Hank Coleman

Hank Coleman is the founder of Money Q&A, an Iraq combat veteran, a Dr. Pepper addict, and a self-proclaimed investing junkie. He has written extensively for many nationally known financial websites and publications about investing, retirement planning, and even how to find the best return on investment. Hank holds a Master’s Degree in Finance and a graduate certificate in personal financial planning. Email him directly at Hank[at]MoneyQandA.com. Hank has written over 750 articles on Money Q&A. Learn more about Money Q&A on Twitter @MoneyQandA and @HankColeman. Subscribe To Money Q&A If you want to learn more about taking back control of your money please subscribe to Money Q&A’s RSS feed or via email to receive all the latest articles! You can also subscribe to our Free Weekly Newsletter.

Reader’s Question: What To Invest In After The Company Match

by Hank Coleman

Here is the next installment in our the Reader’s Questions Series which highlight questions emailed to me by you, the readers of Money Q&A. Be sure to find out at the end of this article how you can receive a free copy of Dave Ramsey’s book, The Total Money Makeover if your money question is chosen to be featured on the blog.

If you’re not familiar with Dave Ramsey’s book, you should run right out and get it. It is one of my top ten best personal finance books that everyone should read. Now….on to our reader’s question. I recently received an email from a reader, Ralph, who ask…

I’ve been investing more than my company’s match. So for instance if my401k company match is 5% and I invest 10%, is it better to continue or just invest the 5% that’ll get the match and invest the rest in a Roth IRA?

This is a great question that a lot of investors have to tackle when they are deciding where to put those finite investing dollars to work. You often can’t be everywhere at once.

So, the real question is where to start and where to go after you get going with your retirement investing. There are several things that you should consider in order to maximize your savings and minimize your tax liability as well.

Eight Easy Ways To Save Money On Car Repairs Right Now

by Hank Coleman

I hate taking my car to the mechanic to get repairs. I always worry that I’m going to be overcharged for the repairs needed to fix my car.

I have to admit that I am not mechanically inclined in the least little bit. My best friend and I tried to change my oil one time in high school, and we quickly gave up after accidentally dumping several quarts of oil on his parents’ driveway.

Even if you are not knowledgeable about taking your car to the mechanic, there are several ways that you can save money on car repairs. If you educate yourself a little bit about the process and different ways to save money on car repairs, then you will feel better about taking your car to the mechanic and confident that you save money on car maintenance.

Eight Ways To Save Money On Car Repairs

1.Shop Around For Repairs – If you are faced with an expensive repair, it may help you save money on car repairs if you shop around. Most people do not think to get multiple estimates for car repairs, but there is a reason that the government requires three different bids in most cases before they award a contract. You are more likely to receive a more accurate quote on the price of your repair if you shop around and receive multiple quotes for the repairs.

The Fine Line Between Too Much Insurance and Not Enough

by Hank Coleman

You need to protect yourself with umbrella insurance.

A few weeks ago I wrote a guest post on one of the biggest personal finance blogs around, Free Money Finance, about the ten insurance policies that everyone should own. There is a fine line with having too much insurance. I took some heat in the comment section of the post from people who said that the ten different types of policies I listed would leave me insurance poor. Maybe they would do that, but maybe they wouldn’t. How many policies are too many? How Many Policies Do You Need? Do you need ten different insurance policies? Maybe you do need them, and maybe you don’t need that many. One commenter actually listed a few policies that you should have that … Read more

The Little Expenses Incurred Can Quickly Add Up

by Hank Coleman

I have to admit that when I stand in line at the grocery store (or any store for that matter) that I am always tempted by the impulse purchases in the racks by the checkout counter. What’s the harm in those little expenses incurred?

It is only a dollar or two, right? But, those dollars add up. It is the little expenses in our lives that can really get us into trouble and knock our family’s monthly budget out of whack if we are not careful. The little expenses add up over time.

We Study Large Expenses Incurred

We bend over backwards to find a great deal on a new car, when we buy a new home, or even a large purchase like a new television. But, we tend not to think about the small purchases we make.

I think that it is almost the equivalent to pigging out at a restaurant and ordering diet soda. Far too often we think that we are being good financial stewards of our money be studying the large purchases we make to death.

Top 5 Tips For Cutting Insurance Costs

by Hank Coleman

In a recent survey, 80% of Brits said they would be looking to save money in the coming year by trimming the amount they spend on financial products, despite the fact that a similar proportion have never changed providers.

Thankfully, the home insurance market is already very competitive, with big banks squaring off against smaller providers and driving down prices such as home insurance products from Santander. That’s not to say, however, that there isn’t always a way to save a few more pennies, and here are some useful tips.

Is the American Dream Dead or Alive?

by Hank Coleman

Jon Acuff who wrote an incredible book called “Quitters” recently asked his Twitter followers (follow him @JonAcuff and follow me on Twitter @MoneyQandA), “When did you realize that you were never going to be able to slam dunk a basketball? Have you realized yet?” We all have dreams and goals that are incredibly lofty. I have 100 goals to complete before I die. I know what you are thinking. What does this have to do with the American Dream? It has everything to do with our dreams, the American Dream, and what we think that we can accomplish in our lives. Is you glass half full or is it half empty? Do you think that you will ever hit a … Read more