Debt is hard to avoid. It’s absolutely everywhere from the second you turn 18. Maybe it starts with student loans then morphs to a credit card “just for emergencies.” Your definition for emergencies loosens and starts to include gas, food, rent, textbooks, concert tickets, etc. College is about having fun and you can totally pay […]
It’s no secret that college is expensive. In 2018, NerdWallet reported the total outstanding student debt from federal loans alone is $1.5 trillion dollars! Significant debt negatively impacts your credit score, as well as that of any co-signers you may have. In addition, being in debt can prevent you from leasing your own car, renting […]
Don’t Stop Thinking About Those Taxes Just Yet If you’re like the majority of Americans you’re happy to finally put tax preparation behind you. The truth, however, is that it might not be time to forget about your taxes just yet. Experts say it’s never too early to start preparing your taxes. Getting an early […]
Achieving a perfect credit score isn’t hinged on your income or bank account balance nearly as much as your habits. These are the habits to get into if you want to see your credit score top out. Get On A Budget Nothing makes your debt spiral out of control more than not paying attention to […]
If you’re wondering whether you should open a new credit card but you’re worried about how it might affect your credit, the short answer is that it depends. Opening a new credit card can help your credit in some cases and hurt it in others but this depends mostly on what you choose to do […]
People mostly associate Social Security with retirement income but are not aware of the other benefits that the Social Security Administration (SSA) pays out for other significant life situations. Here is an overview of all the benefits available through the SSA. Retirement Benefits The monthly amount you get is tied to three numbers: (1) Social […]
The United States has become a health-obsessed country. If the doctor tells us to jump, we do not hesitate to ask “How high?” Imagine, though, if you paid as much attention to your financial portfolio as you did to your cholesterol level. What if you took as much care to improve your financial portfolio as […]
Most people are shocked to learn that the biggest expense in retirement, that long-sought oasis after a lifetime of hard work, won’t be a mortgage, healthcare, or green fees at the local golf course. It will be taxes! The unfortunate reality is that even the most meticulous, careful, and perfectly timed investments and investment strategies […]
People get hurt. Furnaces conk out in the middle of winter. Cars die and windows break. These are the curveballs of life. We can’t tell you not to worry, but we can recommend being prepared. And even if that preparation isn’t for the worst case scenario, the conscious effort (and act) of saving–for a vacation, […]
Paper or plastic. Cash or credit. PC or Mac. With May graduations upon us, “college or retirement” is becoming a must-have kitchen table conversation for Millennials (and their parents). According to the Federal Reserve, borrowers under 30 years old held $376.3 billion in student loan debt in 2017. That’s an average debt of $22,135 per […]
