Why financial literacy is important for kids
Money doesn’t grow on trees but do your kids know that? As parents, we must teach our kids basic life skills, and that includes talking about money. Basic financial literacy for kids is an important […]
30 short-term financial goals you can crush
With scary statistics like 59% of Americans living paycheck to paycheck, or 67% of Americans struggle to pay a $1,000 emergency, we need to step up our game. Know what your short term financial goals are to […]
How to give yourself a financial spa day
Self-care is an expression you hear a lot about these days but rarely when it comes to your finances. Although at first, it might not seem as comforting as, say a trip to the spa […]
The difference between speculation & investing
All investments carry some risk, but the difference between speculating and investing can illustrate the level of risk involved. Speculating often describes scenarios when there’s a high chance the investment will deliver losses but also […]
Shorting a stock explained
It’s possible to make money in the market no matter which way it moves — up, down or sideways (which are the only three ways markets can move). For new investors, this often seems like […]
How the coronavirus affected small businesses in 2020
No doubt about it, 2020 was a wild ride. And that’s especially true for small business owners. In early spring, the coronavirus pandemic forced thousands of small businesses across the country to close their doors […]
Small business owners say you should outsource these 3 tasks
The majority of people who plan to start a business within the next 12 months say the coronavirus influenced their decision. 28% said the pandemic accelerated their plans to start a business, according to a recent QuickBooks survey. 35% set […]
Pros & cons of a cash diet
These days, many people’s spending habits are ruled by plastic. Debit cards, credit cards and mobile wallets make transactions easy and effortless, but they can also make it easy to wind up with a mountain of debt […]
Help! I made too much to contribute to my Roth IRA
One of the downsides of the Roth IRA (Individual Retirement Account) is that there are income limits that preclude high income earners from contributing directly to these accounts. But for people on the cusp, or for those […]
Short-term vs. long-term investments
Financial goals exist on a timeline that stretches into the future. Some goals, like buying a new car, might take place in the near future, perhaps inside just a couple of years. Others, like retirement, […]
A guide to options trading
Options are contracts that give investors the right, but not the obligation, to buy or sell an asset like shares of a company stock. Purchasers can buy or sell by a certain date at a […]
The best time to buy a grill
Grilling season extends from Memorial Day to Labor Day weekend in the United States. The best time to buy a grill is often outside that timeframe — in other words, during the fall and winter […]
Top 10 must-know rules on 401(k) taxes
Employer-sponsored retirement plans like a 401(k) are a common way for workers to save for retirement. In any given year, about half of employees participate in a retirement plan at work, according to the Bureau […]
Cities where Americans owe the most on their credit cards
Editorial Note: The content of this article is based on the author’s opinions and recommendations alone. It may not have been previewed, commissioned or otherwise endorsed by any of our network partners. Many people start […]
What are the benefits of tax-loss harvesting?
Tax-loss harvesting allows investors to use their investments that declined in value to reduce their annual tax bill. For long-term investors and active traders, this strategy can help create opportunities from investments that lost money. […]
Top 4 packing & moving tips
Moving can fire up a rollercoaster of emotions. In the first few days of a move, you may feel a rush of excitement (new digs = a new life). And then, inevitably, the dips into […]
29 simple strategies for retiring early
According to the Federal Reserve, fewer than four in 10 Americans feel they are on track with their retirement savings, but some are bolstering their accounts through extreme savings strategies in hopes of retiring early. […]
Here’s how to save money on prescription glasses
According to the Vision Council of America, an estimated 75% of the worldwide adult population wear glasses or contact lenses to correct their vision. If you’re one of these people, you don’t have to spend […]
8 ways to make the most of your good credit score
After years of paying bills on time and playing your credit cards right, you finally made it. You’re a member of the 800+ credit score club, and you’re eager to find out what you can […]
Finding the right college for your child
Classes, late-night study sessions and extracurriculars. College is a time for students to learn and grow, both academically and in their personal development. As a parent, you want what’s best for your child, and that […]
How to improve business processes and boost growth
If there’s one thing business owners don’t have enough of, it’s time. Improving your business processes through automation, integration, or outsourcing are great ways to get time back. Here are four simple steps to help […]
7 times taxable investment accounts are a good idea
In fact, more than half of U.S. households have some exposure to the stock market, according to the Pew Research Center. However, most of those stocks are held in tax-advantaged retirement accounts. Although a tax-advantaged […]
Cities where home values surged in 2020
It would be an understatement to say that 2020 has given us a lot to look back on. The unique circumstances of this year, primarily shaped by the coronavirus pandemic and its resulting changes to […]
How to find the best tax preparer for you
As a CPA (Certified Public Accountant) who used to actually prepare taxes for other people, many are often surprised to learn that I don’t even prepare my own income tax returns anymore. So, I can […]
What is a good 401(k) expense ratio?
The expense ratio of a 401(k) plan is the amount an investment company charges investors for managing the fund. A total of administrative fees for the fund’s expenses, this rate is usually stated as a […]
Fee-based vs. fee-only financial planners
Although “fee-based” and “fee-only” financial planners sound similar, they both have different fee structures and different obligations to investors. Here’s what you need to know about fee-based vs fee-only financial planners. You might think that […]
8 ways to rebuild your finances this year
The pandemic hit us hard in early 2020, and millions of people worldwide continue to suffer financially due to budget cuts. These cuts came from redundancies to millions of businesses being forced to close their […]
5 tips for getting the best price on a new home
You’ve reached the house-hunting phase and found “the one,” but you aren’t crazy about the price tag. The good news: You might be able to change it. When you make an offer on a home, […]
Creating a one-year savings plan
A lot can happen in a year. (Don’t believe us? Go check out your Timehop.) While many of the changes we see as we make our way around the sun aren’t exactly planned for, it […]
Paying tax on personal loans
There are plenty of reasons to take out a personal loan, many of which are totally financially savvy. For instance, you might be thinking about consolidating high-interest debts like credit card balances. Or you might plan to […]