Money Confessions From Real-Life Savers—and How to Avoid These Common Setbacks
Despite setting a budget, do you find yourself overspending? Think: last minute getaways, daily acai bowls, that $250 pair of shoes that you really don’t need but… While we’ve all made an impulse purchase or overspent, some of us are more willing to admit it than others. Once you realize where you struggle, though, you […]
Don’t Settle for Less: 5 Signs It’s Time to Break Up With Your Bank
As the song goes, “breaking up is hard to do.” That’s true whether it’s a relationship with someone you love, your hair stylist, or even your bank. And it’s even harder when the relationship isn’t bad, per se, but rather, could just be better in certain aspects. You’re probably satisfied with some of the things […]
Stash Your Cash: How to Build a CD Ladder [Video]
Make your cash work harder in a certificate of deposit–but not just one–ladder your deposits to help diversify your cash investments, reach your savings goals, and get a more secure bang for your buck. What Is a CD Ladder? A CD ladder is built by depositing a sum of money, equally, across multiple certificates of […]
Who First Taught You About Money? Lessons Learned from Real-Life Savers
Life is full of a lot of firsts. Your first car. The first time you traveled abroad. And who can forget their first love? But what about your first “financial advisor?” This person is probably not even a professional financial advisor. And depending on who it is, he or she may or may not hold […]
Even Better Together: When an IRA Goes With Your 401(k)
You may feel pretty good about your retirement plan if you have a company 401(k). And you may even feel great if your employer matches your contributions—because, hey, free money! But if you’re like most people, you still wonder if your savings will keep up with those birthdays. Both 401(k) plans and IRAs are designed […]
IRA Rollovers: Move Your Money Without Breaking the Rules
If moving your retirement funds around makes you a little nervous, there’s good reason. With many retirement plans, including IRAs and 401(k)s, if you’re not careful, you could end up paying unexpected penalties and additional tax. Understand a few basic rules and consult with a tax professional so you can move your money without making […]
Your Future of Freedom: 3 Ways to Keep Funds Flowing to Your IRA
That adventurous future you’ve imagined is going to cost money. And opening an IRA (individual retirement account) is a great way to help you save up. But since your IRA won’t fund itself, here are three things you should do to help your retirement savings keep up with your future self. Re-energize your balance. First, […]
11 Terms to Know Before Applying for a Home Loan
So, you’ve decided to buy a home. You’ve found the perfect property and your offer was accepted. (Congratulations!) Now you’re ready to apply for a home loan. There’s just one small wrinkle: you don’t speak mortgage-ese. It’s not unusual to be confused by all the jargon, especially if you’re a first-time homebuyer. Lucky for you, […]
APY, APR, and Interest Rates: What You Need to Know and the One Thing You Don’t Want to Overlook
If you try to compare rates on things like auto loans, credit cards, home loans, or savings accounts, you’ll quickly see APY (annual percentage yield) and APR (annual percentage rate) numbers quoted all over the place. In a nutshell, APY refers to what you can earn in interest while APR refers to what you can […]
What Mutual Funds and Pizza Have in Common
Anytime someone utters the word “invest,” it seems like “mutual fund” isn’t too far behind. Yet when you hear “mutual fund,” your eyes might glaze over and your mind may start thinking about what pizza toppings you should order for dinner. Some say that you can’t go wrong with cheese, but you find it a […]
