housing credit has been in effect for more than three years, yet the housing market is tepid at best, with foreclosures at record highs and government housing institutions having to put more distressed assets on their books. This has spurred rumors [...]

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Life Insurance: Why It’s Important and How to Choose the Right Policy

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Few people enjoy the idea of discussing how much life insurance they need and what the ideal policy is for them. However, the truth is that having a good life insurance policy in place is very important. In fact, it can make the difference between your loved ones being able to move on, or simply [...]

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Teacher Jobs Bill Approved Preventing State Layoffs and Increasing FMAP Medicaid Funding

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A $26 billion state aid package was approved by Congress (and will be signed by the President) that saves thousands of state teaching and government worker jobs. The package provides $16.1 billion to extend (for six months) Medicaid funding for states, known as FMAP. The measure also provides $10 billion for a fund Democrats say [...]

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Understanding Annuities: Why They Should Be Part of Your Financial Plan For Retirement

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Annuities have been a viable investment option for many years. However, there is still a great deal of confusion on what exactly they are and how exactly they work. Understanding the concept of annuities can help you to determine if they are right for you, and if so, what type is best for your retirement [...]

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Thank You American Express Fraud Protection Security Service

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When checking my mail this morning, I saw an email from the American Express Account Security Group notifying me that I had received a suspect charge of $113.40. The card they were referring to was my back-up American Express Blue Cash Everyday(SM) Card from American Express card that I haven’t used it in a while [...]

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Car Thefts and Auto Insurance Claims: Most and Least Stolen Vehicles Plus Good Reads

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When you buy a car, you normally get a quote for the insurance to see how much it will cost you to keep the car. But do you know why certain cars, which are similar in all aspects except model, are more expensive to insure than others? Well the Economist provides an interesting graphic looking [...]

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