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It’s a brand new year, and the world is full of people who have made it a financial goal to pay down their debt. While making debt paydown a priority can be good for your finances and your life, it also makes sense to take a step back and consider the way you are looking …
We’ve all received those credit card applications in the mail. The marketing packet tells you that you’re “prequalified” for a credit card offer. It seems like the perfect setup. You want a new card — maybe it has a better interest rate, or a better rewards program — so you apply. You figure you’re a …
I’ve been trying to phase out my checkbook. I don’t often use cash or check because there are so many other ways to pay that are so much more convenient. However, since moving to Pennsylvania, my checkbook has been making something of a comeback. I was surprised, upon moving here, at some of the changes …
For the last several years, the Federal Reserve has kept its Fed Funds Rate low. However, things might be changing in 2015. There is talk that the Fed is finally ready to think about hiking rates. A couple of years ago, there was a great deal of excitement about the taper of the asset purchase program, …
Do you feel stuck in a career rut? It’s easy to feel as though you are just marking time in a job. If you want to get out of that career rut, you need a plan to take things to the next level. If you are ready to take your career to the next level …
Most of us are deep into holiday planning right now, and have no desire to think about taxes. However, before the year comes to an end, it makes sense to take your taxes for a test drive. You should take the time to determine whether or not you are likely to owe money. If you …
This year’s holiday season is in full swing, and you might be wondering what you can do to reduce the amount that you spend on gifts. As your extended family grows, and as you end up with other obligations, it might be difficult to feel as though you can afford to spend a great deal …
One of the financial and life milestones we are expected to prepare for is retirement. While not everyone wants a “traditional” retirement that involves sitting around doing nothing and living off a nest egg, chances are that you will need to find some way of creating revenue to support yourself. It makes sense to plan …
Investing is one of the best ways to build wealth over time. It’s one of the few ways that you can put your money to work for you in a way that allows you to take advantage of compound interest to the degree that it overcomes inflation. On top of that, if you start early …
For many people, it’s open enrollment time for health insurance. This is a time when you review your health plan, and decide whether or not you need to make changes. My husband’s plan is up for review right now (this is the first time we’ve gone through open enrollment with an employer; it’s exciting), and …
When it comes to paying down debt, we often focus on how much we can save in interest. However, we often forget that there are some types of debt that actually come with tax advantages. While it’s not exactly a dollar-for-dollar benefit, the reality is that the financial impact of interest can be reduced when …
FICO 9 is on the way, and this could be a positive thing for your credit — at least if you have medical debt. Right now, the way medical debt is weighted in the scoring system, it could have a big impact on how financial services providers view you. But that could be changing as …
It’s probably happened to you at some point: A bill falls through the cracks. I know it’s happened to me — and more than once. Occasionally I’ll get busy and forget about a bill, or I’ll just be behind, and put off my regular financial tasks, and a bill or two will be late as …
One of the great things about technology is that it makes it possible for you to do your banking from almost anywhere. You can initiate transfers, check your balance, and even pay your bills right from your cell phone. It’s even possible to deposit a check via cell phone. I do it all the time. …
One of the realities we’ve been facing for several years now is the fact that interest yields on many savings products are quite low. Interest rates were cut in the name of economic stimulus, with the idea being that lower interest rates would encourage more people to borrow money. While the Federal Reserve is starting …
Recently, I attended the FinCon Expo. This year it was held in New Orleans. I normally go as an attendee, which is something I find helpful for my career. This year, though, I did more than just attend; I moderated a panel. Being a speaker at the conference helped me raise my career profile, and …
I just got back from New Orleans, where I had a great time at the FinCon Expo. The good news is that, even though I had a great time, I also went for business purposes. That means that a lot of what I did during the five days I was in New Orleans was tax-deductible. …
Many of us want to make the most of our money. We want more bang for our buck, or we want a way to reduce expenses so that we can save money. This is only natural. Looking for ways to save, though, can be maddeningly unnatural. One of the first things you hear when you’re …
