Start here if you’re looking for more in-depth knowledge on personal finance topics such as advancing your career, eliminating your mortgage, diversifying your investments, increasing your earning power or starting your own business.
Venmo is a payment app that makes sending and receiving money easy. And with over 80 million users and two million merchants, it’s super convenient too. But, like all payment apps, Venmo has its downfalls. For example, there are fees for some transactions, and it…
If there is one thing that personal finance gurus all seem to agree on, it is this: You should have a Roth IRA account. Alongside budgeting and having an emergency cash reserve, it has assumed its place as bread-and-butter advice. And why shouldn’t it? What…
Even if you are a natural optimist, there may be times when your financial future will seem dim to you. The cause could be as dramatic as a job loss or a medical emergency that completely upends your financial plans. It may be the sudden…
The past few years were record-breaking years for weather and climate-related disasters. From extreme heat, droughts, and floods to severe storms and wildfires, natural disasters were widespread. According to Climate.gov, in the last two years, 40+ different billion-dollar disasters occurred in the U.S. alone. Disasters…
Helping someone with money can be a double-edged sword. Assisting a loved one financially might temporarily get them out of a difficult position, yet if they believe they can always rely on someone else to get them out of a rough spot, it can deter…
The decision to move a long distance can be life-changing. And while it’s exciting to think about a new job or locale, there’s also a lot of uncertainty. Uprooting your life to embrace new ventures can be challenging. And there’s a lot to consider when…
It’s not breaking news that almost half of married couples will eventually divorce; after all, America has the 6th highest divorce rate worldwide. Yet even though divorce is so common, we still hold distorted views about the reality of divorce and how it impacts women….
Saving for retirement is like the Goldilocks effect. Many people don’t save enough, some save too much, and others save just enough. Yet, half of U.S. households‘ retirement savings fall short, so financial experts often encourage people to save more. But what about the other…
When making the decision to get married, we generally do so with the best of intentions. Partners set out living their lives together in anticipation of the relationship being “til death do us part”. Unfortunately, life has a habit of getting in the way of…
Homeschooling was on the rise before 2020. But the number of homeschooling families grew remarkably during the Covid-19 pandemic. Many children eventually returned to traditional school, but several continued schooling at home. The growing popularity of homeschooling has more families with school-age children considering it…
As you plan for retirement, your investment allocation is not the only thing that changes as the years pass by. In fact, the very task of retirement planning evolves over the decades. Just remember, the sooner you start saving and investing for your future the…
Most people have some knowledge about the concept behind an Individual Retirement Account (IRA). What most people don’t know is there are material differences between IRAs offered by banks and credit unions and those offered by investment firms and other types of financial institutions. Since…
Pop quiz! What’s the difference between a “financial advisor,” an “investment advisor,” and a “wealth manager”? These are just a few of the job titles you may encounter in the personal finance and investing advice space. Unlike a doctor, these titles are not regulated by…
Are you thinking about quitting your job? You’re not alone. Most people feel like leaving their job sometimes. Because even in the ideal position, bad workdays happen. But if you’re like 73% of workers today, you might consider leaving your current employer searching for something…
You’re busy researching your next big vacation. As you look at all your options, you notice suggestions to buy travel insurance on most trip summary pages. When you consider what you’re going to spend on a trip, coverage might make sense. This trip will cost…
It’s essential that all Americans have access to some kind of retirement savings account. The government and IRS always need to support this access because Social Security distributions are not intended to be the total extent of one’s retirement income. For individuals employed by mid…
Many people in America have some basic knowledge about the stock market. At the least, they hear news about stock prices related to some of the world’s largest entities. At the same time, many people have very little knowledge of the availability of various classes…
At a time when the U.S. stock market and currency investments have become volatile and unpredictable, a conservative-minded or risk-averse individual might go in search of safer investment alternatives. In some schools of thought, U.S. Government-backed investment options might be the right place to look….
“If you don’t know where you are going, you’ll end up someplace else.” – Yogi Berra This, without question, is my favorite quote about planning. It encapsulates, as only the great baseball coach and manager could, the very first pitfall of financial planning – not…
Experiencing stress is a part of being human. We need some pressure to push us, but too much can lead to anxiety and depression. While it’s normal to feel heightened stress levels when we’re in danger, excessive strain can damage our physical health, wealth, and…
One of the best rules of thumb for retirement planning is to start saving early and never prematurely touch the money you’ve earmarked for retirement. If you’ve waited to start saving, haven’t saved enough, or have borrowed against your retirement accounts, all is not lost….
It’s a new year, and all thoughts eventually turn to taxes. January is the perfect time to understand last year’s tax implications and plan your strategy… for next year. Often when one thinks of how to write a smaller check (or get a larger refund)…
The holidays are a wonderful time of year. It’s also an ideal time for reviewing the past year and making plans for the next. Don’t forget about the crucial step of setting yourself up for success; establishing a financial plan for 2022. A financial plan…
Socially responsible investing (SRI), social investing, or sustainable investing, is an investing style where you make sure what you invest in matches up with your values and beliefs. When you invest in socially responsible stocks, bonds, or mutual funds, you take into account the financial…
Let’s start with the stats. The reality is that when many people plug their investment account balance into the common retirement income calculators, the results are discouraging and, frankly, depressing. According to Fidelity Investments, the average 401(k) account balance for 50-somethings is a meager $160,000….
If you don’t have a will, or it’s been some time since the drafting of yours, you’re probably wondering what estate planning costs today. Looking for legal help isn’t like shopping for new shoes; it’s not easy to compare legal fees online. Estate planning doesn’t…