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6 Things Investors Need to Know About Greece’s New Bailout

If the Greek government were a football team, then it just threw a Hail Mary pass to pull out a squeaker, reaching a third bailout deal with eurozone leaders to rescue the country from an all-out economic disaster.

But as they say on the gridiron, time out — as in big time out. If Greece and the European economy at large face uncertainty as they move forward, the last-minute deal poses an equally large quandary for investors, who have little if any precedent for interpreting a situation this dire.

Nor is the deal set in stone, at least yet. The Greek government now must convince lawmakers in Athens to approve tax increases and other unpopular measures by Wednesday or the deal could fall apart.

“By no means are the problems in Europe over, so investors have to be very cautious in how they invest,” says Jeffrey Sica, president, CEO and chief investment officer of Circle Squared Alternative Investments in Morristown, New Jersey. “They shouldn’t have an overwhelming amount of confidence just because there seems to be a solution to the Greek crisis — in reality, there is no quick fix.”

That said, savvy investors might find opportunities even as they avoid some offerings, and consider trimming shares in others. Which ways should you go? As the precarious situation calms down, at least for now, experts offer six investor tips:

Exercise caution with European stocks and exchange-traded funds. By saving Greece, Europe connects its fate to a nation on rickety legs, even as the eurozone tries to climb out of its own deep recession. “Even multinationals that do business in Europe are going to be vulnerable,” Sica says. And despite European stocks gaining more than 4 percent in 2014, “they are very vulnerable because the economic fundamentals for recovery have not materialized.”

World bond and U.S. equity funds are safe. World bond funds invest 40 percent or more of their assets in foreign bonds. “But the exposure to Greece is 0.3 percent, which is next to nothing,” says Ned Gandevani, a faculty member and program director at the New England College of Business in Boston. “And with U.S. equity funds, we’re talking about maybe a 2 percent stake. When you look at it from this perspective, the default has close to zero effect on U.S. investors.”

Look to U.S. stocks and bonds. Investors across the world — especially in the eurozone — will see safety in American markets. “In the trading world, we used to call moves like this a ‘flight to quality’ as investors spooked by conditions in more exotic markets returned to the good ol’ U.S.A. to ride out potential squalls,” says Michael Driscoll, visiting professor and senior executive-in-residence at Adelphi University’s Robert B. Willumstad School of Business in Garden City, New York. Thus Greece’s deep problems “may ultimately be seen as net positives for the more mundane U.S. stock and bond markets.”

Expect a stronger U.S. dollar. Gandevani notes that the psychological and political impact of the Greece bailout could see investors flocking to the dollar. “As the pressure is mounting on Greece to give up their sovereignty to eurozone leaders, they have to put aside $50 billion worth of assets just in case there is catastrophe beyond government reach — and the dollar gets stronger as a safe haven currency.”

Watch out for Greece redux. Greece isn’t the only European nation in serious trouble in terms of debt as a percentage of GDP. While it’s at 160 percent, Italy is not far behind at 141 percent, according to the National Debt Clock. “In terms of the future, this may lean heavily toward Italy taking the same kind of route,” Gandevani says.

Absolutely stay away from Greek stocks. The conventional wisdom to buy low and find bargains simply doesn’t apply here, so forget it. “I can’t see anyone going in there until the smoke clears,” Sica says. “Greece will be a bargain again when they get this worked out for the long haul, but the EU is looking to extract as much revenue out of Greece as they can get, and how can they grow under that scenario?”

But just in case you’re looking for slick Greek stocks at a premium, the parting shot might as well be this: If you see prices plummet, stock up on Greek olive oil.

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6 Things Investors Need to Know About Greece’s New Bailout originally appeared on usnews.com

Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
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