Financial Aid & Scholarships

This section of the Web site provides information on various aspects of financial literacy. We are covering these topics for all students and offering you the tools to become financially responsible. By reading these materials, you will be able to make good choices at the same time that you are developing strong financial-management habits — and paying for your legal education.

"Empowering students to create financial responsibility and freedom in their lives." — Dr. Angela M. Joseph, Director of Financial Aid

Credit and Debt Management Websites

National Foundation for Credit Counseling
A national non-profit network to assist individuals with credit counseling.

Equifax
General credit information Check your credit Credit watch - identity protection.

TransUnion
Ordering a credit report Restoring credit Credit card fraud - protection tips.

Experian
General credit information Credit repair Credit refusal.

Federal Trade Commission
Consumer education on credit reporting, repairs and debt relief.

BankRate
Sponsored by CNBC to provide credit card, investing, tax-money management tools and on-line calculators.

SmartMoney
Advice on debt management, consumer credit and more.

MSN Money
On-line calculators, an article index, tool list and other resources.

MyFICO
Credit scoring, ways to improve your FICO score and information about identity theft prevention.

Financial Aid Favorite Websites

RETIREMENT

Choose To Save
This is the best online calculator for figuring out how much you'll need in retirement, and how much you should be saving now.

Health Grades
Now you can compare costs of procedures at hospitals in your area. As an informed consumer, if you're spending your own money on co-payments or coinsurance, you will want to know what hospitals and physicians charge for common procedures ranging from the heart surgeries to childbirth.

INVESTING & MONEY FOR KIDS

Saving For College
Every state has one or more "529" College Savings plans - either pre-paid tuition plans or investment plans that allow you to withdraw all gains tax-free if used for college expenses. Learn about them at this website, and also use their "search and compare" feature to see your state plan's performance and features- since you do not have to use your own state's plan.

ShareBuilder
Lets you start investing with only a few dollars, and has special information packages for children to teach them about the stock market.

Visa BUXX
Start early to teach your children about wise use of credit cards. This site links you to banks that offer a re-loadable debit card - perfect for the student going off to college. Mom and Dad can re-load a monthly allowance directly from their bank. And both student and parents can securely view all spending and cash withdrawals from the account, using a PIN. No more midnight pleas for money without knowing where it all went!

FINANCIAL PLANNING

The Association of Certified Financial Planners
The Association of Certified Financial Planners. You can search for a planner by zipcode, or learn more about becoming a CFP.

Financial Planning Association
Find a Certified Financial Planner in your area, or search by name or specialty. This site will connect you to professional members of the Financial Planning Association.

Mint
Mint is a modern, powerful, easy and secure Web–based solution for on-line financial management. And it's free. Mint automatically categorizes all your purchases, showing you how much you spend on gas, groceries, parking, rent, restaurants, DVD rentals and more, with amazing precision. An advanced alerting system highlights any unusual activity, low balances, unwanted fees and charges, and upcoming bills so you're in constant contact with your money—effortlessly.

Quicken
It's worth changing over to Quicken 2007, because the new program is greatly simplified, and the new home page lets you view your finances in a "what's coming in/what's going out" format that's truly useful. While you're there, click on the new Quicken Home Inventory manager -- something you'd be glad you had used in case of a fire, flood, or other disaster.

CREDIT & DEBT

Access Group WiseBorrower® Tutorials
Tutorials designed to help you understand the basics of personal finance and debt management.

Annual Credit Report
This is the website to get your free annual credit report from each of the three major bureaus. Just click on the links to the bureaus, and space your reports throughout the year.

Card Web
Here's the place to search for credit cards with lowest rates and fees, secured cards to help you build, or re-build, your credit, and even get answers to your credit card questions.

My Public Info
If you're worried that someone's using your Social Security number, or that someone else with the same name is being confused with you in public records, you'll be interested in this in-depth public records check -- searching billions of databases including bankruptcies, criminal records, etc.

SAVINGS & INTEREST RATES

Treasury Direct
Everything you need to know about Treasury bills, notes and bonds - including how to open an account and buy them online. Also, everything you need to know about U.S. Savings Bonds - including how to value your old bonds.

INSURANCE

Accuquote
Compare term life insurance prices, and save money! A toll-free number puts you in touch with individual assistance in choosing the best policy.

Amsterdam Financial
If you have cash value life policies, you need to understand the consequences and costs before you make a switch. Take advantage of their free policy analysis - before letting an agent make money by changing an old policy to a new one.

eHealthInsurance
The place to search for health insurance coverage, whether long or short term, Health Savings Accounts, student policies, etc. You can compare online, and their toll-free number connects you to individual advice.

More Insurance Links

MISCELLANEOUS

Billeo
Whether you shop online, pay your bills online, or just have trouble remembering all your online passwords, this site will help!

Financial Literacy Library

Do You Have "Good Debt" or "Bad Debt"?

Learn the difference between good debt and bad debt, and how to eliminate bad debt so you can maximize good debt.

How Much Debt is Too Much? See How You Rate

See if your debt is out of control or manageable. Learn where to get credit counseling help if you need it.

Credit Card Debt Have You Down? Five Tips to Get Out

Don't get caught without a plan to get out of debt. Here are five tips that can help you develop your credit card debt relief strategy.

Drowning in Debt in Your 20s? Three Survivial Tips

Plenty of factors are contributing to the rise of debt for those just starting out, including escalating college costs, an unstable job market, and inflation.

Credit Cards: How Interest Increases Your Balance

Making only the minimum payment ensures that it will take a long time to repay the debt, and guaranteed the card companies a hefty return in interest payments.

How to Calculate Your Debt-To-Income Ratio?

One of the easiest ways to get a picture of your financial standing is to calculate your debt-to-income ratio. Lenders also use it when considering your credit status.

Top Ten Ways to Beat Your Debt & Improve Your Credit Score

Need help with getting out of credit card debt and improving your credit score? Follow these simple tips to develop your credit card debt relief strategy.

Debt Management vs. Debt Settlement

Debt management and debt settlement are two options for credit card debt relief. Which is best for you? Here are some pro and cons to help you decide.

Has Your Debt Grown Out of Control?

The rule of thumb on measuring personal debt is that debt payments should not exceed 20% of your take home pay. Remember that this does not include mortgage debt.

After You Graduate: A Guide to Repaying Your Student Loans ebook

This booklet shows you how to repay your student loans. Two topics in the publication are how to create a personal budget, and how to choose the right repayment plan.

Borrowing Wisely - A Reality Check-eBook

This booklet looks at the responsibilities that come with borrowing money and teaches the value of borrowing as little as you need. It shows how borrowing can impact your life long after you've graduated.

Credit Scoring-eBook

This booklet gives you an overview of how to calculate your credit score. It will show you how inquiries work, and how you can estimate your credit score for free.

Credit Safe: Information on Identity Theft-eBook

This ebook discuss identity theft and what is means; how it may happen, and what to do if it happens to you.

Repairing Credit Problems-eBook

This ebook shows you how to repair your credit history and choose a reputable counseling organization.

* Disclaimer: CUNY School of Law is not responsible for the content on the Web sites maintained by third parties nor do the links to these third-party Web sites imply or constitute an endorsement of the information contained therein. CUNY School of Law is not responsible for reviewing the information contained in these Web sites and can not ensure the accuracy of their content.