5 benefits of debt consolidation for veterans

kAmx7 J@F’C6 2 G6E6C2?[ J@F’G6 8:G6? 2 =@E E@ J@FC 4@F?ECJ] qFE D@>6 G6E6C2?D DECF88=6 H:E9 >2<:?8 E96:C 563E A2J>6?ED 6249 >@?E9] xE’D ?@E J@FC 72F=E[ 6DA64:2==J D:?46 >@?6J >2?286>6?E :? E96 4:G:=:2? H@C=5 42? 36 72C 5:776C6?E E92? :? J@FC 24E:G6 5FEJ J62CD] *@F 2=D@ 7246 F?:BF6 492==6?86D E92E A6@A=6 @FED:56 E96 >:=:E2CJ 5@?’E 92G6 E@ H@CCJ 23@FE[ DF49 2D 562=:?8 H:E9 27E6C67764ED 7C@> J@FC D6CG:46] k^Am

kAm%96C6’D 2 =@E @7 C@@> 7@C 9@A6] *@FC E:>6 :? D6CG:46 E2F89E J@F 9@H E@ :56?E:7J 492==6?86D 2?5 4@>6 FA H:E9 4C62E:G6 D@=FE:@?D[ 2?5 E92E’D H92E J@F’C6 5@:?8 ?@H 3J =@@<:?8 :?E@ 563E 4@?D@=:52E:@? 7@C G6E6C2?D] k^Am

kAmk2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]249:6G6]4@>^=62C?^563E\4@?D@=:52E:@?^H92E\:D\563E\4@?D@=:52E:@?Qms63E 4@?D@=:52E:@? :D 2 H2J E@ C@== >F=E:A=6 563ED :?E@ @?6 =@2?k^2m[ k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]249:6G6]4@>^Qmp49:6G6k^2m C6A@CED[ @7E6? H:E9 2 =@H6C :?E6C6DE C2E6 @C 5:776C6?E E6C> =6?8E9] %92E 4@F=5 96=A J@F A2J 5@H? E96 563E 72DE6C @C C65F46 J@FC >@?E9=J A2J>6?E 2>@F?E 2?5 7C66 FA 42D9 E92E J@F 4@F=5 FD6 E@H2C5 @E96C >@?6J 8@2=D] k^Am

kAmz6J E2<62H2JDik^Am

kF=mk=: 52E2\=:DE\:E6>\:5lQ6ccg2bd257cdbe5b2h532bcf_43fd__42Qm'6E6C2?D @7E6? DECF88=6 H:E9 563E]k^=:mk=: 52E2\=:DE\:E6>\:5lQ6_6f544b2_fca3d663f4gbg6a7ahd3d5`Qms63E 4@?D@=:52E:@? 4@F=5 96=A J@F D:>A=:7J J@FC 563ED[ D2G6 @? :?E6C6DE[ 2?5 7C66 FA 42D9 7=@H]k^=:mk=: 52E2\=:DE\:E6>\:5lQ65f2cac2cb46ghh_g7_d3`243h4e2b62_Qm~C82?:K:?8 J@FC 563ED 4@F=5 96=A J@F >2?286 J@FC 7:?2?46D >@C6 677:4:6?E=J :? 4:G:=:2? =:76]k^=:mk^F=m

k9bm`] yF>A\DE2CE J@FC 4:G:=:2? =:76k^9bm

kAms63E 4@?D@=:52E:@? =@2?D 42? 36 FD65 7@C >@C6 E92? @?6 AFCA@D6] x7 J@F 42? 277@C5 E@ 3@CC@H 2 =2C86C 2>@F?E[ J@F 4@F=5 4@?D@=:52E6 J@FC 563ED 2?5 2=D@ FD6 D@>6 @7 E96 =@2? 7F?5D E@ 96=A J@F EC2?D:E:@? :?E@ E96 4:G:=:2? H@C=5] k^Am

kAmu@C 6I2>A=6[ J@F 4@F=5 FD6 E96 255:E:@?2= 7F?5D 7@C 42C66C EC2:?:?8] $EF56?E =@2?D 2?5 E96 vx q:== 5@?’E 2=H2JD 4@G6C E96 7F== 4@DE @7 8@:?8 324< E@ D49@@=[ 2?5 2 D>2== =@2? >2J 8:G6 J@F ;FDE 6?@F89 @7 2 ?F586 E@ 96=A J@F 8C@H J@FC D<:==D E@ 2446DD ?6H A@DD:3:=:E:6D] k^Am

