Savings Basics: How to Get Started with Savings AccountsOne of the keys to financial freedom is developing a habit of saving. It sounds really basic, but many people have trouble with this, and many just don’t know how to start. Here is an overview of how you can get started with savings accounts. The article will cover types of savings accounts, how to [...]
Is It Better To Buy Or Rent? [Infographic]Everyone is talking about how now is a great time to buy a home. And, on the surface, it looks like the perfect time. Home prices are low, and mortgage interest rates remain at near-record lows. There is some argument, though, that it might be better to buy a home in six months; without the [...]
What To Do When the Tax Bill Is Due But You Don’t Have the CashBack in April you might have filed your federal income tax forms only to find you actually owe money to the government instead of breaking even or getting a return. It can be a trying time for anyone especially in light of the recent recession woes affecting personal finances. If you discovered that you owe [...]
Not everyone has the time or inclination to master the subject of personal finance. Luckily, it is not always necessary to master it. In the same way you can hire an electrician without understanding the inner workings of home wiring, you can hire a financial advisor to get your money in order. There are all [...]
5 Tax Deductions To Take This YearTax season just ended. Do you really want to think about taxes already? You do if you are interested in reducing your tax liability and saving money more efficiently. What you do now can result in tax savings when April rolls around again. A tax deduction is an expense that can lower your taxable income, [...]
Negative Real Return: What is Your Real Rate of Return?We all know (or should know) that having an emergency fund is a good thing, and I think most people would agree that the best place to keep your emergency fund is in a high yield savings account or a short-term CD. However, I try not to keep a lot of money in my emergency [...]
5 Ways to Get Comfortable with the Risks Involved in Single Stock InvestingAs a CPA, I’ve done several tax returns over the years. One thing I got to see when calculating capital gains and losses was what type of investments people were into. I saw a lot of portfolios made up of 5 to 10 single stocks. It shocked me that so many people were putting a [...]
Mutual Fund Investing: Index Funds vs Actively-Managed FundsWith such a wide variety of investment products available, it can be confusing to know what exactly to invest in — even with easy-to-manage investments like mutual funds. Investors have a huge range of styles — from conservative to aggressive, and everything in between. Of course when trying to pick mutual funds, an investor wants [...]
Your Future Financial Security Depends On You…And Only YouFinancial security is a common pursuit. Whether you’re just starting out in the working world or you’re looking to retire, financial security or the pursuit of financial security is of large importance for you. Unfortunately, a generation of Americans have been led to believe that the contributing factors to financial security come from anywhere but [...]
Economic Stimulus 2010: More Help for Your FinancesMost people consider the economic stimulus as something that happened last year. However, some of the stimulus measures passed following the financial crisis of 2008, and during the recession that followed, are still in effect through the end of this year. If you are still looking for a little stimulus for your personal economy, you [...]