Archives : Dec-2018

Kate Ashford iStock If you’re a freelancer or you run your own business, odds are you’ve heard about SEP IRAs, which are individual retirement accounts for self-employed individuals and small-businesses owners. A simplified employee pension (SEP) IRA gives you the ability to save for retirement while lowering your taxable income. […]

Kate Rockwood iStock Sometimes life throws you a curveball, and your salary or savings aren’t enough to cover a big expense like home repairs, college tuition or medical costs. Maybe you want to consolidate your debt or start a small business, but you would have a hard time qualifying for […]

Louis DeNicola Debt isn’t just common in America — it’s the norm. According to Northwestern Mutual’s 2018 Planning and Progress Study, more than 75% of people are in debt. Those in debt owe over $38,000 on average, and that’s before you include a mortgage. Additionally, 20% of respondents said they […]

Anna Davies Cryptocurrencies captivate and confuse investing enthusiasts and financial pros alike. Are they a smart investment option that will eventually show major gains or a popped bubble? Could they ever be part of a traditional investment portfolio or will they always be an outlier? And how will the Internal […]

Society today is more dependent on credit scores not just to make purchases and access loans but also as a crucial tool for critical decisions. A good credit score gives you a good name, which is said to be better than riches. Therefore, it’s crucial to understand what is a […]

Benét J. Wilson Earning higher rewards in more spending categories and the chance to switch them monthly instead of quarterly are two new welcome benefits offered with the new Bank of America® Cash Rewards credit card. The card’s new rewards program, announced Dec. 10, will be available on Jan. 14, […]

Jamie Friedlander You’re in significant debt and have decided it’s finally time to pay off your balances. But you don’t know where to begin. You feel overwhelmed and are starting to think you might need the help of a professional. There are companies out there that can help you negotiate […]

Brittney Laryea If you can’t recall the last time you walked into one of your bank’s physical branches, are sick of bank fees and want a no-brainer way to save more money, you may be interested in opening an account with San Francisco-based fintech start-up, Chime. Chime offers a mobile-first […]

James F. Royal, Ph.D. If you’ve ever been pitched on a 702(j) retirement plan by a salesman, then you already know it’s not a retirement plan at all. A 702 plan is life insurance that’s commonly advertised as a retirement plan. The 702(j) retirement plan even mimics the lingo of […]

Roger Wohlner While the focus in investing is often on returns, it’s important for investors to understand the impact of expenses on their investing results. An investor bulletin published by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) shows the effect of higher expenses on investment returns. They looked at the impact […]