Money Questions and Answers

Most Expensive Divorces in History

Divorce is expensive for anyone, but especially for the rich. After 27 years of marriage, Bill and Melinda Gates officially separated this month. While the exact details of their settlement are likely still ongoing, Melinda French Gates could receive as much as $63.5 billion in assets – by far the most in history. This unfathomable transfer of wealth has only been seen a few times in history. The most recent of which was in 2019 when MacKenzie Scott received $38 billion USD in Amazon stock from former husband Jeff Bezos for their divorce. The following infographic on the most expensive divorces first appeared on the ACE Cash Express blog and is reprinted with permission.

Top 6 Simple Strategies for Negotiating a Raise at Work

by Hank Coleman

A recent survey of employees at major companies in the U.S. found that 64% of respondents would choose to continue working from home indefinitely over a $30,000 pay increase. This is just one of the many signs of changing preferences among employees and employers alike in the workplace, but one thing has remained the same before, during, and after the pandemic: negotiating a raise at work is still pretty nerve-wracking for many employees. For employees who are content with their employer but want to make more money in their current role, asking for a raise may seem like an intimidating process with the risk of rejection on the line. Talking about money in personal or professional relationships is still viewed … Read more

Review of RealtyMogul – How to Start Investing in Commercial Real Estate with Just $5,000

by Hank Coleman

Are you looking to diversify your investment portfolio? Have you wanted to invest in real estate, but you don’t know where or how to start? Then RealtyMogul might be the site for you. RealtyMogul is an online platform designed to give investors direct access to commercial real estate investments, allowing them to diversify their portfolios and generate strong returns on capital. With RealtyMogul’s user-friendly website and comprehensive resources, you can invest in real estate with confidence knowing that there’s a dedicated team working hard every day to bring you high-quality deals across the country. With RealtyMogul, you can invest in commercial real estate deals that are vetted by a team of experts. You’ll have access to high-quality properties and the … Read more

Early Retirement Withdrawals – How and When to Conduct a Withdraw

by Hank Coleman

IRS data has shown that Americans lose approximately $5.7 billion per year on early withdrawal penalties when they take out funds from their 401k Retirement Plans or IRAs before meeting the minimum age requirements (59 ½). In 2020, Section 2202 of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (CARES Act) created an exemption for early distributions related to the coronavirus pandemic in which individuals could withdraw up to $100,000 from their retirement accounts without being subject to the 10% early withdrawal penalty (though they would have to count the distributions as part of their income for tax-reporting purposes for the next 3 years). To qualify for the no-penalty early withdrawal – which was extended into 2021 thanks to the … Read more

Taxes Working From Home – 3 Important Considerations During COVID-19

by Hank Coleman

As millions of taxpayers prepare to file their 2020 taxes, a question that many telecommuting employees, independent contractors, and freelancers are wondering is: which of my remote work expenses can I write off on my taxes, and how much? Here’s what you need to know about taxes working from home. Taxes Working From Home The answer varies widely, depending on your employment classification, expenses incurred during the pandemic, whether your employer reimbursed you for remote work-related expenses, and which state you live in. To help you understand what your tax situation might look like this year, here are three of the most important things to know before filing your 2020 taxes: Employees vs. Independent Contractors The Tax Cuts and Jobs … Read more

Top 5 Simple Things You Can Do When Your Car Insurance Rates Rise

by Hank Coleman

Tips to Use When You Can't Afford Car Insurance

The National Association of Insurance Commissioners found that the average American’s car insurance premiums cost around $1,134 annually (or $95 per month), though this figure varies widely depending on where you live, how old you are, your driving history, what car you drive, how many miles you typically drive, and even your credit score. If you get a traffic ticket or minor fender bender involving insurance, you may see your rates go up next time your bill is due. Fortunately, you can switch to another provider if the new policy costs exorbitantly more, though you have other options available if most insurance providers quote you around the same price. Rather than shrugging off the cost of the premium hike, here … Read more