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What Does Dow 25000 Mean for the Stock Market

By U.S. News & World Report

Dorfman Value Investments founder John Dorfman likely triggered plenty of smirks when he boldly predicted four-and-a-half years ago that the Dow Jones industrial average would hit 25,000 in 2017. However, investor optimism about a booming U.S. economy and the potential for a massive corporate tax cut pushed the Dow higher by another 140 points on Monday, putting it within striking distance of 25,000.

At the time Dorfman made his bullish call in 2013, the Dow was trading just under 14,500. However, over the past four-and-a-half years, the U.S. stock market has climbed steadily higher, and the Dow has gained roughly 10,000 points during the incredible run.

[See: 7 of the Best Stocks to Buy for 2018.]

To Dorfman’s credit, things have played out almost exactly like he said they would.

“We’ve had 12 years of subpar growth,” Dorfman said on CNBC in March 2013. “We’ve had 12 years of up and down with little net progress in the markets, and people have forgotten what a strong economy and what a secular bull market look like.”

Following Monday’s big gain, the Dow stands at 24,792 with just under two weeks remaining in 2017. It now seems Dow 25,000 by the end of the year is a real possibility.

But as wild as the bull market ride has been, the general consensus on Wall Street is that the Dow may not stop at 25,000. Morgan Stanley recently predicted the Standard & Poor’s 500 index will hit 2,750 in 2018, another 2.2 percent gain from current levels. Goldman Sachs is even more bullish, predicting 2,850 for the S&P 500 next year, another 5.9 percent gain.

“Our ‘rational exuberance’ rests on a combination of above-trend U.S. and global economic growth, low albeit slowly rising interest rates and profit growth aided by corporate tax reform likely to be adopted by early next year,” Goldman Sachs analyst David Kostin says.

[See: 7 of the Best Tech Stocks to Buy for 2018.]

As for Dorfman, he’s still bullish on U.S. stocks as well.

“My best guess for 2018 is that the market will achieve high single-digit gains, but with more volatility than we have seen the past three years,” Dorfman recently wrote.

After gaining another 2 percent in December, the SPDR Dow Jones Industrial Average (ticker: DIA) exchange-traded fund is on track to finish 2017 with an impressive 20.8 percent full-year gain.

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What Does Dow 25000 Mean for the Stock Market originally appeared on usnews.com

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

By WTOP Staff
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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