Finances

Building a New Credit Report

Take these steps to build a new credit history no matter what your past credit problems may have been.

Checking Your Credit Report

Knowing how lenders use credit reports and what you can do to keep your credit report in good standing can help with future purchases.

Fixing Mistakes in Your Credit Report

There are three categories of errors: 1) an error in the system 2) typing errors and 3) using nicknames, which can give your credit record to someone else or saddle you with that of someone else.

This document will advise you on how to fix these errors.

How Many Credit Cards do You Need?

Find out what questions you can be asking to see how many credit cards are really needed.

How Much Credit is Too Much?

Use this form to see how much credit is too much for you. This document will also provide resources for how to limit credit if necessary.

Reducing Credit Card Debt

Use this document to organize your credit card debt and to plan a strategy for getting rid of those debts.

Selecting a Credit Card

Learn the terminology and knowledge needed to select a credit card.

Getting Started

This publication is designed to help you begin the estate planning process. It is not intended to substitute for the assistance and advice of a lawyer. It is intended to clarify some of the issues and language involved in estate planning.

A Vocabulary

Estate planning has its own vocabulary. Use this glossary of common terms used in estate planning to familiarize yourself with the jargon.

Wills

A will ensures that children, property, and other precious items are taken care of. This document provides easy to read information on what a will is, who can write one, how to have a will prepared, and other relevant terms and information.

Revocable Living Trusts

A revocable living trust is a estate planning tool by which an individual shifts ownership of property and assets from personal ownership into the legal ownership of the trust for later distribution to the trust’s beneficiaries.

Learn how a living trust works, explore considerations, and more.

A Letter of Last Instructions

A letter of last instructions isn’t a will or a substitute for a will. It is a detailed list of everything a survivor needs to know in order to handle your personal finances should anything happen to you.

This document includes a detailed list of everything that should be included in a letter of last instruction.

Preplanning a Funeral

Preplanning a funeral can help loved ones avoid any stress or frustration while dealing with the grief of a death. This document explains how to preplan a funeral.

Ponzi Schemes

Any operation that pays off old investors with money from new investors is known as a “Ponzi scheme.” Ponzi schemes are still prevalent, so learn how to protect yourself and how to spot them.

Pyramid Schemes

A pyramid scheme in its purest form is characterized by a plan in which people invest in the right to sell the investment. Learn more about what a Pyramid scheme is and how to spot them.

Shopping for Long-Term Care Insurance

Long-term care refers to a comprehensive range of medical, personal, and social services designed to meet the needs of chronically ill and disabled persons.

Find out who should buy long-term care insurance, who sells it, what it covers, and more.

Financing Long-Term Care: Insurance and its Alternatives

Long-term care includes several different options. Learn what those options are to see which would be best for you or someone you know.

Are You Drowning in Personal Finance Papers? What to Keep and What to Toss

It is important to keep some documents and shred others. Here are a few guidelines that will help you organize your personal finance papers.

Buying a Used Car

The used-car marketplace can be confusing and full of pitfalls. A buyer without savvy can easily buy repair headaches instead of reliable transportation. 

Learn useful tips and tricks when buying a used car.

The Bill Tracking Calendar

Instructions for assembly and use of the bill tracking calendar.

Understanding and Sharing Your Emotional History with Money

Individuals go into marriage with values, attitudes, and behaviors that are unique to them based upon their life experiences.

This document explains how to discuss, better understand, and share your emotions toward money with your significant other.

Withdrawals from Individual Retirement Accounts (IRAs)

IRAs provide a way for people to save for retirement. This document describes the different IRAs and the withdrawal policies associated with them.

Debt Brought into Marriage: The Anti-Dowry

Money is one of the topics couples fight about most often, but this document can help any couple start their debt elimination plan and enjoy their new lives together.