West Virginia 529 College Savings Plan – SMART 529

West Virginia 529 College Savings Plan – West Virginia SMART 529 Select 529 About: All 529 college savings plans offer a tax-advantaged way to save for college, but only SMART529 Select offers a combination of access to world-class money management, low fees and expenses, and program administration through Hartford Life Insurance Company. The West Virginia SMART529 Select 529 savings program is managed by Hartford Life and features age-based and static portfolio options utilizing Dimensional Fund Advisors mutual funds. Although DFA funds are typically available only through financial advisers, this 529 plan is direct-sold. Website: http://www.smart529select.com/cs/Satellite?pagename=College_Savings/Page/CS_Select_HomePage&cid=1150847529302 Phone #: 1-866-574-3542 Investment Options: The Age-Based Portfolios option consists of 7 portfolios of underlying mutual funds with varying risk tolerances. West Virginia also has 10 multi-fund … Read more

Missouri Most 529 College Savings Plan

Missouri Most 529 College Savings Plan About: The Missouri Higher Education Savings Program (the “Program Trust”) is a trust created by the State of Missouri. When you invest in MOST-Missouri’s 529 College Savings Plan, you are purchasing portfolio units issued by the Program Trust. Portfolio units are municipal securities. The Plan has been implemented and is administered by the Missouri Higher Education Savings Program Board (the “Board”). Ascensus College Savings Recordkeeping Services, LLC, serves as the Program Manager and Recordkeeping and Servicing Agent, and together with its affiliates, has overall responsibility for the day-to-day operations of the Plan. The Vanguard Group, Inc., serves as Investment Manager for the Plan. Website: https://www.missourimost.org/ Phone #: 1-888-414-6678 Investment Options: Missouri’s 529 College Savings Plan (Direct-sold), managed … Read more

Can You Really Make Money With Paid Online Surveys? Or Are They a Scam?

Make Money With Paid Online Surveys

We’ve all seen those flashy online ads that proclaim you can make thousands of dollars in a week just by answering questions from your laptop. Clearly, this is a scam, but nowadays, the bogus survey companies are getting sneakier with legit-sounding promises and more subtle messaging. Can you make money legitimately with paid online surveys? Not all paid web surveys are scams, but most of them aren’t worth your time, either. If you’ve been trying to break into the world of paid online surveys, then carefully read the guide below to protect your information and privacy before signing up for any survey site. Make Money With Legit Paid Online Surveys How to Spot a Scam The Survey Police Blog has … Read more

Tax Challenges for Small Business Owners

Small Business Income Taxes

You’ve worked your accounting and payroll department to the bone working on tax challenges for your small business.  Finally, everybody’s W-2s have been sent out, and you are totally positive that they are 100% correct. Now it’s time to relax, right? Nope. You’re a small business owner, and there are tax challenges for small business. Now you get to focus on your company’s taxes for the coming year and making sure you get those correct. This is a little harder because every year the tax codes change and this year there are some whoppers out there that could really bite you if you don’t take care of them properly. There are tax challenges that small businesses must understand. Grow Your … Read more

Cost Cutting Classroom: Supplies, Software, and Tax Tips for Teachers

Being a teacher is incredibly rewarding, but it costs when it comes to supplies and in-class needs.  School systems watch their dollars and cents closely, and so teachers get left needing to cut corners to provide the same amount of efficiency. Supplies, software, and taxes don’t have to amount to as much when you know how to cut costs.  Get smart and learn how to avoid full price and empty wallets. Here are supplies, software, and tax tips for teachers… Keep Track Saving can be as simple as keeping track of expenses and out of pocket buys for your classroom and students.  Speak to other teachers, your principal, or financial planner about tracking costs and filing for reimbursements at the … Read more

Is Buying An Extended Warranty Right For You?

Buying An Extended Warranty

I recently had the  opportunity to interview Stephen Ebbett, President of ProtectYourBubble.com. Protect Your Bubble is a third party gadget insurer (extended warranty provider). We talked about buying an extended warranty. We talked about when you should and shouldn’t buy extended warranties. We also talked about the difference between insurance and warranties. Why are extended warranties offered for every imaginable gadget and electronics? Why do they seem to be on the rise and offered by every retailer imaginable? Do they deserve the bad rap that they have gotten? Is buying an extended warranty right right you? 15% OFF any Electronics & Appliances Insurance Products purchase with coupon code Discount15 for a limited time at ProtectYourBubble – GET A QUOTE! Below … Read more