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.

How to Save Money as a Wedding Guest

by Hank Coleman

Getting married is both a beautiful dream and a financial nightmare. As cynical as that sounds, the fact that the average wedding in the U.S. now costs almost $30,000 demonstrates how true this statement is. If you’re done with planning your own wedding and instead of attending someone else’s ceremony in the near future, then how can you possibly save money as a wedding guest? Save Money as a Wedding Guest Sure, it’s cheaper to be a guest than a host, but weddings are still pretty pricy for guests as well. In fact, a study from LendEDU in 2017 found that the average American spends over $1,380 to attend a wedding! To avoid the financial headache of weddings, here are … Read more

6 Things You Should Know About Social Security Survivor Benefits

by Hank Coleman

How To Get Off The Sidelines And Start Investing Again

Nobody wants to think about dying, but unfortunately, it’s such a big component of financial planning that you can’t afford to ignore the prospects of dying earlier than expected. In addition to planning for the future with life insurance options, you should also be aware of Social Security survivor benefits. Social Security Survivor Benefits When You Report a Death In most cases, funeral homes are responsible for reporting deaths to the Social Security Administration (though you need to give their Social Security number beforehand). If you want or need to report the death yourself, you can call 1-800-772-1213 (Mon-Fri, 7am to 7pm) or visit a local Social Security office to file the report. It’s important not to cash any checks … Read more

Stash Invest Review – How to Invest with as Little as $5

by Hank Coleman

There are so many different available options for investing today, though don’t let this seemingly endless array of investments overwhelm you. If you prefer a simplified approach to investing geared towards relatively straightforward goals such as passive wealth accumulation and/or saving for retirement, then Stash Invest could be just what you’re looking for. Stash Invest launched its first app in 2015 with the goal of simplifying the investment process so even folks with just $5 to invest could try it out. Oftentimes people who feel like they’re broke avoid getting into the investment game because they mistakenly believe they don’t have enough money to invest. Among the many myths surrounding investing nowadays, the notion that you need to have at … Read more

6 Strategies for Getting the Highest Possible Salary from a New Job

by Hank Coleman

Negotiating salary, bonuses, benefits and other job perks can be an enormously stressful experience when you’re already looking for new job opportunities. Unfortunately, people who are unemployed or unhappy in their current jobs tend to under-sell themselves in hopes of getting a better opportunity elsewhere as quickly as possible. In fact, a 2018 study found just 39% of people tried negotiating higher salaries for their last new job offers – and women generally tend to negotiate less than men, according to the survey. But, are you getting the highest possible salary? 6 Ways to Get the Highest Salary But you shouldn’t accept a lower salary or make a lateral job move if putting in a little extra effort could mean … Read more

Why Every Renter Needs Renters Insurance Before They Move In

by Hank Coleman

Save Money and Time with Your Short-Term Rentals

When you’re renting an apartment, condo, or single-family home, your landlord may or may not require renter’s insurance before signing the lease. Even if your landlord doesn’t require it, however, you may still want to take out this insurance as a precaution against the potentially devastating consequences associated with personal property loss/damage and even the unlikely (yet possible) circumstance in which the residence becomes uninhabitable. Renter’s insurance can be a financial lifesaver in some cases, yet only one-third of renters actually take out a renter’s insurance policy (and many could be doing it solely because their landlord required it). Whereas a vast majority of homeowners have homeowner’s insurance – likely because mortgage lenders require it and some states even have … Read more

What to Do When You Have to Cover Your Own Job Interview Travel Expenses

by Hank Coleman

After the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017 went into effect, tax deductions for job interview expenses were put on ice through 2025. In other words: job seekers were previously able to deduct some/all expenses related to job interviews (e.g., transportation, accommodations) but now none of these expenses are tax-deductible between 2018 and 2025. The freeze on this deduction was an unfortunate blow for people hoping to get a job outside of their immediate, drivable areas. Some employers reimburse a portion (or entirety) of job interview-related travel expenses, but if you happen to receive a call-back for an interview without reimbursement offered to candidates, here are some of your options for saving time and money while searching far and … Read more