If you must get a student loan, find a fixed rate

A postcard from student loan matchmaker MyRichUncle.com recently showed up in my mailbox, addressed to my brother -- who graduated in the spring of 2008.

MyRichUncle.com announced that it had stopped making loans late last year, making the postcard even more curious. Or perhaps less curious. Is it really shocking that a student lender company who sent marketing material to people who had already graduated after it stopped making loans ended up going out of business?

But anyway, there's still something of value to be gleaned from the mailing. The postcard brags that "Our conflict-free private loans start as low as 8.79% APR. * Ah, the good old *"