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.
Get Your FICO Credit Score For Free
Consumers can now get their FICO Credit Score for free. With a free FICO credit score, consumers can better understand their credit report and credit history. By making the credit score free, borrowers can see how their credit score will affect how much they can borrow as well as how to manage their finances and [...]
Five Questions You Must Ask When Buying Insurance Online
Are you paying too much for your auto or homeowners insurance? How about your other insurance policies? TV is full of commercials telling you that you can find great discounts on insurance by shopping for insurance online —and you do tend to save money, says Loretta Worters, vice president of communications for the Insurance Information [...]
Should I Buy a Home for Tax Purposes?
The house next door to me just sold for $369,000. The owners bought it in the 1970s and paid $27,000. After all costs and fees, their profit will be over $300,000. That’s good for them—but what about for you? Is buying a home the right move? The real estate market is still good for buyers [...]
The Best Way to Save for College Tuition
As a parent, figuring out how to save for college can be a daunting task—especially when you consider the rising cost of higher education. According to the College Board, a non-profit organization that helps students prepare for college, the average cost of a private college rose to $30,094 this year, while the cost of a [...]
Marriage and Money Management: How to Merge Finances
When you’re in a committed relationship, you and your significant other may consider opening a joint account in order to help you manage your money and household budget. Doing so can help you save money, but it can also cause big headaches. For this reason, merging bank accounts should only be done after the two of [...]
How to Stick to Your Budget During Holiday Shopping
How to stick to your budget during holiday shopping. 8 tips to help you get into the spirit of the holiday season without going overboard. As you wander around the festively decorated stores with your eggnog latte in hand, it’s easy to get carried away by the season. Before you know it, your shopping cart [...]
Tax Questions: Is Your Hobby Really a Business?
Over the years, I have regularly helped my clients with their tax audits after the IRS determined that their businesses were really hobbies. Filing taxes as a sole proprietor of a business means you can take advantage of tax deductions you may not have access to if your activity is a hobby, so it’s important [...]
Six Tips to Throwing a Great Holiday Party on a Budget
Six tips to throwing a great holiday party on a budget. Here's how to host a great holiday party without spending a fortune this holiday season. Don’t let a tight household budget discourage you from having friends and family over to your home this holiday season. There are many ways to host a great party [...]
Right Now is the Time to Buy a Car
If you’ve been wondering all year when is the right time to buy a car, the answer is “Now!” That’s because for automakers, ‘tis the season for giving great deals. If you’ve been saving money toward a down payment on a new car and patiently waiting for the best deal, you can get the biggest [...]
Should I File for Social Security Now or Later?
How and when to collect Social Security is likely to be a big factor in your retirement planning. During retirement, you may look forward to cashing in on your years of paying into Social Security by collecting a check each month. But if you have a substantial nest egg and don’t need the money, how [...]