February 29th, 2012 By Gail Cunningham If there’s one thing everyone wants it’s more time, and that’s exactly what we have this year. A once every four-year phenomena of the calendar known as Leap Year is providing us with 24 extra hours today. For some, the day will come and go with little to show for it. However, with a [...]
February 27th, 2012 By Gary Silverman, CFP® Back in the days when I had a real job my commute was 50 miles one way. Can you imagine what that would be like today with the gasoline prices where they are? I was wondering that myself the other day so with calculator in hand I went to work. I [...]
February 24th, 2012 By Jason Alderman After four years of coping with a stagnant economy probably the last thing you want to hear is how important it is to sock away money for a rainy day – you already know that. But hear me out, just in case. Those who struggle with long-term unemployment or under-employment often simply [...]
February 23rd, 2012 By Drew Kessler Albert Einstein called compounding interest the eighth wonder of the world. When compounding works for you it’s wonderful. A small amount of money adds up quickly because you earn interest not only on the money you have deposited in the bank, but also on the interest you have previously earned. There is a trick though. You [...]
February 22nd, 2012 By Gail Cunningham Thanks to Congress extending the payroll tax cut millions of Americans will continue to receive a fatter paycheck. However, a recent NFCC poll revealed that 66% of workers did not realize that their paychecks were larger, in spite of the 2% payroll tax cut having been in place for over a year. In [...]
February 21st, 2012 Dear Kim, My son recently applied for a credit card from a major bank and was denied. A few weeks later he received a letter with his credit score. Is this legitimate? It came from the same bank, but why would they send him his score? Did he accidently sign up for a program? Thanks, [...]
February 17th, 2012 By Jason Alderman Valentine’s Day may have just ended, but that shouldn’t stop you from talking about your financial future as a couple to keep your relationship on a healthy footing. In any marriage, major life changes may require you to reassess how you manage the family finances. Unfortunately, many couples don’t make time to [...]
February 16th, 2012 By Gail Cunningham It’s always good to have options. It’s even better to choose the right option, particularly when it involves paying your federal income tax obligation. With April 15th fast approaching, many are discovering that they have a tax liability they are not prepared to pay. Consumers who find themselves in this predicament do [...]
February 15th, 2012 By Drew Kessler We all have bad habits. We eat too much fried food, don’t exercise enough, and waste electricity by not turning off the lights when leaving a room. There’s one bad habit that most of us have in common. It doesn’t involve food or exercise, but causes a major drain to our wallets….our love of the ATM machine. [...]
February 14th, 2012 By Stacy Johnson Saving money isn’t as hard as it seems. Step 1? Stop needlessly blowing it. Take a look at the following checklist and see if you’re guilty of wasting cash. According to the latest release from the Census Bureau, in 2010 the average American household income was $49,445. Adjusted for inflation, that’s about [...]