Understanding Your Personal Credit
Your personal credit report provides prospective lenders a history of your borrowing and payment habits.
Employee and Employer Fringe Benefits
Fringe benefits are one of the overlooked benefits when considering a new job. These might garner you a discount on merchandise or services, or earn you points and rewards that you can use personally.
Divorce and Retirement Plan Assets: The QDRO
A qualified domestic relations order allows retirement assets to be transferred to the other party’s retirement plan or IRA free of any current tax liability.
Treasury Inflation-Protected Securities (TIPS)
TIPS are a type of security offered by the U.S. Treasury that provides protection against inflation. When you purchase a TIP, you will receive the interest payments semi-annually and you will at least receive your original principal amount at maturity, however unlike a regular Treasury bond, the interest and redemption amounts are tied to inflation rates.
Mortgage Rate Locks
Locking in a mortgage rate often ensures you receive the best rate possible, but there are a few items to look out for.
Qualified Retirement Plans Introduction
Qualified retirement plans provide a method for business owners and employees to save money, tax deferred, for their retirement.
Preferred Stock
Preferred stock is a hybrid security, meaning it is not a stock or a bond. Preferred stock is an equity security that shows ownership in a company. In most cases, preferred stock is offered to the public by the issuing company to acquire another company, or to improve capital and expansion at a time when stockholders and the public are not buying common stock. Unlike common stock, preferred stock does not fluctuate very much in price.
Mortgage Backed Securities
Mortgage-backed securities are fixed-income investments that allow investors to purchase an interest in a pool of mortgages. These securities are available from three primary sources.
Budgets with Personal Finance Software
There are free online tools you can use to track your spending habits and keep you in line with your budget.
First Financial Steps Part 4: Investing in IRA and Other Accounts
When investing in an IRA, you have limitless choices, unlike an employer-sponsored plan. We have some suggestions to get you started.