The last few generations of Americans have been indoctrinated with the idea that a college degree is an absolute must-have in today’s economy. While this is largely true, the answer to “To have a college degree or not to have a college degree, that is the question”, is not so black-and-white as it may first [...]
Saving for a Mortgage Down PaymentDuring the housing boom, mortgage lenders eased down payment requirements to get more people into homes. The down payment was literally nothing in some cases. In fact, the availability of 110% mortgages — loans for 10% more than the value of a home — amounted to a negative down payment. As any prospective home buyer [...]
6 Signs That Investment is in Bubble ModeOne of the most disappointing, and potentially devastating, occurrences in your financial life is likely to be the realization, too late, that your investment has been in the bubble. One day you are flying high, sure your fortune is made, and the next day you are crushed — and possibly looking at large losses. While [...]
Wealth Building 101: The 3 Basic Ways to Make MoneyHolding down a steady job and earning regular paychecks is both the easiest and most common form of earning an income. Building a solid foundation of deep wealth however, requires time, planning and a considerable amount of research. There are three general means to creating wealth: active income, portfolio income, and passive income. Photo by [...]
Learn from Santa: How to Save Money and Give Great GiftsSanta Claus is one of our most recognizable holiday characters, known for his love of children, holiday spirit, and giving personality. Most people would agree that Santa is a good guy. He gives unselfishly and the only thing he asks for in return is good behavior. However, has anyone ever asked what this all costs [...]
BB&T Customer Service Nightmare and How to Avoid Overdraft FeesI had a really bad banking experience last week – actually, it took place over 7 days and is still not quite over. I was going to blog about it and rat out the bank, but then some halfway decent customer service changed my mind. When I logged into my account today and saw YET ANOTHER [...]
10 Characteristics Necessary For Success (Mr. Rogers Style)We are currently in a time when too much emphasis is placed on grades. Far too many graduating seniors believe that good grades lead to good jobs which leads to a good life. However, there are many other attributes necessary for success. What is success? This post isn’t about equating $200,000 a year and success. [...]
5 Decisions That Will Improve Your Financial FutureThe economic decisions that you make on a daily basis have a direct impact on your financial future. Your decisions can either set you up for a nice comfortable retirement or force you to work much longer than you ever planned. If you want to get on the right track to a successful retirement then [...]
5 Business Tips to Help Your Small Business SucceedLike anything else in life, business ownership comes with ups and downs. But an entrepreneurial spirit can help you see ways around obstacles and reduce downsides of owning your own business. Entrepreneurs see opportunity where others see risk — often because they take steps to manage risk or because they define risk in different ways. [...]
The 10 Worst Things About Owning Your Own BusinessLet’s face it, being a business owner requires a specific type of personality and an unmatched level of passion and drive. Not many people have what it takes to start their own business and be successful. That said, it’s doubtful anyone who owns their own business would trade it for anything. Nothing beats being your [...]