Quick Summary of Articles Published in October 2008

Understanding the subtleties of student loans
Different types of student loans often have different terms, repayment periods, delinquency issues, loan forgiveness clauses, and/or grace periods. It is important to become familiar with these differences and evaluate the programs available before making a final decision.

How to avoid mounting credit card debt
Taking part in responsible credit card use is the main key to avoiding massive amounts of debt. But credit card debt is an unfortunate reality for some. The first step in combating growing credit card debt is to map out a budget for yourself. Plan ahead so that you know where you stand financially.

Three things to know about your credit card
You are probably aware that all credit cards are not created equal. Many have various APR’s, fees, and/or restrictions. These three items are often ignored by cardholders. It is important that people learn about these items before they obtain or use credit cards with these provisions.

When is the right time to refinance?
When is the best time to refinance your home? There are many situations that could make mortgage refinancing a tempting option. But is it always the best choice? Get sound advice on how to approach your home refinance situation.

Three questions to ask about your auto insurance policy
Auto insurance is correctly perceived as complex, confusing, and misunderstood. Here are some important questions that are often overlooked and/or unasked that could save or cost you money. Consider these important issues to create better insurance coverage and save you money.

Letting your credit card reward you
Credit card reward programs offer many benefits to cardholders. These days, rewards can often be redeemed in the form of cash back, airline tickets, gift cards, merchandise and more. But it is important to understand how these programs work before deciding if applying for and ultimately using a reward credit card is right for you.

Whole vs. term life insurance
Comparing the merits of whole life insurance and term life insurance can be a tedious task. It is important to outline the differences between term and whole life insurance, which can, in turn, help to clarify some of the benefits of each type of insurance and when to make use of the different coverages.

What you need to know about identity theft
Identity theft attempts have been growing in sophistication for a number of years now, and it is important for all consumers to know how to spot these schemes. The faster you can notice identity theft the better off you will be and the more damage you will be able to prevent.

Benefits of student loan consolidation
Consolidating student loans can provide many benefits to those who have several student loans to repay through different lenders. But student loan consolidation is not always the best choice. When looking into consolidation, there are several factors to consider, including interest rates, monthly payments and budgets, and borrower benefits.

Posted in Site Updates, Personal Finance | Permalink

Basic types of business insurance coverage

Like most types of insurance, business insurance comes in many different sizes, shapes and forms. There are a couple of basic business insurance coverage options, along with a few specialized options that only certain types of businesses, or businesses with certain types of assets, may need.

Basic types of business insurance coverage:
- Property business insurance
- Liability business insurance
- Business interruption insurance

Specialized types of business insurance coverage:
- Automobile insurance
- Crime insurance
- Professional liability insurance
- Business identity insurance
- Directors and officers insurance

Learn more about different types of business insurance or view other frequently asked questions about business insurance, at our business insurance FAQs.

Turn our knowledge into you knowledge and save time and money in the process.

Posted in Insurance, Small Business | Permalink

Estimate your monthly auto loan payment

The next time you decide to go into the local auto dealer and consider purchasing a new or used car, be prepared. A little bit of research ahead of time can save you a lot of time and trouble in the end.

And we’re not even talking about researching the autos themselves. We’re referring to researching what you can afford and estimating what your monthly loan payment may be with a specific car or price range.

Determine your monthly auto loan payment or your total auto purchase price with our monthly auto loan payment calculator. Estimate how much car you can afford based on a proposed monthly payment, or estimate what your loan payment will be based on all factors involved in the purchase.

Enter as many specifics as you can to get the most accurate estimates:
- Total purchase price
- Estimated interest rate
- Any fees involved
- Trade allowance
- Loan term (in months)

Try it now: Monthly Auto Loan Payment Calculator

This is one of more than 20 personal finance calculators available on e-wisdom.com that are there to help individuals make knowledgeable personal finance decisions. Turn our knowledge into your knowledge.

Posted in Loans, Personal Finance | Permalink

Questions to Ask Before Choosing a New ISP

It doesn’t take long to realize that there are many, many Internet service providers out there to choose from. From big corporations to smaller operations, from well-known names to lesser-heard-of companies, ISP options are plentiful.

Regardless of which ISP you are considering, though, there are a number of basic questions that should be asked before deciding whether to sign up or not. Getting answers ahead of time will make the decision easier and also reduce the likelihood that you’ll be searching for another ISP in a couple of months.

Cost
- What is the monthly price?
- Is it month-to-month or a contract period?
- Can I save by pre-paying for a year (or another period of time)?
- Does the price include unlimited service?

Set up
- Are there installation charges or equipment to buy?
- Do they have 24/7 tech support?
- Is tech support free?

Amenities
- Do they offer free email addresses?
- Do they provide SPAM and/or virus protection?

Billing
- What are the billing options?
- What is the process for cancellation?

If you have any additional unanswered questions, be sure to visit our Internet access FAQs for easy reference. Choosing an ISP can be a relatively painless task if you are equipped with the right questions to ask and know what to watch out for.

Posted in Internet Service | Permalink

New Debt Management Tips and Advice Center

The latest addition to our constantly expanding knowledge center is our in-depth debt management FAQs, which goes into detail about various debt-related topics.

Topics include:
- Debt Consolidation Explained
- How to Choose a Debt Management Program
- Debt Management Terminology

Whether you are looking for self-help debt managment tips, advice on how to pick a debt management program or other information pertaining to managing debt, chances are you will find it in our debt management FAQs.

This section is one of many tips & advice centers that are available to help you make knowledgeable personal finance decisions. Be sure to check out our debt management calculators as well.

Posted in Site Updates, Credit Cards, Loans, Personal Finance, Student Loans | Permalink

Some airlines are now adding fees to cash in your miles

A recent article discussed how some airlines are now adding fees to cash in frequent flyer miles. This news comes in addition to other news of additional fees that some airlines are now charging for luggage and other items.

According to the article, some airlines are now adding fuel surcharges and/or other additional fees when customers redeem frequent flyer miles for flights. It is unknown at this time whether these fees will be temporary or permanent with each airline.

Full article: Frequent fliers: No more free ride

Despite all of the recent changes in the airline industry, airline mile credit cards can still be useful products for those seeking free or discounted travel. You can compare travel reward credit cards or visit our travel reward credit card FAQ for answers to common questions about these types of cards.

Make your next credit card decision a knowledgeable one by utilizing all of the tools and resources offered on e-wisdom.com. Visit our knowledge center for details.

Posted in News, Credit Cards, Miscellaneous, Personal Finance | Permalink

Find out how long it might take to reach your savings goals

What will it take to help reach your savings goals? Analyze your current savings plan and estimate how long it might take to reach those goals. Also discover what you can do to make sure that your savings plan is on track to meet these goals.

Try it now: Savings Goals Calculator

To get started, enter:
- Your savings goal (total amount)
- Years to reach this goal
- Amount currently saved
- Expected monthly contribution
- Estimated rate of return
- Estimated inflation rate

By entering this information, you’ll find out how long it might take to reach your savings goals, how different monthly contributions might affect that timeline and more.

The savings goals calculator is one of three savings calculators available on e-wisdom.com. Be sure to utilize these resources before making your next banking decision.

What APY (annual percentage yield) are you earning with your current savings account? Compare savings accounts online and find out if you could be earning more.

Posted in Personal Finance, Banking | Permalink