We cover the basics and more about personal finance, answering frequently asked questions about credit and debt, identity theft, saving for college, retirement, estate planning, insurance, taxes, job hunting, and raising money-savvy kids. Check out the articles, columns, blog posts, radio shows and videos for tons of personal finance advice.
Smart Ways to Withdraw Your Money in Retirement
The day is finally here. After decades of saving, diversifying your portfolio, and managing your investments, you’ve entered retirement. You’re ready to transition from saving for retirement to withdrawing from your accounts, but how can you make sure that your money will last as long as you need it? “The best advice,” says Lee Baker, [...]
How to Live a Budget-Friendly Retirement
Retirement is often referred to as The Golden Years, and for many of us, it’s an opportunity to do some of the things we’ve always dreamed of doing. However, The Golden Years can also be a time of concern when it comes to ensuring our hard earned retirement savings last. According to an April 2014 [...]
The Top 10 Things You Must Do to Prep Your Home for Winter
Did you know that in 2013, winter storms were the third-largest cause of catastrophe losses, causing $1.9 billion in insured losses? According to reports from Munich Re, from 1993 to 2012, winter storms resulted in about $28 billion (in 2012 dollars) in insured catastrophe losses, or more than $1 billion a year on average, according [...]
Four Tips to Getting the Most Bang for Your Investing Buck
In recent years, there has been a lot of focus on investing and how it can help you build wealth. However, even with all of the new technological tools that make it easier than ever to start investing, many people still believe they need expensive help to get the best returns for their money. If [...]
HMOs, PPOs and EPOs: Choosing the Right Health Insurance Plan for You
With open enrollment season upon us, now is your chance to enroll in your health insurance or make a change to your policy for the coming year. If your employer offers only a few health insurance options, then the decision will be relatively straightforward. In many cases, you’ll have options from which to choose, and [...]
How to Pay for Long-term Care Without Breaking the Bank
Many seniors in the United States will have to find ways to pay for long-term care, either in a residential setting, such as an assisted living home, or at home through a home health or home care service. The cost of these services is generally high—between $2,000 and $5,000 per month for full-time care—and can [...]
Common Money Myths Women Tell Themselves
According to a May 2013 Pew Research study, 40 percent of all households with children younger than 18 have mothers who are either the sole or primary source of income. The majority—63 percent—are single mothers, and 37 percent are married mothers with higher incomes than their husbands. With so many women in positions of financial [...]
Three Essential Lessons for Entrepreneurs
Owning a startup isn’t all it’s cracked up to be—especially at the beginning. In fact, many people have to take a few stabs at it before they get to something that works. John Kobs, CEO and cofounder of Apartment List, the fastest growing apartment-search engine in the U.S., cleaned out his personal bank account to [...]
Seven Questions to Ask Your Agent When Shopping for Auto Insurance
Imagine this: You’ve just gotten into an automobile accident. Along with dealing with any physical injuries and worrying about the damage to your car, you may also be concerned that your auto insurance rates will go up. “Car insurance is one of those things where you’re not assuming you’re going to use it when you [...]
How Pulling Your Credit Report Impacts Your Credit Score, and Other Credit Score Facts
Accessing or “pulling” your credit report allows you to review your credit behavior. You can see what lenders are reporting about you while you monitor your payment history. Checking your credit report should be a regular part of your routine financial behavior, similarly to reviewing your bank statements or creating a budget. Some consumers are [...]