Articles Index

Where Your Social Security Taxes Go
If you work, you are probably aware of the Social Security taxes that come out of your paycheck. Since a relatively large portion of your income goes toward this tax, it is important to understand where it actually goes.

10 Tips to Help Prevent Identity Theft
You’ve heard about identity theft in the news, and if you’re like most people, you probably think it will never happen to you. While there is a good chance that you’ll never experience this unfortunate situation, it only takes one misplaced document or accidentally clicking on a link on the web to put you at risk. Because it is becoming easier for thieves to obtain the information needed to steal and damage your identity, it is important to take a proactive approach and protect yourself.

Marriage and Money - Planning Your New Financial Life Together
Marriage introduces changes in a new couple’s financial situation that will affect all aspects of their life together. Everything from personal financial goals to credit card debt will bring new challenges to the relationship. Understanding how to navigate through these changes can be challenging, but planning ahead can allow you to build a strong financial foundation for your relationship.

Planning for the Future - Making the Most of Your Retirement
When it comes to planning for the future, most people think of retirement. Retirement planning is important because it allows you to do the things that you were unable to do while working—travel, start a business, go back to school, be closer to family, or simply relax. Because retirement is such an important phase in your life, careful planning is a must.

Things to Consider Before Buying a Home
For many people, owning a home brings a sense of pride and freedom that cannot be matched by renting. When you own your own home, you aren’t bound by a landlord’s rules, and your monthly payments are actually building equity. Although buying a home may be the first step you take toward building long-term wealth, it is important to understand the pros and cons of home ownership before taking the plunge.

U.S. Savings Bonds – The Safe Place to Save Money
If you’re tired of the pitiful interest rate on your savings account at the bank, you may want to look into U.S. savings bonds for an equally safe place to keep some of your savings. With most bank accounts, the safety of your money comes from being insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, or FDIC. This provides insurance on up to $100,000 per depositor. Unfortunately, while your money may be safe, there is a good chance the interest rate on the account is quite low.

How to Prepare for Falling Interest Rates
Interest rates play an important role in not only the economy, but your personal finances as well. The Federal Reserve regularly monitors economic conditions and has the ability to raise or lower key interest rates that trickle down and affect everything right down to your savings account. As rates begin to fall, what does this mean for you, and how can you plan for lower rates?

Maintaining Health Insurance During Early Retirement or Termination
If you worked for an employer that offered health benefits, when you decide to retire early or lose your job, it becomes quickly apparent how valuable that benefit was. Generally, when an employer offers health insurance coverage, the premium costs are split between you and the employer. Whether it is $20 or $300 per paycheck, you’re generally only paying a portion of the total premium in a large group plan. So, what happens when you are no longer employed and eligible for these benefits?

What is a Traditional IRA and Who Should Have One?
A traditional IRA (individual retirement account) is an account that is used to save pre-tax dollars for use in retirement.

Top 5 Biggest Mistakes When Buying a Car
For most people, a car is a necessity. We often depend on our vehicles to get us to and from work every day, transport children to events, and even for pleasure. Because they are such an important aspect of your life, you want a vehicle that is reliable, comfortable, and maybe even a bit stylish. The vehicle choices are almost endless, so finding the right combination of wants and needs with an affordable price tag can be challenging.

The Fees Involved in Buying a Home
When buying a home, most people focus on how much it costs and what interest rate they can get on the loan. While that is certainly very important, the other fees that come with buying a home are often overlooked. Here is a list of the most common fees involved when buying a home.

Where to Keep Your Savings
So, you’ve set up an automatic savings program and you’re finally building up that emergency fund, but where should you keep your savings so that it earns the most interest for you? Luckily, there are many different savings vehicles available, but not all of them are appropriate for every situation.

Six Retirement Planning Mistakes to Avoid
We all make mistakes, but learning from our mistakes and identifying what mistakes to avoid can make a big difference. Here are six common mistakes people make with retirement planning that you should avoid.

How to Have an Affordable Wedding
According to a recent survey, the average cost of an American wedding is just over $27,000. This can be a significant burden on those who need to foot the bill, but it doesn’t have to be so painful. There are many steps you can take to make sure that you’re getting the most bang for your buck when planning that special day.

Make Saving Automatic
Do you have a savings account yet find it difficult to find money to deposit into it? This isn’t an uncommon problem and most people find it hard to save.

How to Establish Credit
When you don’t have a credit history, it can be difficult and frustrating when trying to obtain a credit card or other type of loan. Establishing your initial credit history can be a Catch-22. If you don’t have credit, not many places are willing to give you credit, yet how can you ever establish credit if nobody is willing to give you any?

Budget Isn't a Bad Word
When you hear the word “budget”, what does it mean do you? If you’re like most people, you probably think of it as an unpleasant activity that means you have to financially deprive yourself. This couldn’t be further from the truth, yet this is the typical reason that most budgets fail.

Personal Finance 101
Personal finance covers a wide variety of money topics including budgeting, expenses, debt, saving, retirement and insurance among others. Understanding how each of these topics work together and affect each other is important for laying the groundwork for a solid financial foundation for you and your family.

How to Obtain a Good Auto Insurance Policy
Auto insurance is very important and can account for a sizable portion of your monthly budget. Depending on many factors such as how many vehicles you have, your driving record, and age, auto insurance can run into the thousands of dollars per year. Even though the cost of the policy is important, it is also important to make sure you’re adequately covered.

Protecting Your Financial Interests During a Divorce
Going through a divorce can be a very difficult and stressful experience. Whatever the reasons for the divorce, you're likely overwhelmed with emotions and the desire to move on as quickly as possible. Even so, you have some important decisions to make in regards to your finances, so you need to be careful and plan appropriately.

Make the Most of Your Paycheck from Your First Job
Getting that first job after college or high school is a very exciting, yet stressful event. You’re probably overwhelmed with many new challenges, opportunities, commitments, and have a lot of questions. One of the biggest changes may be in regards to money.

Use Credit Cards Wisely in College
As a new college student, you’re probably aware of the plentiful student credit card offers available to you. While it can certainly be beneficial to have a credit card, there are some things to consider first.

Ways to Improve Your Credit Score
Your credit score is a very important number that lenders use in order to determine whether or not to extend credit to you, and what the interest rate and terms of the credit or loan are.

Why You Need an Emergency Fund
In life you should expect the unexpected, and this is why you need an emergency fund. The best you can do is to prepare for emergencies that require access to additional money and having an emergency fund is the ideal solution. Financial emergencies can come in the form of a job loss, significant medical expenses, home or auto repairs or something you’ve never dreamed of.

Should You Take a 401(k) Loan?
Many retirement plans such as 401(k)s and 403(b)s allow participants to borrow money from their retirement savings, but there are many things you should consider before tapping into that retirement plan with a loan.