k9bma] &A8C256 J@FC 9@FD:?8k^9bm

kAmp 563E 4@?D@=:52E:@? =@2? 4@F=5 96=A J@F 86E 36EE6C 9@FD:?8 7@C J@F 2?5 J@FC 72>:=J :? D6G6C2= H2JDik^Am

kF=mk=: 52E2\=:DE\:E6>\:5lQ64g45b6ghf446eg__hecfaf35b77bg6hhQmuC66 FA 42D9 7=@H D@ J@F 42? 277@C5 C6?E >@C6 4@>7@CE23=J[ @C E@ =62G6 C@@> :? J@FC 3F586E E@ D2G6 7@C 2 9@>6 @7 J@FC @H?] k^=:mk=: 52E2\=:DE\:E6>\:5lQ6bachd6f2646`a`h5b45gd2c4c63geb5eQmq@CC@H 255:E:@?2= 7F?5D E@ 96=A J@F >@5:7J J@FC 9@>6 7@C J@FC ?665D]  k^=:mk=: 52E2\=:DE\:E6>\:5lQ6c4gh3b6ge_f4gc`26d5b6e_3_64h6_55QmqF:=5 8@@5 4C65:E H:E9 @?\E:>6 A2J>6?ED 2?5 2 D>2==6C 4C65:E 42C5 32=2?46]  k^=:mk^F=m

kAmx7 J@F’G6 DECF88=65 E@ BF2=:7J 7@C 2 >@CE8286 3642FD6 @7 J@FC k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]249:6G6]4@>^=62C?^>@?6J\E:AD\65F42E:@?^H92E\:D\2\4C65:E\D4@C6Qm4C65:E D4@C6k^2m @C 9:89 563E A2J>6?ED[ 2 563E 4@?D@=:52E:@? =@2? >2J 96=A] %92E’D A2CE=J 3642FD6 4C65:E 42C5 563E 4@F=5 9FCE J@FC 4C65:E DE2?5:?8 :? H2JD E92E 2 =@2? 32=2?46 5@6D?’E] xE’D 2=D@ 3642FD6 >@CE8286 =6?56CD =@@< 2E J@FC E@E2= C6BF:C65 563E A2J>6?ED E@ 56E6C>:?6 9@H >F49 @7 2 >@CE8286 J@F 42? 277@C5] x7 J@FC 4@?D@=:52E:@? =@2? 8:G6D J@F 2 A2J>6?E E92E’D =@H6C E92? H92E J@F’C6 4FCC6?E=J A2J:?8 @? J@FC 563ED[ J@F 4@F=5 92G6 2? 62D:6C E:>6 BF2=:7J:?8 7@C 2 9@>6 =@2?]k^Am

kAm%96C6 2C6 @E96C 9@>6\3FJ:?8 4@DED E@ 4@?D:56C E@@] x7 2 563E 4@?D@=:52E:@? =@2? 96=AD J@F 86E C:5 @7 J@FC 563E 72DE6C[ D2G6 FA 2 5@H? A2J>6?E[ @C 3@E9[ E92E’D 2 8@@5 E9:?8] k^Am

kAmu@C E9@D6 H9@ 2=C625J 92G6 2 9@>6[ J@F >2J 36 23=6 E@ k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]249:6G6]4@>^9@>6\6BF:EJ\=@2?QmFD6 2 9@>6 6BF:EJ =@2?k^2m E@ 4@?D@=:52E6 J@FC @E96C 563ED 2?5k6>m k^6>m42E49 FA @? C6A2:CD @C C6?@G2E6 J@FC 9@FD6 7@C 36EE6C =:G23:=:EJ] %9:D 42? 36 6DA64:2==J 96=A7F= :7 J@F ?665 E@ >@5:7J J@FC 9@>6 E@ 244@>>@52E6 5:D23:=:E:6D C6DF=E:?8 7C@> J@FC E:>6 :? D6CG:46] k^Am

