Best Rates In
Supporting Your Financial Decisions
One of the things I hear a lot is, “But I don’t have enough money to start investing”. Even after the Internet revolution has democratized investing to the point where almost anyone can start investing online, the myth that you need to have a large chunk of capital to start investing persists. The reality is …
Starting in 2014, the individual mandate provision of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA), known as “Obamacare”, goes into effect. If you don’t have insurance coverage right now, you might be required to get it — or pay a fine. What is the Individual Mandate? Under the PPACA, the individual mandate requires that …
You’ve probably heard commercials on the radio, or seen ads on the Internet: You can get rid of your debt, paying just pennies on the dollar for what you owe. These types of offers are typically the result of debt settlement efforts. In some cases, the promises are true; there are some companies that can …
One of the most financially devastating actions you can take is to declare bankruptcy. Your bankruptcy filing is reported under the credit payment history portion of your credit report. That is the factor that weighs most heavily in the calculation of your score. As a result of this reality, a bankruptcy can result in a …
One of the best ways to improve your finances is to add in the use of rewards credit cards. The right rewards credit cards can help you earn free travel and even cash back. As long as you are careful to incorporate your credit card use into your regular spending, and as long as you …
In the current low-rate environment, many consumers are looking for ways to improve the yield they receive from their deposit accounts. In some cases, opening a money market account can be an attractive option. Some money market accounts have better yields than “regular” bank accounts, and this makes them attractive. But before you open a …
There has been a lot of speculation surrounding the Federal Reserve and its policies recently. A couple of weeks ago, Ben Bernanke seemed to indicate that the Federal Reserve is almost ready to begin tapering its asset purchases, thereby reducing economic stimulus. As a result, long-term interest rates — particularly mortgage rates — spiked. The …
During the summer between my junior year and senior year of college, I participated in an internship. As a Communications major, I was expected to complete an internship for college credit — and for experience. While I didn’t receive pay (and I even had to pay for the summer credits), the experience still proved useful. …
You can’t escape taxes. Even if you aren’t paying income tax, you still pay taxes somewhere. When you are aware of the taxes you are paying, you can take steps to minimize your tax liability. There are some taxes you can never avoid, but with some careful thought and planning, it is possible to reduce …
One of the most important things you can do for your financial future is to set money aside for retirement. Your retirement fund can provide you with peace of mind and financial stability in your later years. It’s easy to forget about the future when you’re worried about the present. But you really need to …
Since the stock market crash of 2008, many investors have turned to dividend stocks. Dividend investing has become more popular as investors look for ways to continue earning income even during down markets. And, even though the market has recovered and surpassed its former level, many investors are looking for other ways to earn a …
When you have health insurance, it’s tempting to think that everything is covered. Your doctor recommends a test, and you think that you should probably get it. Later, though, you find out that the test isn’t covered by your health insurance company. While some health insurers will cover various lab tests, there are those companies …
There is a lot of talk about how important it is to pay down your debt in order to improve your life and your financial situation. Most of this debt advice focuses around paying off your debt as quickly as possible. But what if you aren’t interested in drastically changing your lifestyle in order to …
Unfortunately, too many consumers wait until they are actually applying for a major loan before they check their credit. If you are planning to apply for a major loan — especially if you want to apply for a mortgage loan — it’s better if you check your credit first, and then take steps to improve …
When I travel, I like to use my credit card. Credit cards are great for travel because they come with a certain level of fraud liability protection. Plus, they can be used almost anywhere you go, and they are very convenient. On top of that, when you plan your credit card use just right, you can …
One of the trends gaining a little traction right now is using prepaid debit as a replacement for a checking account. While a prepaid debit card can be useful in some cases, it might not always be the best way to handle your finances. Prepaid Debit: Replacing a Checking Account? In recent years, prepaid debit …
For those looking for yield, CDs don’t often come to mind. While your money is usually safe in CDs, you won’t earn a high yield. One way to earn a higher yield, though, is to consider a market-linked CD. What is a Market-Linked CD? A market-linked CD is pretty much what it sounds like: The …
Few of us are happy being stuck in a career rut. Many of us know that career success requires strategy and work. However, you might be surprised at the types of things that can help you improve in your career over time. One of the best ways to boost your career prospects now and in …