President Bush Signs Legislation Into Law

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President Bush Signs Emergency Student Loan Bill

President Bush this week, signed the student loan rescue package
into law, just in time for the 2008 Student Loan Season.  The law
will allow the Department of Education to purchase student loans
from lenders, there by injecting liquidity for lenders to make new
loans to students for college.

The liquidity problem was caused by a law passed last fall, called
the “College Cost Reduction and Access Act”, which mandated a
reduction in interest rates on student loans. This law had caused
a lower return-on-investment for the investor’s that usually buy
these loans as investment grade securities, thus providing money
to lenders to make new loans to students.

The law does not address the root of this problem…….which is the
interest rate at which the loans are purchased. Rick Vonk, head of
education lending for Key Bank said the law will not bring investors
and lenders back unless the Dept of Education buys them at prices
that return a profit !!!!

We will be keeping a close eye on the situation in comming months.

Mark Sands

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Student Loan Crisis | Senate Passes Bill

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The US Senate Answers The Presidents Call On Wednesday

Wednesday, the US Senate answered President Bush’s call for quick action
on the student loan crisis brewing in the United States. The Senate’s vote
was unanimously approved, to “Temporarily”  allow the Dept of Education
to buy student loans from lenders, on the secondary market, providing  the
liquidity to lenders to make new loans for the upcomming school year.

The US House of Representatives had already passed their version before the
President made his plea for the Senate to action, last week.

President Bush is expected to sign the bill into law as soon as it reaches his desk.
Good news for students planning to submit loan applications this Fall.

Just to review this issue, Congress had caused this problem with legislation back
in September 2007, by passing legislation that reduced interest rate on student
loans, reducing the margin on these loans and causing investors to stop investing
because the Return-On-Investment became to low. These investors provided
the ”Liquidity” necesarry for lenders to make new loans.

This was a liquidity problem caused by Congress in the first place and its a perfect
example of why government has no place setting prices in a Free Market Economy.

Also, keep in mind that this new legislation will use Tax Payer Money to invest in
loans, putting the Risk Of Student Loan Default, in the pocket of the tax payers.

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WARNING

Student Loans, Uncategorized No Comments

Graduates usually worry about how they will
pay back their studet loans, however; now
some have a different problem.  The problem
that has arised is that they are paying back
too much. They are paying back too much
because the system is flawed right now.

WATCH VIDEO

We’ll Keep You Posted.

F. Mattern

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FASTWEBS!!!

Financial Aid, Uncategorized No Comments

Fastwebs is the internets top scholarship service.
Fastweb allows students to search for colleges,
financial aid, internships and jobs that are right
for them. It takes just a few moments to sign up for
fastwebs.  Sign up includes a questionaire that
just makes your “profile” based on you.  This way
Fastwebs can help find out what is better for you
quicker and more efficient.
Take just a few moments and sign up.
You won’t regret it!

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Student Debt | An American Nightmare !!!!!

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College Dreams Can Become A Students Worst Nightmare

Student debt is choking millions of college graduates and college drop-outs,
alike. This topic is hardly discussed, as we are brought up to belive that we
should go to college & land that great “Dream Job” afterwards.

Living happly ever after is rarely the ending to this story.

Only 46% of students who enroll in college, ever see graduation day as, 54%
of them will drop-out without a degree. From those who do graduate with a
degree, less than half of them will find work in their chosen profession.

The burden of student loans will kick-in within six months of leaving college.
A reality which too few students and parents take into consideration before
Johnny & Sallie run off to college together.

This debt just dosen’t dissapear when they fail !!!!

FACT # 1 - Congress Removed The “Statue-Of-Limitations” For Student Debt

In 1998 under the Clinton Adminastation, congress passed legislation removing
the ”Statue-Of-Limitations” for student debt.  Unlike most debt, this debt now
does not simply disappear after seven years, it can be chased down indefenatly
by collection agencies for the rest of your life.

FACT # 2 - It’s Almost Impossible To Discharge Student Debt In Bankruptcy

In 2005 under the Bush Adminastartion, congress passed legislation making it
almost impossible to include student debt into a personal bankruptcy.  Unless
you can convince the court that it has imposed a “Undue Hardship”.  Hard for
you to prove as “Undue”, when you signed the loan application.

FACT # 3 - Garnishment Of Wages and Intercepting Government Tax Returns

Collection agencies can garnish your wages, up to 15% of your income. By this
time interest and penalties have skyrocketed your balances to the moon. The
federal govenment has the right to withold your tax returns untill your balance
is fully satisfied.

