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Senator Dick Durbin on student loans and student debt
Jeremy Hobson Mar 30, 2012
The amount of outstanding student loan debt in this country has reached $1 trillion. And if you scan the headlines this week, you'll find school after school raising tuition, which will almost certainly send that $1 trillion number up even further.
Transportation construction could grind to a halt
Amy Scott Mar 29, 2012
Construction on roads and bridges around the country could grind to a halt this weekend, and over a million jobs could be at risk.
Rep. Michael Burgess on the Affordable Care Act
Stacey Vanek Smith Mar 28, 2012
As the final day of arguments wrap up at the Supreme Court over the legality of President Obama's health care law, we speak to one outspoken critic of the plan.
Day Three of health care arguments in D.C.
Gregory Warner Mar 28, 2012
Today is the final day the Supreme Court will hear arguments about the legality of the Obama administration's health care overhaul. The Justices will be looking at severability, of what happens if the individual mandate is struck down.
Health care arguments: Day Two
Gregory Warner Mar 27, 2012
Can the government force Americans to buy health insurance? That's the big question at the Supreme Court today.
Individual mandate under review in Supreme Court
Amy Scott Mar 27, 2012
Can the government force uninsured individuals to buy health insurance? It's known as the individual mandate, and it could soon be declared unconstitutional.
What's at stake in the health care decision
John Dimsdale Apr 30, 2012
It's day one of Supreme Court arguments over President Barack Obama's health care reform law.
Emergency savings: Expenses or aftertax salary?
Chris Farrell Mar 26, 2012
I'm a 36-year-old single professional in the DFW metroplex that tries to think long-term in my financial planning. I put 12 percent of my around $100,000 salary into my 401(k) with company match. Currently, the retirement fund is valued at about $100,000. I owe about $12,000 on my student loans (4.25 percent fixed interest, originally $80,000) and I have about 27 percent equity in my $180,000 town home. I recently refinanced my home at 4.125 percent for 15 years. My credit card debt is maybe $1,000.
After surviving a layoff well (due to a generous severance in the Great Recession), I was scared straight once I started working again. I now have about $15,000 in an emergency fund and next year's bonus will go to this, too. So I have three questions:
1) Do I need 6 months of bills or 6 months of salary after tax?
2) Should I park this in savings? Or is there a better financial instrument?
3) Is the emergency fund a higher priority than nuking the graduate school debt?
I appreciate your guidance. Keith, Plano, TX
Student loan debt collectors under the microscope
Kai Ryssdal Mar 26, 2012
Are debt collectors working for the Department of Education letting debtors know their rights? Bloomberg's John Hechinger discusses the rights of borrowers.
Congress agrees on insider trading ban... for themselves
Scott Tong Mar 23, 2012
Washington leaders have passed a bill that bans members of Congress from trading stocks based on non-public information, and President Obama says he will sign it.