k9bmb] $>@@E96C EC2?D:E:@? E@ 4:G:=:2? >@?6J >2?286>6?Ek^9bm

kAm|2?J G6E6C2?D DECF88=6 H:E9 >2?28:?8 >F=E:A=6 563ED 2E E96 D2>6 E:>6 27E6C E96J =62G6 E96:C D6CG:46] p7E6C 2==[ J@F’G6 8@E 2 =@E 8@:?8 @?] q6EH66? DE2CE:?8 2 ?6H 42C66C[ 6?DFC:?8 J@FC 72>:=J :D E2<6? 42C6 @7[ 2?5 A@DD:3=J 6G6? >@G:?8 24C@DD E96 4@F?ECJ W@C E96 H@C=5X[ :E’D 62DJ 7@C @?8@:?8 563E A2J>6?ED E@ 72== E9C@F89 E96 4C24<D] k^Am

kAm!FEE:?8 2== @7 J@FC 3:== A2J>6?ED @? 2FE@A2J 42? 96=A] qFE :7 J@F’C6 DE:== E:C65 @7 =@88:?8 :?E@ >F=E:A=6 244@F?ED @? 2 C68F=2C 32D:D 2?5 4@F=5 36?67:E 7C@> DEC62>=:?:?8 J@FC 7:?2?46D[ 4@?D:56C E2<:?8 @FE 2 563E 4@?D@=:52E:@? =@2?] *@F 4@F=5 C65F46 >F=E:A=6 A2J>6?ED E@ @?6] k^Am

kAm'p 5:D23:=:EJ 4=2:>D E@@< 2? 2G6C286 @7 eg]a 52JD E@ 4@>A=6E6 :? $6AE6>36C a_ae[ 244@C5:?8 E@ k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]G2]8@G^5:D23:=:EJ^27E6C\J@F\7:=6\4=2:>^Qm'p]8@Gk^2m x7 J@FVC6 H2:E:?8 @? 2 4=2:> 564:D:@?[ 2 563E 4@?D@=:52E:@? =@2? 4@F=5 =@H6C J@FC >@?E9=J A2J>6?ED H9:=6 J@F H2:E]k^Am

k9bmc] tIA2?5 J@FC EC2G6= 9@C:K@?Dk^9bm

kAm*@F >2J 92G6 D66? >2?J A2CED @7 E96 H@C=5 5FC:?8 J@FC E:>6 :? D6CG:46[ 3FE E9@D6 H6C6?’E 6I24E=J G242E:@?D] s6A6?5:?8 @? H96C6 2?5 9@H E96 >:=:E2CJ D6?E J@F 23C@25[ J@F AC@323=J 2=D@ DA6?E 2 =@E @7 :>A@CE2?E E:>6 2H2J 7C@> J@FC 7C:6?5D 2?5 72>:=J] k^Am

kAm$EC62>=:?:?8 J@FC 7:?2?46D H:E9 2 563E 4@?D@=:52E:@? =@2? 4@F=5 96=A J@F 7:?2==J D2G6 FA 7@C 2 G242E:@?] %9:D 42? @A6? E96 5@@C E@ik^Am

kF=mk=: 52E2\=:DE\:E6>\:5lQ6da`c5f5`ed_efe_``56b`hfedf5gg`bfQm':D:E:?8 @=5 7C:6?5D 7C@> J@FC E:>6 :? D6CG:46 k^=:mk=: 52E2\=:DE\:E6>\:5lQ637643_ge56_h_eb2geged37c3d_5`bahQmr2E49:?8 FA H:E9 C6=2E:G6D 7C@> 24C@DD E96 4@F?ECJ k^=:mk=: 52E2\=:DE\:E6>\:5lQ6a_aa4f`57a2`fh36hd56_3ag`hccfc3dQm%2<:?8 J@FC DA@FD6 @? 2 =@?8\56D6CG65 86E2H2J k^=:mk=: 52E2\=:DE\:E6>\:5lQ646ce`53f27633afec2c_``b26_6_bc2hQm$EC6?8E96?:?8 J@FC C6=2E:@?D9:A H:E9 J@FC <:5D 3J E2<:?8 E96> @? 7F? EC:AD k^=:mk^F=m

