We all need a financial team on our side every now and then. You need help making decisions or even just bouncing ideas off of someone else. But we often don't know where to turn for help. Corporations have boards of directors to help them make decisions and draft corporate strategy. You should do the same. Develop your own team of professionals to help guide you through life and the financial decisions you make for your family. Think of your certified financial planner, lawyer, certified public accountant and real estate broker as members of … [Read more...] about How to Build Your Team of Advisors to Help You with Your Finances
What is the Paradox of Thrift? How Saving May Not Help the Country
The U.S. economy is booming right now, with unemployment rates at record lows, consumer spending rising at steady rates, new home construction rates skyrocketing, etc. Although economists are still concerned about things like the student loan debt crisis, rising rates of job automation, and the lack of affordable housing for low-income renters around the country, the American economy is performing its best since pre-2008 economic activity. However, what goes up must come down at some point. An economy this hot can’t grow endlessly without some … [Read more...] about What is the Paradox of Thrift? How Saving May Not Help the Country
Reader’s Question: Should You Invest Emergency Fund in Mutual Funds?
This is a Reader Question 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 a future blog post. 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. This … [Read more...] about Reader’s Question: Should You Invest Emergency Fund in Mutual Funds?
stREITwise Review – Easy Real Estate Investing for Investors
Real estate is one of the most consistently lucrative investment opportunities available, but for so long, large rental properties and commercial real estate have been limited to accredited investors and/or exclusive investment firms catering to high net worth individuals and groups. Thanks to the expansion of fintech (financial technology) innovations, it appears the exclusivity of commercial real estate investments is going away, in favor of letting everyday investors access the profitable world of big-time real estate investing. For … [Read more...] about stREITwise Review – Easy Real Estate Investing for Investors
Betterment Everyday™ Review – Start saving with Betterment Everyday
Few major banks offer interest rates on regular savings accounts above 1% (in fact, the national average is a measly 0.09%), and even fewer banks offer ATM reimbursements worldwide. Fortunately, the popular robo-advisor platform Betterment is out to change that with checking and savings accounts that will likely become consumer favorites over the next few years. The new program – called Betterment Everyday™ – has existed in the form of high-interest “Smart Saver” accounts for quite some time now, but Betterment’s checking account … [Read more...] about Betterment Everyday™ Review – Start saving with Betterment Everyday
Are High Annual Fee Credit Cards Ever Worth It?
In a world where countless credit cards without annual fees exist, it might seem like a waste of money to have a credit card that charges you anywhere from $49-$500+ every year just for the benefit of having that card. Annual fees are not too popular among credit card issuers, as a 2017 survey of 100 credit cards found that just 24 charged annual fees (and 9 of those 24 reduce or waive the annual fee during the cardholder’s first year of use). I'm a huge fan of the American Express Platinum card and the perks it offers. Apply for an … [Read more...] about Are High Annual Fee Credit Cards Ever Worth It?