Are you getting the best rate of return on investment? Kiplinger's Personal Finance Magazine annually discusses ways to boost your investment yield in its latest issue. I have to say that I am always pretty disappointed with their recommendations. I love the magazine, but I didn't really care for a list of mutual funds and Exchange Traded Funds (ETFs). But, I wanted concrete ideas on how to earn a 10% annual rate of return on my investments. US Treasuries are earning less than 1% and money market funds are not fairing much better. Certificates … [Read more...] about The Ultimate Guide to Earning a 10% Rate of Return on Your Investments
6 Financial Considerations to Make Right After Getting Married
In an ideal world, we would all be on the same page as our life partner when it comes to money management practices and even just basic openness and honesty about finances. However, the reality is that people rarely dedicate enough time to discussing the financial side of being in a committed relationship until after they get married. Whether you know very little about your fiancé’s finances or you’re both completely open with each other about your individual and shared financial situations, here are 6 considerations to your married … [Read more...] about 6 Financial Considerations to Make Right After Getting Married
What Affects Stock Price and Makes Prices Move?
Everyone knows that the stock market fluctuates frequently and that it increases and decreases sometimes by large amounts. But why do the stock prices change? What are the factors that cause the changes? It’s important to identify the forces that cause this volatility. Here are some of the key reasons why stock prices fluctuate. The Economy When there are changes in the economy it has a direct impact on the stock market. Whether this is a boom or a depression, you’ll see a change in stock prices the moment that this … [Read more...] about What Affects Stock Price and Makes Prices Move?
Can I Use a Roth IRA to Pay for College?
Whether you have children or grandchildren that are looking to receive a college education in the future, you’ll be considering the ways in which you can effectively and efficiently put money aside to help them pay for college. There are several ways that you can do this, including utilizing your Roth IRA or setting up a 529 college savings plan. What is a Roth IRA? Before discussing the effectiveness of using a Roth IRA as a means to pay for college, it’s important to first identify exactly what it is. For those that aren’t familiar with … [Read more...] about Can I Use a Roth IRA to Pay for College?
How to Save Money on Your Mortgage
Everyone wants to save money on the cost of owning a home, but very little people know how to save money on your mortgage. A large monthly expense that many people can struggle to pay, it’s good to know efficient ways of decreasing your monthly payment so that it’s more manageable, and how to pay off your home loan quickly so that you don't have years and years left on the term. The Perks of Paying Your Mortgage Early You’ll own your own home – the sooner you’ve paid off your mortgage, the sooner you’ll own your own home. … [Read more...] about How to Save Money on Your Mortgage
The Pros and Cons of Alternative Financial Services
A recent study found that 42% of Millennials have used alternative financial services and 39% of the general population has used these services, which include payday loans, pawnshops, rent-to-own programs, and car title loans. Short-term loans are often risky for borrowers, but there could be some advantages to taking out this type of loan if you’re in a pinch. Pros and Cons of Alternative Financial Services To help you decide whether alternative financial services might suit your financial situation, here are some considerations to make … [Read more...] about The Pros and Cons of Alternative Financial Services
Is Your Side Hustle Actually Costing You Money?
Nobody knows how many Americans are actually participating in the gig economy; estimates range widely from 4% to 40% of the workforce. What we do know is that some people have managed to successfully transform their former side gigs into full-time work, while others continue working full-time jobs to support themselves and use side hustles as extra income streams to pay the bills and grow their savings. But, is your side hustle costing you money? The problem with side hustles is that they can complicate your income and tax situation much … [Read more...] about Is Your Side Hustle Actually Costing You Money?