THIS DEBT NEVER GOES AWAY !!!!!!!!

Parents and students should look real hard at the reality of this American Dream,
as the odds are stacked against you & may turn out to be an American Nightmare.
Is your child really “College Material”?  Do they understand the consequences?

Students Beware !!!  Mark Sands

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FAFSA/ The Begining of your Financial Aid

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What is FAFSA?      WATCH VIDEO !!!!!

FAFSA stands for Free Application for Student Aid. FAFSA is an
application the asks numerous questions regarding the student’s
finances, as well as those of his or her family;  these are entered
into a formula that determines the Expected Family Contribution
(EFC). A number of things are used to determine eligibility. Some
examples are family size, income, number in college, and assets.

How do you apply for FAFSA?     WATCH VIDEO !!!!!

  Step One: Gather Necessary Information
  Step Two: Fill out Your FAFSA Completly
  Step Three: Follow-Up, Follow-Up, Follow-Up

Felicia Mattern

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Student Loan Crisis | President Bush Speaks

Consolidate Student Loans, Federal Student Loans, Financial Aid, Private Student Loans, Student Loan Consolidation, Student Loans 3 Comments

President George W. Bush Speaks On The Brewing Student Loan Crisis

In his weekly radio address, President Bush spoke about the brewing
crisis in the student loan markets.  WATCH VIDEO

In his address he mentioned the “Lender of Last Resort Program” for
student who cannot secure funding for college.  He further mentioned
the need for the ability of the govenment to step in and buy the loans
when necesarry to provide liquidity to the system.

He also signaled to the Senate get something started, as the House of
has already passed the ”Insuring Continuing Accessing Student Loans
Act” and the Senate has yet to act on the issue.

The Presdent would need a bill on his desk, before June 1, 2008 to avoid
any major problems with loans for the September Semester.

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Student Loan Crisis | Wall Street Journal

Consolidate Student Loans, Federal Student Loans, Private Student Loans, Student Loan Consolidation, Student Loans 1 Comment

Wall Street Journal Blames Congress For This Mess

Yesterday the Wall Street Journal reported on the student loan
crisis brewing in the United States, blamming the legislature for
passing the “College Cost Reduction and Access Act”, last fall.

This act reduced the interest rate paid by borrowers of Federal
Guaranteed Loans. Next congress convinced private lenders to
cut the rate for Stafford Loans by .70 Basis Points & cutting the
popular Consolidation Loan Products by .65 Basis Points. 

The problem is, this action reduced profit’s in these products
making them less disierable products for investors who purchase
these assest backed securities. These are the market makers who
keep this wheel spinning. Without them, the wheel stops.

Now congress, ( The Same Guys That Caused This Mess ), are in
the process of putting together a Tax Payer Bailout to fix there
mess. The bill proposes that the Department of Education would
purchase those loans ( And There Risk !!! ) from the lenders with
tax payer money.

Perfect example of why our Government has no place in trying to
control prices in a Free Market Economy.

We will keep you posted.

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Congress | Solution For Student Loan Crisis

Federal Student Loans, Student Loans No Comments

Congress Aware Of The Student Loan Crisis

There is recent concern in congress to reslove the Student Loan Crisis,
as many high school seniors will be completing their loan applications
in the comming weeks. Many lenders have suspended their lending in
the area of student loans, sure to cause a problem in the short term.

Congress is aware of the probelms and are seeking solutions. President
George W. Bush supports legislation passed last week to allow the Dept
Of Education to purchase govenment guaranteed loans. The US Senate
is working on their verision and the Presdient is expected to sign it.

We’ll keep you posted.

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Student Loan Consolidation | Crisis

Consolidate Student Loans, Federal Student Loans, Student Loans 1 Comment

Sallie Mae Announces It Is Dropping Student Loan Consolidation’s

Student loan consolidation market just got a hair-cut, as Sallie Mae
the countries largest student loan lender announced it was getting
out of the student loan consolidation business. The move is sure to
hit millions of college graduates in 2008.

Sallie Mae had already announced in January, that it would be cut-
ting back on making students loans, taking a much harder look at
the students ability to pay back the loan.

Bank of America announced last week that it was also stopping its
student loan lending, joining 46 other feaderal student lenders who
have also ended their exposure to student loans.

With the sky-rocketing cost of college tuition and the credit crisis
hitting students in 2008,  many students may have to wait untill
the business cycle corrects or until Uncle Sam come to the rescue.

WATCH VIDEO

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