In a world bombarded with investing advice, it can be tough to figure out which individual retirement account (IRA) is right for you. Ideally, you want to begin investing for retirement as soon as you start earning an income. While many young adults may think there’s no need to rush into funding a retirement account [...]
If you owe money to the IRS, the agency could file a tax lien against you. A tax lien is a legal claim to all of a taxpayer’s property for the amount that taxpayer owes the IRS. It establishes priority rights against other creditors that might also have liens against the taxpayer’s assets. In addition [...]
Your retirement should be the happiest time of your life. At last, you have time for the things you love most: family, hobbies, travel, and volunteering. With proper planning, you can make sure that your retirement lives up to your expectations—and that may include selling your house and buying a home in a new area. [...]
You may be physically and mentally ready to retire, but are you financially ready? The answer depends on a number of factors, including your health, your debts, and how well you’ve planned for retirement. When can I retire? There really is no “right” answer to this question as there is no magic number or dollar [...]
Fantasy sports leagues are booming, with an estimated 41 million players last year in the United States and Canada, according to the Fantasy Sports Trade Association. The average U.S. fan of sports fantasy leagues spends about nine hours each week on his or her team. Fantasy sports players also spend an average of $111 in [...]
When I was a kid, I watched “The Jetsons” and dreamed of the day that flying cars would be a reality. Fast forward to today, and while the technology to give us affordable, easy-to-maneuver flying cars is still far off in the future, self-driving cars may be available much sooner. They could change the way [...]
Choosing the right tax professional. Four questions to ask when looking for a tax professional who is qualified to help you maximize your tax refund. Last year, nearly 48 million taxpayers prepared their own tax returns, accounting for 38 percent of all electronic filings. In addition, self-preparation increased by 6 percent compared with 2013. While [...]
With today’s low interest rates, many homeowners are refinancing their mortgages. In doing so, they will be not only paying less interest over the life of the mortgage but also lowering their monthly payments. Timing is everything when it comes to refinancing your mortgage. If you wait too long and interest rates climb, you could [...]
“Don’t believe anything you hear and only half of what you see.” I remember hearing that from my mom when I was growing up, and it still serves me well today. Some of the things you might have heard or read about Social Security may not be true. Here are five Social Security myths you [...]
A few weeks after Hurricane Katrina struck Louisiana in 2005, I received a call from an elderly woman who was confused about her insurance policy. She said that she had paid a significant sum of money for homeowner’s insurance coverage to a person who claimed to be an insurance agent. This supposed agent insisted the [...]
