For many, the new year is the right time to make a big career change. And for you, it may be the perfect time to take the first step in starting your own business.As such a big decision – regardless of the process you follow and the path you take – it’s critical to have a detailed plan in place. Here are seven questions you can answer today to help you decide if starting a business...
Many investors have their investments spread across multiple accounts and it can be difficult to properly track the value of your overall portfolio. Your investment portfolio includes 401(k)s, IRAs, and investment accounts with multiple brokerage accounts. You could try to go to multiple websites and gather all of the performance yourself. However, sometimes that is not efficient, so I wanted to walk through a few ways to efficiently track your investment portfolio. Please comment if you...
I am now honored to be a parent, and the subject of allowances has entered into the discussion. The subject of children’s allowances can get surprisingly contentious. Some parents have very strong opinions about the topic. I did some research and found some helpful tips that I thought I would share. The purpose of an allowance: An allowance enables a child to experience money and how to manage money. You can teach your kids the concept...
In general terms, a personal loan is a fixed amount of money that you borrow at a fixed interest rate for a predetermined period of time. Furthermore, it’s typically an unsecured loan, meaning you don’t have to put up any collateral in order to receive the funds. Flexible terms make a personal loan an intriguing option, as you can borrow the money you need without concerns about changing terms putting stress on your budget in the...
With 2019 coming to an end, it’s a good time to turn your attention to the new year. This means many things in regards to your finances, with most people realizing the importance of reviewing their retirement plan and adjusting it as necessary. There is no one-size-fits-all solution to retirement planning. What works for you may not work for the next person, and vice versa. However, if you want to stay the course, there are some...
One of the hardest parts of creating a budget is figuring out how much money you should spend on all your expenses. What's the right amount to spend on housing? Or transportation? Or entertainment? Having a guide to building a budget helps keep your spending in line. That's one of the benefits of the 50/30/20 budgeting method. Your spending on certain categories is kept within a certain percentage of your monthly income, so you can figure...
The more complicated your finances are, the harder it is to keep up with everything. You'll spend more time and effort trying to manage complicated finances and the stress of dealing with your finances may cause you to procrastinate. Overly complicated finances could lead to more expensive mistakes like missing a payment or overdrafting your bank account. If you've been feeling like your finances are all over the place, there are a few things you can...
Many people choose credit cards and loans based on the features, benefits, or the monthly payment, but there's a more important factor to consider - the APR. This number tells you how much you're actually paying to borrow money. The higher the APR, or annual percentage rate, the more you're paying when you borrow money. Finding the APR Looking at the APR gives you a better way to compare loan of the same type to each...
Coming up with a solid budget is tough even when you have a regular income from a job or business. Budgeting a fluctuating income can be even more difficult because you can't be sure how much money you're bringing in. In these situations, having a plan for to manage an unpredictable income becomes even more important to ensure all your monthly expenses are met without getting into debt or overdrafting your accounts. When you're self-employed, working...
With 2019 winding down, there’s no better time than now to turn your attention to the new year. As 2020 inches closer, it makes sense to review your budget with an eye toward saving money. Did your car insurance premium creep higher this year? Are you looking to save money as the year turns? A car insurance premium increase isn’t always directly related to your personal situation. For example, rates often increase as a result of...
