http://www.americanunsecured.com/blog Wed, 28 Jul 2010 15:31:44 +0000 http://backend.userland.com/rss092 en In congressional hearings this week, Federal Reserve Chairman Benjamin Bernanke said the central bank would keep short-term interest rates near zero for the foreseeable future. This is good for borrowers. Not so good for savers. How do you get a decent yield? By taking on more risk. This is why junk ... http://www.americanunsecured.com/blog/2010/07/risk/ Banks across the country are denying loan requests from financially credible small businesses. Federal Reserve chairman Ben Bernanke has urged community banks to lend to small businesses, calling it "crucial to America's recovery." Lenders say they want to help the small business owner and the economy, but there just aren't viable ... http://www.americanunsecured.com/blog/2010/07/saddling-guy-debt-answer/ Summer will soon be over and the year is half done – it's time for a mid-year financial checkup. You should take the time to assess your finances and make sure you're ready for the rest of the year. Doing so at this juncture can give you time to make ... http://www.americanunsecured.com/blog/2010/07/doctor-time-midyear-financial-checkup/ Swipe fees or no swipe fees – the battle rages on. The increasingly-heated debate centers around the approximate $48 billion that merchants pay to banks and credit card companies for the use of credit and debit terminals. Swipe fees are now being fought over in a congressional conference committee that's considering ... http://www.americanunsecured.com/blog/2010/07/swipe-fees-debate-continues/ A recent rise in the price of crude oil is partially responsible for a rise in gasoline prices, says AAA Auto Club South. Crude oil has fetched as much as $77.17 a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange. The euro has risen against the dollar, and helped push the ... http://www.americanunsecured.com/blog/2010/06/consumers-paying-pump/ Taking care of your special needs child is a life-long process – even after you’re gone We all have financial needs, but if you’re the parent of a special needs child, you have some unique considerations. There are legal, medical and financial issues you must give consideration to and plan for. ... http://www.americanunsecured.com/blog/2010/06/plan-care-special-childs-future/ Most of us are looking forward to retirement. But the transition can be filled with challenging financial questions – questions for which you may not have all the answers. For years, when thinking of retirement, the mantra has been, "Save, save, save." Paying down or eliminating debt is also important. But ... http://www.americanunsecured.com/blog/2010/06/afford-retire/ In today’s depressed economy, many families are restructuring their budgets, making cuts where appropriate and tightening where cuts are not possible. But even in the best of times, personal financial planning is just plain smart. Personal financial planning consists of three general activities: controlling your day-to-day finances, choosing and following a ... http://www.americanunsecured.com/blog/2010/06/setting-budget-step-financial-success/ When you were growing up, did your parents ever tell you that your bad behavior could get you written out of their will? Sure, they may have been joking, but until we all grew up and realized they were joking, it was a pretty effective parenting tool. For most of ... http://www.americanunsecured.com/blog/2010/06/helping-parents-estate-planning/ You need every advantage you can get when it comes to securing a small business line of credit these days. Everything from your business plan to your briefcase will be scrutinized, and all of it will become part of the banks’ decision-making process. Apply for an unsecured small business line of ... http://www.americanunsecured.com/blog/2010/05/small-business-line-credit/