ALSO BY SUZE ORMAN
Youve Earned It, Dont Lose It
The 9 Steps to Financial Freedom
Suze Ormans Financial Guidebook
The Courage to Be Rich
The Road to Wealth
The Laws of Money, the Lessons of Life
The Money Book for the Young, Fabulous & Broke
Women & Money
Suze Ormans Action Plan
This book is designed to provide accurate and authoritative information about personal finances. Neither the author nor the publisher is engaged in rendering legal, accounting, or other professional services, by publishing this book. If any such assistance is required, the services of a qualified financial professional should be sought. The author and publisher will not be responsible for any liability, loss, or risk incurred as a result of the use and application of any of the information contained in this book.
While the author has made every effort to provide accurate telephone numbers and Internet addresses at the time of publication, neither the publisher nor the author assumes any responsibility for errors or for changes that occur after publication.
A Certified Financial Planner is a federally registered mark owned by the Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards, Inc.
Copyright 2011 by Suze Orman, a Trustee of the Suze Orman Revocable Trust All rights reserved.
Published in the United States by Spiegel & Grau, an imprint of The Random House Publishing Group, a division of Random House, Inc., New York.
SPIEGEL & GRAU and Design is a registered trademark of Random House, Inc.
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Orman, Suze.
The money class: learn to create your new American dream / Suze Orman.
p. cm.
eISBN: 978-0-679-60470-9
1. Finance, PersonalUnited States. 2. WealthUnited States. I. Title
HG179.O75764 2011
332.02401dc22 2011001394
www.spiegelandgrau.com
Jacket design: Greg Mollica
Jacket photograph: Brian Bowen Smith
v3.1
To all the great teachers whove taught me everything I know
CONTENTS
Making Change The Dreams of Tomorrow Reside in Todays Choices The Money Class Curriculum
Focus on What Is Real Today and What You Will Need Tomorrow Live Below Your Means but Within Your Needs The Pleasure of Saving Is Equal to the Pleasure of Spending Define Yourself by Who You Are, Not What You Have
Debit Card Rules The Life Happens Fund Credit Unions: A Great Place to Save Safety First with Your Savings Saving for Big-Ticket Items The Truth Will Indeed Set You Free
Opening the Lines of Communication
Your Priceless Legacy Set the Right Tone Imparting Good Values When It Comes to Money Money Lessons for Children Money Lessons for Tweens and Teens Money Lessons for Teenagers Heading to College How to Handle Money Gifts and Savings The Three-Option Approach
Who Should Save for College The Best Way to Save for College: 529 Plans UGMA/UTMA Coverdell Accounts How to Invest Your 529 Plan The College Talk Every Parent Must Have with a High School Freshman Borrowing Rules for College Loans The Risks of Private Loans for College Stafford Loans PLUS Loans How to Choose the Right School
How to Handle Student Loans That Are in Default How and When to Help Independent Children Who Are in Financial Trouble
Building Family Financial Security Under One Roof Updating Legal Documents When a Parent Remarries
Follow the Parents Lead Pay It Forward Give Experiences, Not Things
A Decade of Extremes A Home Is a Savings Account, Not a Hot Stock Financing Is Cheap, but Not Easy
The Math of Rent vs. Buy Advice for Owners Who Now Want to Rent
Set a Budget That Satisfies Your Needs Know Your Income Limits Aim to Make a 20% Down Payment A Special Note About FHA-Insured Loans Special Rules for Buying Condos and Co-ops Where to Come Up with the Down Payment Opt for a 30-Year Fixed-Rate Mortgage Understand the Risk of Distressed Property
If You Are Underwater and Cannot Afford Your Mortgage Loan Modification Short Sale Foreclosure If You Are Underwater but You Can Afford the Mortgage
When It Makes Sense to Pay Off a Loan Ahead of Schedule The New Realities of Refinancing Refinancing Rules Lower Your Mortgage Costs Without a Refinance
The Dangers of Rising Interest Rates and Falling Behind on Payments Home Equity Loans
Reverse Mortgage Basics
What You Need to Know Before You Buy Investment Property What to Do with an Investment Property That Is Underwater
Build Your Plan-for-the-Worst Fund Live Below Todays Means Grab Your Full Retirement Bonus Make Your Case for a Raise and Promotion Through Your Work How to Ask for a Raise Change Your Attitude Before You Change Your Job
Cut Your Spending Immediately Do Not Dip into Your Retirement Savings Make Sure Your Credit Profile Remains Strong Do Not Go Back to School to Avoid a Hard Job Market Get to Work as Fast as Possible, Rather Than Holding Out for a Better Offer How to Deal with a Steep Pay Cut A Special Note for Stay-at-Home Moms
Launching a Business: Can You Afford It? Where to Get the Money to Start Your Business A Few Words About Micro Lending Running Your Own Business When to Expand When to Close Standing in Your Truth in Business Closing Down a Business Responsibly
Getting Started Early With Lower Returns, Savings Are More Important Than Ever
Retirement Plans Offered by Employers Retirement Plan Withdrawal Rules Non-Workplace Retirement Accounts Nondeductible IRAs Roth IRAs Retirement Plans for the Self-Employed
The Retirement Formula The Best 401(k) and IRA Strategy A Word on Vesting Where to Open an IRA Account
The Ups and Downs of the Stock Market Dollar Cost Averaging How Much to Invest in Stocks Choosing the Best Options Within Your 401(k) How to Build the Best 401(k) Investment Portfolio Exchange Traded Funds Bond Investments Retirement Planning Mistakes to Avoid What to Do with Your 401(k) When You Leave a Job
Questions to Ask Yourself The Benefits of Paying Off Your Mortgage How to Pay Off Your Mortgage Ahead of Schedule
Your Work-Longer Game Plan
Social Security Basics Social Security Strategies
Social Security Benefits Retirement Accounts Pensions Lump Sum vs. Annuity
How to Invest Smart Making the Most of What You Have Best Investments Outside Your 401(k) Bond Investments No Target Funds Allowed
When to Buy Making the Financial Case for LTC Insurance Health Insurance, Medicare, and Medicaid LTC Basics
The Affordability Issue Start the Discussion
Rising Costs vs. Your Annual Retirement Income Long-Term Care Premium Increases
The Right Rate How to Make Tax-Smart Withdrawals
What You Must Understand About Bonds How to Build a Bond Ladder Beyond Treasury Bonds: Municipal Bonds and Corporate Bonds
The Case for Dividend-Paying ETFs and Stocks Stock Dividend Basics The Protection of a Stop-Loss Order How Much to Invest How to Choose a Dividend-Focused ETF Tips for Owning Individual Dividend-Paying Stocks
Life-Changing Events
Clearing My Own Roadblocks The Road Ahead, Not the Rearview Mirror The Legacy We Create