Last week I hit on a financial vehicle that tends to get a bad rap – annuities. Dun dun dun dun….
I’ve seen a lot of popular financial advisers and finance bloggers preach the evils of this vehicle. For some people, that advise is solid. But for others, annuities might actually be useful. So are annuities a good investment? Continue Reading »
Here were are at the last Friday of October. It’s finally starting to feel like fall here in Oklahoma and it looks like the north-east is going to get a pretty good snow this weekend!
Winter is quickly approaching and I am so looking forward to lighting up the fireplace and enjoying some good cold-weather food.
Now, on to this week’s roundup. Continue Reading »
Comic courtesy of Lance Andrew
I listen to a number of podcasts from several different finance gurus. Over the past week I’ve heard people asking questions about annuties. The story usually goes something like this…
Caller: My financial advisor told me I should roll my IRA into an annuity. Is this a good idea?
Guru: No! It’s a terrible idea!
End of call. Continue Reading »
This is a guest post by Scott Holsopple. Scott is the president and CEO of Smart401k, offering easy-to-use, cost effective 401(k) advice and solutions for the everyday investor. His advice has been featured on various news outlets, including CNBC, FOX Business, USA Today and The Wall Street Journal.
Planning for your retirement future should not be an intimidating task. By reviewing your retirement plan a few times a year, you can become more confident in handling your personal finances. However, many employees bypass using the employer-sponsored 401(k) and miss out on the benefits of long-term saving. With the fluctuating markets and sluggish economy, you may want to consider getting proactive about your financial situation by avoiding these common 401(k) mistakes: Continue Reading »
October is going by so fast! Just barely over a week and it will be November, which is the beginning of my favorite eating-season of the year.
Well since it’s Friday that means it’s time for my weekly roundup of the top personal finance posts of the week.
In no particular order, here is this week’s list: Continue Reading »
The Occupy Wall Street protests are growing. Major media outlets are beginning to carry the story. Videos of alleged police brutality are all over Youtube.
But what in the world is this movement about?
No one seems to really know.
When the protesters are asked, you hear everything from the unemployment rate to the Federal deficit to big banker bonuses and on and on. But none of these get to the root of the problem. Continue Reading »
Interest rates are at an all time low. Low enough that even people with a great interest rate are thinking about refinancing their mortgage. The timing can be tricky though. When does it make sense to refinance you mortgage?
That’s a question I struggled with last year. Interest rates were falling through the floor and I had to make the decision on if it was worth it to refinance my home.
There’s several important things to consider. This is what I looked at when I was making the decision for myself. Continue Reading »
Man! There are giveaway’s all over the blogosphere this month! I guess all the personal finance bloggers are feeling especially generous right now. Here’s a quick roundup of some of the contests I’ve come across so far this month. I’ll update this post as I find others.
20′s Finance is giving away a $50 gift card to Amazon. Continue Reading »
Happy Friday! Once again, it’s time for my weekly roundup of the top personal finance posts of the week.
The Penny Hoarder posted Get Paid to Go on a Scavenger Hunt Around Town this week. - Who doesn’t love the thrill of a scavenger hunt, right? Kyle shows you a new cell phone app will literally pay you to go on a hunt around town… Continue Reading »
One of the major components of being financially fit is to have an emergency fund. Having a lump sum of cash in the bank will give you a financial peace of mind and set you apart from the majority of people who are living paycheck to paycheck.
The vast majority of people would be up a creek without a paddle if they lost their jobs tomorrow. Many wouldn’t even be able to make it to the end of the month.
An emergency fund is the solution to this huge problem. Along with following a budget and paying off debt, an emergency fund is one of the keys to taking control of your finances.
Picture this: You walk into work tomorrow and your boss calls you into his office. “Jeremy – The company has had a rough year and we’re being forced to downsize. I’m sorry, but your position will be eliminated at the end of this week.”
If you’re like most people, that would be absolutely devastating. How will I pay my bills? Will I be able to put food on the table? Continue Reading »