k9bmd] qF:=5 J@FC 72>:=J’D 7:?2?46Dk^9bm

kAm*@F 5@?’E 2=H2JD 92G6 E@ DECF88=6 7:?2?4:2==J] p 563E 4@?D@=:52E:@? =@2? 4@F=5 96=A A2G6 E96 H2J E@ 2 36EE6C 7:?2?4:2= D:EF2E:@? :7 J@F’C6 23=6 E@ =@H6C J@FC >@?E9=J A2J>6?ED[ D2G6 @? :?E6C6DE[ @C 3@E9] k^Am

kAmw6C6’D 9@H 2 563E 4@?D@=:52E:@? =@2? 4@F=5 96=A 3@@DE J@FC 7:?2?4:2= C6D:=:6?46ik^Am

kF=mk=: 52E2\=:DE\:E6>\:5lQ6aa46bebcdge`g42d6fc77__ba67`7c_hQmw2?5=6 DFCAC:D6 6IA6?D6D >@C6 62D:=J :7 J@F 92G6 6IEC2 H:88=6 C@@> :? J@FC 3F586E] k^=:mk=: 52E2\=:DE\:E6>\:5lQ67h72hhge4c433aeg_64_2ha`6d44a2_cQm$2G6 FA 2? k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]249:6G6]4@>^=62C?^>@?6J\E:AD\65F42E:@?^6>6C86?4J\7F?5Qm6>6C86?4J 7F?5k^2m H:E9 6IEC2 42D9 =67E @G6C 7C@> 92G:?8 2 D>2==6C >@?E9=J A2J>6?E]  k^=:mk=: 52E2\=:DE\:E6>\:5lQ6`a5d5_733a_6ghfg_ea_6bhga2_c6_`3Qmk2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]249:6G6]4@>^=62C?^>@?6J\E:AD\65F42E:@?^9@H\E@\:?4C62D6\4C65:E\D4@C6\BF:4<=JQmqF:=5 2 DEC@?8 4C65:E AC@7:=6k^2m E92E 96=AD J@F 2446DD >@C6 277@C523=6 =@2?D H96? J@F ?665 E96>] k^=:mk^F=m

k9bm(92E’D ?6IEnk^9bm

kAms63E 4@?D@=:52E:@? H@C<D 36DE 2D A2CE @7 2 A=2?] w6C6 2C6 2 76H E:ADik^Am

kF=mk=: 52E2\=:DE\:E6>\:5lQ6bbd67dd_b`b5gbd27g3g65e46ae5b6b`Qm&D6 2 k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]249:6G6]4@>^E@@=D^563E\A2J@77\42=4F=2E@CQm563E A2J@77 42=4F=2E@Ck^2m E@ D66 9@H >F49[ :7 2?JE9:?8[ J@F >2J 36 23=6 E@ D2G6 3J 4@?D@=:52E:?8 J@FC 563E]  k^=:mk=: 52E2\=:DE\:E6>\:5lQ6ca`f6a5ad5_h45gab_42f433f`g6a2g7Qmx7 J@F’C6 DE:== FD:?8 4C65:E 42C5D[ DE@A F?E:= J@F 92G6 2 D@=:5 A=2? 7@C J@FC 563E] ~?6 E9:?8 2 563E 4@?D@=:52E:@? =@2? 4@F=5 5@ :D 96=A J@F 86E 7:?2?4:2==J @C82?:K65] !2CE @7 E92E AC@46DD :D 4C62E:?8 2 3F586E 2?5 =62C?:?8 9@H E@ 2G@:5 ?6H 563E]  k^=:mk^F=m

kAm%2=< E@ 2 563E 6IA6CE 23@FE J@FC D:EF2E:@? E@ =62C? 23@FE J@FC @AE:@?D]k^Am

kAmk2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]249:6G6]4@>^=62C?^563E\4@?D@=:52E:@?^d\36?67:ED\@7\563E\4@?D@=:52E:@?\7@C\G6E6C2?DQmk6>m%9:D DE@CJk^6>mk^2mk6>m H2D AC@5F465 3Jk^6>m k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^HHH]249:6G6]4@>Qmk6>mp49:6G6k^6>mk^2mk6>m 2?5 C6G:6H65 2?5 5:DEC:3FE65 3Jk^6>m k2 9C67lQ9EEADi^^9F3D]=2^"_b<=8$#_Q C6=lQ?@7@==@HQmk6>m$E24<6Ck^6>mk^2mk6>m]k^6>mk^Am