You can’t change how your employer matches your 401(k) contributions but you can strategize your contributions to avoid leaving any free money on the table.
A Confession – I’m Often a Money Contrarian I often offer contrarian opinions and ideas, especially in personal finance. This is because my personal experience proved to me that I got far more from following my own path for 11 years than from 18 prior years of following the herd (see more below). I’ve even […]
For most homeowners, the biggest financial obligation is their mortgage payments. It’s not only the largest payment, and the largest total amount, but it’s also the largest thing someone depends on. It represents your home. The place you and your family live. It might have also become your new office over the past year. It […]
There’s a phrase in the financial world that you may have heard it before: ‘the best time to start investing is when you’re young, the second best time is right now’. It refers to the power of compound interest, and the benefit of having time on your side. The earlier you start, the more benefit […]
Contrary to its name, a savings account isn’t actually good for all types of savings, and some would argue they aren’t good for any savings. Like most things, savings accounts are good for some things, and bad for others. Most savings accounts offer extremely low-interest rates. So low, that you could probably pick up more […]
Every year the price of goods increase in value, this increase in value is referred to as inflation. If your money isn’t at the very least growing at the same rate as inflation, you’re actually losing buying power with your money. Let’s take a look at what I mean. Say something costs $100 today, and […]
Technology has rapidly advanced many areas of our lives in the past decade or so. One of the more useful ones in the investing world has been the introduction of ETF’s. Exchange Traded Funds (or ETF’s) are becoming more and more popular among investors. Everyone from retail investors to financial advisors and institutions are making […]
We’ve come a long way in recent years and not every couple feels the need to completely merge their finances when they marry or set up a home together. However, it’s pretty hard to build a life together without addressing money and the many issues that surround it. If you’re going to work towards shared […]
Unexpected bank fees can come as a shock, especially if you don’t have much money to start with. And, of course, those with less money are actually more likely to find a bank charge they weren’t prepared for on their statement. Here are a few common bank charges, and how to avoid them. Minimum balance […]