Real Answers for Life’s Money Challengesby Robin Hartill, CFP®Senior EditorMy great niece is getting married in October. I live in New York City, and she lives in Indiana. I said I would go, although I only met her once.Now she set up a GoFundMe page, asking for help with the wedding instead of a gift. Do you think I should contribute? I’ve never heard of such a request.-C.Dear C.,I’ve never
by Kari FaberStaff WriterSayonara, traditional banks! Online only banking is no longer a “niche” financial option for people, but a mainstream way of growing and protecting your money.Not to mention, online banks can have lower fees and higher interest-earning potential, thanks to the lack of overhead.But with all the options available, how do you know which online bank to choose (or even, which ones are banks at all)?In this article,
by Kari FaberStaff WriterIf you’re looking to expand your team and make a new hire (or more), you’ve probably already started thinking about what the job posting will look like. You might have already uploaded it to your company website and seen candidates trickle in.But if you’re worried you’re not getting the right candidates — or even enough candidates — there’s another step you can take to improve your hiring
by Timothy MooreContributor You won’t see a LendingClub location while driving to the grocery or dropping the kids off at school. As the first public U.S. neobank and a full-spectrum financial technology (fintech) marketplace bank, LendingClub is fully online. LendingClub’s acquisition of Radius Bank in 2020 launched the organization into the world of personal banking, with high-yield savings accounts and checking accounts, CDs and more. But since 2007, more than
by Timothy MooreContributorWire transfers are a relatively easy and secure way to transfer money electronically from one bank account to another. Although they can be convenient (and are often required in processes like buying a house), they are expensive compared to alternative ways of sending money. In this article, we’ll analyze average wire transfer costs, both domestic and international. Wire transfer fees vary by financial institution. While you can almost
by Rachel Christian, CEPF®Senior WriterMedicare late enrollment penalties are no joke. They can increase your monthly premium substantially for the rest of your life.That’s right — if you miss the window, the government can penalize you each month for as long as you have Medicare coverage.It’s essential to understand your Medicare options and how these late enrollment penalties work so you can avoid costly premiums in retirement.You can only enroll
Real Answers for Life’s Money Challengesby Robin Hartill, CFP®Senior EditorI am a 65-year-old, semi-retired single female. Because of my personal and financial situation at the time, I started collecting my Social Security. I needed it to supplement my part-time income in order to just live. It’s not much — under $600. The problem is, the family-owned business I have worked at for a very long time is in danger of closing.
by Mike BrassfieldSenior WriterIt’s not your imagination. Groceries really are getting more expensive.You’re seeing it at the checkout counter. Food prices just rose by 0.5% in a month, and they’ve gone up by nearly 2.5% over the past year, according to the most recent consumer price index. The price of beef is 3.3% higher than it was a year ago, according to the Washington Post.Blame it on a mix of
by The Penny Hoarder Staff If you could use a change of scenery, why not get free money to move somewhere?In the face of declining or slowing population growth, some cities have decided to get aggressive about their survival.Despite soaring real estate prices in some parts of the country, there are still cities giving away free land while others are literally handing out stacks of cash to folks who agree
by Kent McDillContributor As simple words go, “retirement’’ carries a lot of weight and a lot of baggage. Now that retirement is bouncing around in your mind, and you entertain the thought of giving up your day job, you ask yourself: Is my retirement income and Social Security going to be enough for my preferred lifestyle? What am I going to do with myself every day? One answer responds to
