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.
Insurance Deductibles, Copays and Coinsurance: What’s the Difference?
Choosing the right health insurance plan can be a daunting task. In addition to deciding which coverage best suits your needs, you also have to cut through the jargon to ensure you’re accurately comparing health plans. As you shop for insurance, you’ll likely see four terms over and over again: premium, copay, coinsurance, and deductible. [...]
Estate, Death and Inheritance Taxes
An anonymous Silicon Valley billionaire has purchased the world’s most valuable life insurance policy for $201 million, and I think his reasoning behind it is fascinating. He bought the insurance to help his heirs avoid paying a 45 percent inheritance tax after his death. This life insurance policy will pay out twice as much, and [...]
How Wearing Heels Can Help You Shop Smarter
Want to make smarter financial decisions? Wear heels when you go shopping. If heels aren’t your thing, then you can try shopping right after yoga class or after a session of escalator riding, or standing on one foot when deciding which big-screen TV you want to buy. What do all these activities accomplish? These actions [...]
Saving Money? Here’s Where You Should Splurge
When you’re saving money, “splurge” is a bad word. Splurges are often perceived as impulse purchases made outside the confines of a household budget—and that’s something savers are told they should avoid. Not every splurge is bad, however. There are times when it makes sense to spend a little more than you would like. The [...]
How to Choose an Insurance Policy for Every Stage of Life
When you’re shopping for insurance, it’s important to consider your current stage of life. The coverage you had in your teens may be different from the coverage you require as a senior, so you’ll want to choose an insurance policy that fits your needs. Below are policies you should consider in the different stages of [...]
How Do I Buy Stocks?
A diverse retirement portfolio should include stocks. While generally considered high risk, stocks have proven throughout history to yield higher returns than bonds or any other investments. Whether you’re just starting your retirement investing or diversifying your portfolio, there are important things to remember before buying stocks on your own. Hire a professional When purchasing [...]
How Do I Figure Out My Tax Bracket?
Your tax bracket determines how much you have to pay in taxes based on your income. In general, the higher your income, the higher your tax bracket, and the more you will pay when filing taxes. How do I determine my tax bracket? If you’re using a tax service, your tax professional should be able [...]
One Easy Trick to Stop Impulse Purchases: Carry Crisp, Large Bills
Want to spend less money without spending too much time figuring out how? Get some crisp, new bills from the bank. Apparently, when we have them, we don’t want to let them go, according to the Journal of Consumer Research study “Money Isn’t Everything, but It Helps If It Doesn’t Look Used: How the Physical [...]
Four Surprises to Avoid When Filing 2013 Taxes
Surprises can be fun, but not when they come in the form of unexpected taxes. When filing your 2013 taxes, be sure to keep an eye out for these four tax curveballs: 1. New tax brackets. There is a new top tax bracket of 39.6 percent, though it appears that it only affects a small [...]
Tax Questions: Can Unpaid Taxes Affect My Credit Score?
This article was written by guest blogger Eva Rosenberg. It’s one of the tax questions I’ve been asked more than once: Can unpaid taxes affect my credit score? Unfortunately, if you’re not careful, the answer is yes. Once upon a time, a friend quit his job and opened a business. In the first year, he [...]