4 The Hampton Roads Messenger Editorial


Why College Graduates Should Consider Entrepreneurship


preneurship pool before diving in head first. Multi-level marketing businesses can offer an opportunity for young adults to get a feel for being their own boss with a small investment. Even while working full time, a recent graduate may enjoy selling cosmetics or legal services in the evenings and on weekends. Care should be taken when researching these companies to ensure that the companies are legitimate and that they offer some type of beneficial training before investing even a small amount.


Another way to test the waters BY ANGELA JONES I always say that I do not


believe in coincidences. Even if it is a coincidence that college graduations and Small Business Week


around the same time every year,


occur I


hope graduates are not too busy with graduation festivities to think about becoming entrepreneurs. Tere are many advantages to owning a business and there are no disadvantages to considering the possibility.


Te economy is touted as


improving right now so the job market should be a little better than it was a few years ago. However, wouldn’t it be awesome if graduates could offer their classmates jobs as they graduate? I have attended senior design project presentations for a college’s engineering school a few times and I have seen projects and business ideas that were ready for “prime time.” Perhaps all they were lacking was an infusion of startup capital.


Even if students are not ready to


start a business from scratch right aſter graduation, there are things that they can do to get their feet wet in the entre-


of entrepreneurship is by investing in an inexpensive franchise. Tere are some franchises that cost as little as $5,000 to get started. A few envelopes of graduation cash and a kickstarter or gofundme campaign could easily raise that amount.


Real estate and insurance sales


can prepare one for having their own business as well. Both real estate and insurance agents can eventually become brokers and hire agents to work for them. Some of the wealthiest people


in the world made their


fortunes in these industries including Warren Buffett, whose company Berkshire Hathaway, owns GEICO.


If you know anyone who is


graduating from college this year or even a high school graduate, encourage them to consider becoming an entrepreneur. Tey do not have to begin an entrepreneurship journey today; however, it would be wise, to keep the idea of providing jobs rather than searching for one in the back of one’s mind. Business ownership is a way to increase and control, not only personal wealth but it will also allow one’s hard earned dollars to circulate longer in their own community.


Volume 12 Number 8 Credit Report FROM PAGE 1


payment of damages) from consumer credit reports, if the information is incomplete.


TransUnion also agreed to exclude medical


Experian, debts


on consumer Equifax and credit


reports until such debts are at least 180 days past due. According to a 2014 report by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), medical debt has been a source of numerous complaints because the billing process can be complicated and confusing. As of September new 180-day


15, waiting What You Can Do


"While the changes in reporting standards can mean that some negative information


will be removed from


peoples' credit reports, which is beneficial, consumers still need to understand what is on their


Ortiz, the FDIC's deputy director for consumer and community affairs.


Examples of credit errors may include


reporting outdated


information, missing loan payments, incorrect Social Security numbers, or reporting on individuals with similar names or addresses.


"Consumers need to understand


what is on their credit reports and take steps to ensure that they are accurate," said Elizabeth Ortiz, the FDIC’s deputy director for consumer and community affairs.


you can take to


What are some simple precautions build your credit


history and preserve good credit scores? In particular, review your credit reports at least once a year to


credit


reports and take steps to ensure that they are accurate,"


said Elizabeth 2017, period the gives


consumers time to resolve medical billing issues.


May 2018


look for discrepancies and errors. "Make sure you're familiar with the information


in your credit reports


before you apply for a new job or a loan," said Kristin Strong, chief of the FDIC's Consumer Response Center. "Correcting any errors in advance could help you qualify for a better interest rate on a loan and save you from being denied access to credit, employment, housing or even insurance."


because


It's also important to note that there


are multiple credit


scoring models, credit scores may vary. As explained by Heather St. Germain, an FDIC senior consumer affairs specialist: "You can't control which score a lender uses, but you can help produce good scores by having a positive credit history and checking your credit reports often to correct mistakes."


The Fair Credit Reporting Act requires each of the three nationwide credit reporting companies to provide you with a free copy of your credit report once every 12 months, only upon request. To obtain your free credit reports, go to www.annualcre- ditreport.com or call toll-free 1-877- 322-8228. Note, that unlike credit reports, you may be charged a fee to obtain your credit scores.


Another important reason to


check your credit report is to look for possible signs of identity theft or fraud. Warning signs include an unfamiliar credit card or loan listed in your name. The sooner a fraudulent account is identified in your credit report, the sooner you may be able to limit financial harm.


Inaccurate credit report


information can be disputed directly with the applicable


creditor or


online with each of the three major credit reporting agencies: Equifax, Experian and TransUnion.


You are cordially invited to attend... City Council meetings...


Norfolk - regular meetings are held on the first and fourth Tuesday at 7:00 p.m. and the second and third Tuesday at 2:30 p.m.


Established 2006 A. J. Jones, Publisher Chris Parks, Editor


Sarah Parks, Graphic Designer Ida Davis, Contributing Writer


Sales and Information 757-575-1863 info@hamptonroadsmessenger.com


Copyright pertaining to contents of this edition. All rights reserved.


Chesapeake - regular meetings are held on the second, third and fourth Tuesday of each month at 6:30 p.m.


Newport News - regular business meetings are held on the second and fourth Tuesdays of each month at 7:00 p.m.


Suffolk - regular meetings are held on the first and third Wednesday of each month at 7:00 p.m. Hampton - typically take place on the second and fourth Wednesday of every month at 7:30 p.m.


Virginia Beach - meets on the first four Tuesdays of each month. In July the meetings are scheduled on the first two Tuesdays only. Formal session begins at 6 p.m. Portsmouth - meeting dates are the second and fourth Tuesday of each month at 7:00 p.m.


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