Monthly Archives : March 2012
Help Desk: How can I lower my interest rate?
Aired March 30, 2012
Stacy Francis answers the viewer question, “I have 5 years left on my mortgage and an interest rate of 9%. I went to my bank and was told that the refinancing process would take months. How can I lower my rate?”
Help Desk: College Funds and Retirement
Aired March 27, 2012
Stacy Francis answers the viewer question, “I am 35, make about $50K per year and have $20K in my bank. My only debt is a $130K mortgage. How can I start planning for retirement and my 7-month old daughter’s college fund?”
Help Desk: Can I use a home equity loan?
Aired March 23, 2012
Stacy Francis answers the viewer question, “Can I use a home equity loan to pay off my mortgage?”
Help Desk: Other Ways to Save for Retirement
Aired March 20, 2012
Stacy Francis answers the viewer question, “My wife and I have a gross income of $275,000. I maxed out my 401(k) and contribute $10,000 towards our mutual fund. How else can we save for retirement?”
Help Desk: Is bankruptcy an option for me?
Aired March 16, 2012
Stacy Francis answers the viewer question, “I am $20,000 in debt with medical and car repair bills. I am a full-time college student and a single father. I have a secured credit card through USAA. Is bankruptcy an option for me?”
Target: Retirement by Timothy Grant
March 16, 2012
Stacy Francis, president of Francis Financial in New York, calls target date funds the “little black dress” of the investment world because they can be right for so many different people with different needs and occasions.
Reductions in credit card limits impacts ability to borrow
March 16, 2012
“I had a client try to get a home equity loan from Bank of America and they discovered that, in general, to be considered they needed a 740 FICO score,” Mrs. Francis said. “That’s the new good credit score. A year ago, they could have gotten the same loan with a 690 score. It’s a whole new world.”
Help Desk: Minimizing Tax Hits on Investments
Aired March 13, 2012
Stacy Francis answers the viewer question, “I have a Roth I.R.A. and an online brokerage account for investing in E.T.F.s. Where should I park my different investment types such as bonds and E.T.F.s to minimize my tax hits?”