So you’re getting married and you’ve opted to change your last name. Congratulations! But as you’ll soon find out, changing your name is not quite as simple as just signing the marriage license. You need to notify a number of different agencies about your name switcheroo. It’s a bit of work, but don’t worry—it’s not [...]
College is a step toward independence for many young adults. It may be your first time living away from home and managing your own finances, and the prospect is likely both exciting and daunting. When you start college, it’s important to be prepared for the changes that life will throw at you. Here are eight [...]
As many people are recognizing that their car is an underutilized asset and that technology has turned it into a potential money-maker, car-sharing and ride-sharing programs are becoming more popular. Car-sharing companies, such as Relay Rides, allow individuals to rent their cars to strangers for a specified fee over a fixed period of time. Car [...]
No one is going to plan your retirement for you—at least not for free. A paid financial advisor can certainly direct your capital to the right stocks, bonds, and funds, but so can you. It may take some time and effort to truly wrap your head around the investment landscape, but the end results are [...]
The process of shopping for a home can be overwhelming, especially for first-time buyers. Inventories of homes for sale are still very thin in most markets and have yet to return to pre-housing bust levels. Particularly hard to come by are so-called “starter homes” because they are being scooped up by investors in addition to [...]
Whether you’re traveling for business or pleasure, a stolen piece of jewelry or broken laptop can quickly put a damper on your trip. And if the stolen or damaged item isn’t covered by insurance, a dream trip can quickly turn into a nightmare. Before your next getaway, be sure to review your insurance policies—homeowner’s, renter’s, [...]
When you finally find your dream home after weeks, months, or even years of searching, the first step you must take to make it your own is to make the seller an offer. Unless you’re a real estate professional, chances are it’s not every day that you make an offer for hundreds of thousands of [...]
Hurricane season is in full swing, and if you’re in a coastal area, your property could be at risk. In the face of a storm, it’s important to prepare as best you can. Taking precautions beforehand may save you time and money after the storm makes a mess of your property. Consider these six tips [...]
On a recent weekend, I visited the Malibu, Calif. area for brunch and a play. The restaurant had a rack of freebie publications, including a glossy homes-for-sale magazine. Wow! The homes and estates stunning—and so are the prices. The advertised monthly rental prices for Malibu homes and estates ranged from $20,000 to $100,000 per month. [...]
For many older homeowners, increasing mortgage debt is dulling the sheen on their golden years. Approximately 33 million Americans over the age of 65 own their homes, making them the age group with the highest homeownership rate. But according to a study by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) released in May 2014, that asset [...]
