This guy turned his hobby into a 5-figure side hustle
Hey there! My name is Derek, and I run the website The Money Family. The site is all about making money on Etsy, with an emphasis on my shop specialty, which is woodworking. If you’ve ever […]
What’s the difference between a traditional & Roth IRA?
If you work for a company that offers a retirement plan, such as a 401(k) or 403(b), you probably have the option of making “traditional” or “Roth” contributions to your account. While having more investment options […]
How to make FAFSA corrections
Vaunting more than 100 required questions, the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) can vex future college students and their families. As with any lengthy form, mistakes or omissions happen. In other instances, an […]
Do student loans count as income?
For many students, securing financing for their education is the first major financing event of their lives, and it can feel overwhelming. On top of sorting out whether you’re eligible for federal student loans and […]
Different types of workers: Employees, contractors & more
When hiring a workforce, it’s important for business owners to understand the options they have in regard to different types of workers. While the majority of businesses won’t employ every type of worker, knowing their options allows […]
How to make saving so simple you don’t even think about it
Is it possible to save money and thrive in an uncertain economy? The way to move forward and progress financially is often unpredictable. But taking the right steps now could set you up for financial freedom down the […]
How to negotiate with the IRS to reduce your tax debt
Negotiating a deal with the IRS can offer the tax debt help you need for making a payment – but you’ll need to have a strong argument and the information to support you claims. When […]
What are SPACs?
Special purpose acquisition companies (SPACs) are shell companies that go public with the intent of buying a private business. Also known as “blank check companies,” SPACs have increasingly become a popular alternative to the traditional initial […]
Customer metrics every business should be focusing on
What keeps you up at night? For small business owners just starting out, competition, growth, and the economy all rank as top concerns. Likewise, accounting tasks—like maintaining profitability and healthy cash flow—are also common struggles. Growing businesses regularly cite […]
The 30 most popular cities for Gen X homebuyers
Born between 1965 and 1980, many members of Generation X are in their peak earning years. While the COVID-19 pandemic has doubtlessly stifled some of that earning potential, Gen Xers are still taking advantage of […]
How a $15 minimum wage would impact the economy
With a new administration in place and new legislation proposed to help those hardest hit by the financial impacts of the pandemic, raising the national minimum wage has become a highly contested topic. While boosting […]
Why are SPACS suddenly so hot?
Special Purpose Acquisition Companies (SPACs) have been all the rage on Wall Street. Almost 250 SPACs went public in 2020, four times as many as the prior year. And so far in the first two […]
Is now the time to refinance your private student loan?
Many borrowers are considering their student loan options in light of historically low-interest rates, federal student loan payments on pause at least through September 2021, and discussion of student loan forgiveness by both parties. With so many […]
How to pay off college loans
If advice for paying off student loans were as simple as “Just keep paying those monthly payments,” over 45 million borrowers would have no concerns about wiping away more than $1.6 trillion in student loan […]
5 steps to financial freedom
Financial Freedom. The ultimate goal for many of us. But what does it really mean, and how do you get here? Those are the questions that a lot of us get stuck on. Financial Freedom […]
Step inside actor Walton Goggins’ gorgeous LA home
Walton Goggins is selling his Los Angeles home, a lovely 5-bedroom home tucked behind dense landscaping just above Hollywood Boulevard. The actor, known for his prominent roles in The Shield, Sons of Anarchy, Justified or Django Unchained and now the […]
16 investing & retirement rules you need to know
A “rule of thumb” is a mental shortcut. It’s a heuristic. It’s not always true, but it’s usually true. It saves you time and brainpower. Rather than re-inventing the wheel for every money problem you face, personal finance rules […]
The secret to being a more confident investor
Studies show that women have better investing outcomes than men, despite claiming less knowledge and confidence, which I find fascinating. These stats also make me feel quite smug about the countless conversations I’ve had with […]
Here’s how to make money investing in real estate
Want to learn how to turn $40,000 into $750,000 with just one rental property? That’s the power of real estate, and the subject of the case study later on in the post. But real estate […]
Are merchant cash advances a scam?
When your business is struggling, you may be tempted to find the quickest and easiest way to get cash. But beware of financing options that sound too good to be true. Merchant cash advances are […]
Alone together: Self-employed architect shares his PPP story
In the midst of a pandemic and nationwide quarantines, many people have taken up hobbies—macramé, decoupage, Paul Hollywood-level pastry work. Skyler Kogachi is no exception. In his spare time, the Los Angeles-based business owner has […]
How much you’ll need to retire in these 10 South American countries
Depending on your lifestyle and location, you may need up to $600k to retire comfortably. However, only 14% of Americans in their 40s and 50s have more than half a million put away. During the COVID-19 pandemic, […]
A guide to ethical shopping
Ethical shopping is about buying from brands that care about their impact on people, as well as the planet, and not just about profit margins. It’s also about giving less money to companies associated with […]
Salary vs. draw: How to pay yourself as a small business owner
You love your business, but that doesn’t mean you can afford to work for free. Yet, figuring out how to pay yourself as a business owner can be complicated. You need to think carefully about […]
Here’s how people who are good with money invest
Let’s be honest — investing sounds a lot sexier than building an emergency fund. But the truth is that many people get into the stock market before they’re financially ready for it, and while the […]
Is automated tax loss harvesting a good idea?
Tax-loss harvesting is the strategy of purposely selling some holdings at a loss in order to offset the taxable profits of another investment. Investors “harvest” a loss from one asset and can then use the […]
What happens to stock after a merger?
For investors, the announcement of a corporate merger can cause excitement or trepidation. Public company tie-ups involve negotiations, regulatory hurdles, integration – all of which hopefully leads to value creation for stockholders. When a merger is […]
The hottest real estate markets of 2021
Aside from a few fluctuations, the housing market has remained resilient throughout the pandemic. In fact, homes across the country have been selling at healthy rates over the past year and into 2021. As for […]
The genius grocery shopping tip that can save your family big bucks
If you feel like grocery shopping has become more expensive, you’re not imagining things! According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, food prices rose 2.6% in 2020. That’s the biggest increase in nearly 50 years. Whether […]
13 clever ways to cut retirement costs
More than 6 in 10 Americans aren’t on track with their retirement savings, according to the Federal Reserve. If you’re getting close to retirement age and still working on your nest egg, you might have […]