- Best Personal Finance Books for 2023
Many successful people will tell you that they read a book that changed their lives. In this look at several of the best personal finance books, there may be one or more that could help you change your financial life.… read more…
- How to Make a 529 Plan Gift Contribution
As grandparents and other relatives look for a way to leave a legacy and impact the next generation, younger people are facing record-high college expenses and unmanageable student debt. Fortunately, 529 plan gift contributions help solve both issues by providing… read more…
- How Does a Morality Clause Work?
Getting divorced can mean untangling some sticky personal and financial issues. A wrinkle may be added when there are kids involved and you’re trying to work out custody arrangements, child support or a co-parenting plan. One parent or the other… read more…
- What Is Home Care?
Home care provides professional services for a person, typically someone who is in poor health or who cannot regularly attend a physician’s office, to live at home. It includes a broad range of services and levels of care. Here are… read more…
- What Is Child Support Used For?
When parents get divorced, child support ensures that both parents contribute financially to the care of their children. Child support payments can be negotiated between parents, but the courts step in when they cannot agree on the right amount. Here’s… read more…
- Pros and Cons of a Postnuptial Agreement
Getting married is a special time in the lives of many people. However, not all marriages end up in wedded bliss. To protect themselves in case of a divorce, some couples create a prenuptial agreement that spells out financial obligations… read more…
- Pros and Cons of Using the Social Security Lock
Using Social Security’s Self Lock feature keeps anyone from using your Social Security number for credit or employment-related fraud. This prevents someone else’s wages from being reported to the Internal Revenue Services as your wages. However, it also will make… read more…
- 529 Plan vs. Savings Account
College can be one of the biggest expenses you might have to plan for as a parent, after buying a home and funding your retirement. If you have room in your budget to save for college, it’s important to choose… read more…
- How to Use Multiple Savings Accounts
Keeping your money in a savings account is a good way to keep a certain amount of money separate from your daily spending. While most savers prefer to keep their money in a single savings account, it’s possible to have… read more…
- Is My Money Safe in the Bank During a Depression?
If you have money in a checking, saving or other depository account, it is protected from financial downturns by the FDIC. Beyond that, investment products are more exposed to risk, but you can still take some steps to protect yourself.… read more…
- Brokerage Account vs. Cash Management Account
Investors interested in non-retirement investment accounts have likely heard of or already have a brokerage account. However, in recent years, many brokerage firms have also begun offering cash management accounts to their clients. Although offered by the same financial institution,… read more…
- 2022 Financial Planning Checklist
The key to gaining financial security is to set financial goals and keep re-evaluating your progress. Without working toward anything specific, you’re likely to spend more than you should without realizing, leaving you vulnerable to life’s unexpected moments. Financial planning… read more…
- How to Set Financial Goals: A Guide
Sometimes it feels like you’re spinning your wheels and every paycheck is gone before you’ve spent it. You might wonder why you try so hard to save but that number never seems to grow. The key to reaching financial security… read more…
- Companies Helping Coronavirus-Impacted People
In response to the coronavirus, companies across the country are pursuing coronavirus relief efforts to help people and businesses most impacted by pandemic. Tech companies are donating millions to help small businesses, healthcare workers and COVID-19 patients. Meanwhile, companies outside the healthcare sector are producing hand sanitizer, masks and other products to curb the spread… read more…
- All About NetSpend Cards
With a checking account, you get a debit card to spend your cash nearly anywhere you wish. But many people can’t qualify for bank checking accounts, and in a world where card transactions are increasingly common, that’s a problem. This… read more…
- What Is Quantitative Tightening?
In the past two years, investors have taken an unusual interest in the Federal Reserve Bank. That’s mostly due to a Fed policy known as ‘quantitative tightening’, or QT. Effectively, QT was the Fed’s attempt to reduce its holdings after… read more…
- The Average Cost of an American Commute
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the average American spends roughly 26 minutes commuting by car from their homes to their workplaces. That means we’re collectively spending billions of hours on unproductive and unfulfilling commutes. But it’s not just time that we’re spending on our commutes – we’re spending money, too. The average cost of an American… read more…
- The Average Cost of a Divorce
Even the most amicable of divorces generally involve some kind of expense. The average cost of a divorce varies greatly based on how complicated the case is and on the kind of divorce you seek. At the very least you’ll have to pay court costs and filing fees for divorce paperwork. But if lawyers are… read more…
- Which Documents Should You Shred?
Even if you’ve opted to go paperless on things like bank statements, you probably still receive important mail related to your finances. These could be medical bills, old tax returns or explanations of benefits from your insurance companies, for example.… read more…
- How Much to Spend on Wedding Gifts
The average cost of a wedding is now well over $30,000. Coming up with enough cash to pay for the reception, the dress and the food can be difficult for brides and grooms. Wedding guests can also find themselves in… read more…
- What Is COBRA Continuation Coverage?
COBRA continuation coverage lets you stay on your employer’s group health insurance plan after leaving your job. COBRA stands for the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act. It’s shorthand for the law change that required employers to extend temporary group health… read more…
- Top 5 Biggest Threats to Your Net Worth in Your 20s
If you’re in your 20s, your net worth might be the last thing on your mind. But it’s never too early to start creating long-term wealth. Many twenty-somethings are financially challenged, but it’s possible to maneuver around wealth-blocking obstacles if… read more…
- How to Mine Bitcoin
Maybe you’re already a bitcoin user and you want to start mining bitcoin, or maybe you’re totally new to the bitcoin world. Either way, we’ve got you covered with our guide to how to mine bitcoin. It’s not a walk… read more…
- How Much Is the Average Electric Bill?
According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, the average monthly residential electric bill for Americans was $117.46 in 2020, up from $115 in 2019. However, several factors such as location and home size will affect the price of your electric… read more…
- Top 4 Money Habits of Rich Millennials
Millennials face an uphill battle when it comes to their finances. Crippling student loan debt, skyrocketing rental rates and dismal wages form a perfect storm of sorts that makes it hard for young adults to get ahead. There are some… read more…