BAD CREDIT IS LIKE A BAD NICKNAME. IT WILL STICK WITH YOU FOR YEARS.

value. However, the interest rates on them do vary from time to time. They are a safe but slow investment.

Stocks are an extremely risky investment. An investor should be well-educated in the stock market before jumping into it. Assistant Professor of Finance Dr. Mary Harris said: " To make a profit in the market, you want to 'buy lo"4 and sell high,' but that is easier said than done."

A slightly safer way to invest in the market is to invest in mutual funds. They are safer because they offer diversification. This means that one is not only investing in one stock or as Harris says, "not all of your eggs are in one basket." Although mutual funds offer less risk they give you a lower return. If students decide not to participate in any of the before-mentioned investments, their world is not going to end. However, when they do graduate and get a job, they should begin contributing to a 40l(k) plan as soon as possible.

Harris recommends that one should contribute the maximum amount that their company will match. If the company does not match their employee's contribution then the employee should contribute the maximwn amount allowed that is pre-taxed. Although there is still some risk in a 40l(k) plan the investor is able to choose their investment and plan their own risk/return portfolio and watch its progress. If the investor decides that something is not right with their investment, most plans will allow the investor to make change at certain points in the year.

A 40I(k) is a person's main retirement fund. If it is started immediately, the investor will have a large investment upon retirement.

Right now paying off loans and setting up a retirement fund seem far off in the future to many students, but if the students tackle the situation in their college years, they have a great potential not to have to worry about their financial future as much.