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.
The Six Worst Investments I’ve Ever Made
There are many tools you can use to make an investment in yourself and your future, including buying stocks and opening your own business. But not every decision you make will be good for you, and it’s important to learn from your—and others’—mistakes. Once you make a bad investment, hopefully you won’t make the same [...]
Top Five Scams That Target Retirees
According to Fraud.org, a project of the National Consumers League, 26 percent of scam victims are aged 55 and older. Lonely or unprotected retirees are easy targets for fraudsters, who often prey on retirees’ need for companionship or cash. “They can be desperate for company, money, or stability, and when people are desperate in any [...]
Three Tips for Renewing Your New Year’s Resolutions
By the time spring rolls around, many of us have given up on our New Year’s resolutions—but it doesn’t have to be that way. Instead of waiting until next January to get on track, make it a point to renew your resolutions right now. Here’s how: 1. Get rid of the New Year’s resolution mindset. [...]
How Do I File a Tax Extension?
If the tax deadline snuck up on you and your tax return is nowhere near ready to be submitted, don’t worry—you do have options. If you file for an automatic extension by April 15, you can give yourself an additional six months to file your paperwork and avoid penalties for late payments. How do I [...]
What to Do When You’re a Victim of Tax Identity Theft
In the rush to file your 2013 taxes before April 15, looking out for federal income tax identity theft may not be at the top of your mind—but it should be. Federal income tax fraud through the use of identity theft topped the IRS’s list of the “Dirty Dozen” Tax Scams for 2014. An identity [...]
Three Reasons You May Need to Amend Your Tax Return
It’s not a great idea to amend tax returns needlessly. The IRS can only audit you for three years after you file a tax return. When you amend a return, however, you start that three-year clock running again. There may be things that you can no longer prove or that are too complicated to explain. [...]
3 Steps to Reduce Property Taxes
Are you paying too much in property taxes? Chances are your answer is yes. Well, there are three steps you can take to reduce your property taxes. Most homeowners feel overburdened by ever-rising property tax costs and want to take steps to reduce property taxes, though not every homeowner’s taxes are as oppressive as others. [...]
How to Live a VIP Lifestyle on a Budget
There’s a saying that good meat isn’t cheap and cheap meat isn’t good—in other words, you get what you pay for. So when you’re on a budget, how can you enjoy the finer things in life without breaking the bank? Fortunately, you can treat yourself and the ones you love to some VIP-style fun every [...]
Five Ways to Save Money on a Family Spring Break Getaway
Is your family itching to go somewhere for spring break while you’d like to keep your wallet from overheating? Here are some ideas for saving money on your trip: 1. Get off the beaten path. If at all possible, avoid traveling to typical spring break destinations. Not only will your family be surrounded by partying [...]
Tips to Save Money: The Spending Trade-Off
Engagement ring or down payment? Apparently young women are increasingly opting for the latter. According to a survey of 1,000 people from ERA Real Estate, half of young women would rather have their mate propose with a plan to put money toward the down payment of a house than an engagement ring and 60 percent would [...]