Your home can't take the place of a retirement or college savings plan. Expecting it to do so will have horrible results. Buying a house is widely considered to be one of the best investments you can make. If you...
In 2007, the federal government created a program that would forgive student loans for people who worked in public service jobs for at least 10 years. Now, the first participants in the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program (PSLF) can start...
Online banks are giving traditional banks a run for their money. Interest rates at online banks are as much as four times higher than bricks and mortar banks and credit unions, according to a survey released by DepositAccounts.com, a blog...
So you've made the move and upgraded to a new job, and likely more responsibility and a bigger paycheck. Congratulations — just don't forget about your 401(k) plan. You'll need to make a few retirement savings-boosting moves to ensure your 401(k)...
Many adults dream of becoming homeowners one day, but some buyers may have to wait even longer to get their names on a mortgage — if they can manage to do so at all. According to the Federal Reserve Bank...
There is a lot to consider when evaluating current or prospective advisors. And you should ask them important questions like: How are you paid? What is your primary expertise? Are you a fivduciary? What are your investment beliefs? – to name...
First comes love, then comes marriage, then comes … the visit to the financial advisor? Yes, getting married means sharing your financial life. And if you've been visiting a financial professional as a singleton, then tying the knot should include a rethink...
At the risk of sounding like a Facebook friend trying to fold you into my latest direct sales venture: Early retirement is possible. If you read the Internet, you might already know this is true. It’s been done; in fact,...
Bitcoin faces a pivotal moment as investors are about to receive an entirely new asset called Bitcoin Cash after the blockchain supporting the cryptocurrency is forced to split in two. "The creation of Bitcoin Cash is certainly a pivotal moment for...
Forget the myths about Medicare being broke. Here's the truth. There are several popular misconceptions about the financial condition of Medicare, which virtually all American senior citizens rely on to cover health care expenses in retirement. Many people believe that...
Qualified retirement plans are designed to be used solely for retirement income. Taxable withdrawals from these plans before age 59.5 are generally assessed an additional 10% “early distribution tax” by the IRS. (The additional tax for SIMPLE IRA plans is...
Greece successfully sold debt to private investors for the first time in three years on Tuesday, making a significant first step towards financial independence when its third international bailout ends next year. The deal came a month after euro zone...
Up, Up and Away Another quarter and another new high. Even though the markets were relatively muted in June, the markets as measured by the Dow, S&P 500, and NASDAQ all ended at new highs. Year to date, the indices...
Owning a small business isn't like owning stock in a publicly traded company. With stocks, you can always calculate the market value of the entire business just by multiplying the market price of the stock by the number of outstanding...
For many of us, retirement can seem like a problem for later. I need money now; why should I bother saving money for when I’m 70? I’ve got rent due and groceries to buy this week, not this week plus...
