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.
Why Aren’t My Mortgage Payments Being Reported After Bankruptcy?
Bankruptcy filings increased nearly 30 percent at the height of the Great Recession, and many Americans are still recovering. Fortunately, some of my listeners are rebuilding their lives and moving on from bankruptcy. Others wonder why their mortgage payments aren't being reported after bankruptcy. On last week’s radio show, one listener said her bank told her [...]
How Your Friends Threaten Your Finances
The biggest threat to your finances could be your friends. It may seem counter intuitive that the people closest to you could negatively impact your financial life, but too often, people will spend more than they can afford in order to keep up with the lifestyles of those around them. It’s called “relative deprivation,” and [...]
Traveling This Summer? Watch Out for Travel Taxes and Fees
This article was written by guest blogger Teri Cettina. Chances are good that when you budgeted for your summer travel, you remembered to build in the price of your hotel, the charge for your rental car and the estimated cost of your meals. But what about your hotel tax? Extra rental car fees? State and local [...]
Can You Spot the Happiest Retirees?
The majority of Americans don’t enjoy their work. According to a study of workplaces in more than 140 countries from 2011 through 2012 conducted by Gallup: 30 percent of Americans are engaged at work. These people are emotionally invested in their work and focused on doing their jobs well. 52 percent of Americans are not [...]
Six Tips for Choosing an Auto Insurance Policy
Insurance ads are everywhere you look. They promise low rates, helpful service, and quality coverage. With so many options available, it can be difficult choose the right policy or even to know where to start looking. If you’re feeling overwhelmed, you’re not alone. Many Americans don’t understand the basics of auto insurance, which makes it difficult to [...]
Should You Give Your Kid a Credit Card?
Perhaps your teen is getting to the point where carrying around cash isn’t so convenient any longer. Maybe she’s signing up online for a crafts class, but she needs a credit card to do so. Or perhaps your student is away at college, and you’d rather he not carry a wad of $20s to the [...]
How to Financially Plan for Assisted Living
Preparing for eventual care needs as we age is becoming a critical part of every American’s retirement planning. Retirees are living to a more advanced age, and funds need to last longer than ever before. The further in advance you plan, the better off you are likely to be if and when you need long-term [...]
Five Mid-Year Tax Tips
Tax season doesn’t end when you file your taxes on April 15. Tax issues continue all year round, so it’s important to regularly assess your tax situation, and now—halfway through the year—is the perfect time. At this point, you probably have some idea about the direction in which your personal balance sheet is headed, and [...]
Three Tips for Couples When She Makes More
Today, one in four women in marriages bring in more income than their husbands, which is up from six percent in the 1960s. Whether you are a man or woman, the pressure to bring home the bacon can be overwhelming. As our society shifts, having more women breadwinners can lead to resentment and failed relationships [...]
Four Tips for Young Investors
Investing may seem like it’s just for the super-rich, but you don’t need a million dollars to start. In fact, you can start investing with a measly $1,000. If you have a job that offers a retirement savings plan, you’ve probably already started making some investments. The next step—investing on your own—really isn’t that scary, [...]