Blog
-
The jumbo mortgage is back. Only low-risk borrowers need apply.
In March 2009, there were reports of lenders getting back into the jumbo loan business (this time for their own investment portfolios and not for bond traders on Wall Street): Bank of America, the country’s largest mortgage lender, is rolling out a large program to finance jumbo loans between roughly $730,000 and $1.5 million, with…
Written by
-
Queercents Weekly Roundup: Warm Weather Galore
Happy Saturday everyone! It’s finally warm and sunny here on the East Coast, which is a welcome change from June, the month only a fungus could love. I’ll be spending the day at work and trying to clean out my fenced in patch of crab grass that’s hypothetically a garden. Hopefully you’ll have lots of…
Written by
-
Ten Money Questions for Dave Calver
Dave Calver is an illustrator and fine artist who lives in Palm Springs. His work has included illustrations for the Lincoln Center and the three New York MTA posters. 1. What do you do for a living? I’ve been a freelance illustrator for 33 years. Over the past several years I’ve been doing work for…
Written by
-
Surviving the Recession: How to Weather the Economic Storm
I participated on a panel this week at the Campus Progress National Conference in Washington, DC, and the topic was “Surviving the Recession: How to Weather the Economic Storm.” The panelists addressed a ballroom packed with college students who were all eager to hear how they could avoid the traps of credit card and student…
Written by
-
Finance “advocate” in The Advocate
Long before Queercents, I remember pitching David Hauslaib (from Jossip and Queerty fame) about why we should collaborate on a personal finance blog for the gay and lesbian community. He asked me to write three sample posts and when the critique amounted to one too many markings from Captain Red Pen, I decided to forge…
Written by
-
Dating on a Budget: Spa Dates
Life can sometimes be really stressful. However, dating doesn’t have to be. Consider taking a little rendezvous at a luscious spa retreat. Is this endeavor too rich for your blood? Then a local day spa may do the trick. Some nail shops even offer massages along with the manicures and pedicures. To get…
Written by
-
United Airlines Breaks Guitars
I have to say I love a story where a consumer is wronged by a company and then takes their complaints public in a creative, effective way. We’ve all had our share of frustrations with the airlines and my understanding is that musicians have it particularly difficult when airline staff force them to check their…
Written by
-
Why the California Budget Crisis Affects Us All
The economic crisis at both the state and federal levels will shortly impact all Americans. But what has gone underreported is how the cuts to vital services, like HIV/AIDS programs, food stamps and Medicare, will affect the LGBT community. Thank heavens for The Williams Institute at UCLA’s Law School. This great institution puts out great…
Written by
-
Same-Sex Marriage and Retirement Plans
At MorningstarAdvisor, Natalie Choate answered the question below about same-sex marriage and retirement plans. She practices law in Boston, specializing in estate planning for retirement benefits. Her book, Life and Death Planning for Retirement Benefits, is a leading resource for professionals in this field. Question: “John,” age 54, and “Jim,” age 58, were married to…
Written by
-
Bike Commuting: Staying Safe on the Road
While on the road, it’s important to stay safe. Yes, cycling can be dangerous but so can just about everything else. (I somehow managed to wind up in the hospital when my hand was mauled by a drum kit. Life’s just crazy like that.) Fortunately, by knowing how to ride safe you decrease your chances…
Written by