finance

Personal finance software isn’t just something for accountants and personal finance managers. Everyone can benefit from user-friendly software to help manage their money. The right solution can make it easier to plan and track your spending, helping you become a more fiscally responsible adult.There are plenty of easy-to-use tools available. You don’t have to stress about needing accounting skills or struggling to learn a complicated piece of software. Here’s what

According to Gallup research, 62 is the average retirement age for Americans; however, there is no one right retirement age. The ideal age for you will depend on many factors, from your personal preferences to your lifestyle and the nature of your work. For example, if your job is physically demanding, early retirement might be logical.Regardless of when you hope to retire, you’ll have to make sure you have sufficient

Tracking expenses can help inform smart money management, ensuring you have clear oversight and control over your finances. While the thought of examining the money you spend may be daunting at first, this is one of the first steps in setting a monthly budget that works for you (i.e., one that covers your basic needs and wants without leaving you feeling like you’re living a life of denial).When setting up

A health savings account (HSA) can be a practical part of your comprehensive money management strategy. HSAs provide a secure place to keep pre-tax money and let it grow tax-free. You can later use the cash in your HSA account for qualified health care expenses.In addition to helping you save on medical costs, investing in an HSA can also benefit your finances in other ways. This article will provide an

A new year is an opportunity for a fresh start. From losing weight to starting a new hobby, there are a few resolutions that people frequently come back to again and again when determining what they want to change about their lives. Improved financial stability is another goal that we all seem to strive for consistently — but often fall short on.Only 19% of Americans have enough cash saved to

I’d like to introduce the concept of Career Seasons to you — which will help you find a job that’s perfect for you in this season of your life.At different points in our lives, we want different kinds of jobs:Without understanding your Career Season, how can you find a job that’s perfectly made for you?Here’s how we discovered this concept.Whenever I ask people what they want from a Dream Job,

I always say, “Show me a person’s calendar and I’ll show you their priorities.”Well, I have a newer version of that: Show me a person’s spending, and I can show you what they love.I spent years talking to people about their spending habits, and I boiled them down to 10 “Money Dials.” They’re called Money Dials because you can “tune” them up or down — just like a dial.If you

What if you lost your job today and needed a new job in a week? Could you do it?What if you just wanted some advice for a tough career decision? Is there someone you could ask?Or what if you wanted to make a big career change, like switching industries? Is there anyone you could call for help?The secret to solving all of these challenges is the same: informational interviews. You’ve

At IWT, we talk about 401ks – a lot. (See here, here, or here for proof)And, that’s with good reason. If you want to be rich, the 401k is one of the most powerful investment tools at your disposal, especially for retirement planning. It is also one of the most misunderstood money-maximizing vehicles, starting with how much you should have in your 401k.That is a solid question, but it doesn’t

When you have debts everywhere you turn, it can feel like you’re completely swamped. Your hands are tied every payday as you funnel money into paying off debts, leaving you with no room to save.  That’s why a lot of people turn to debt consolidation, which is when you use a loan to pay off all of your debt — and it can seem like a godsend.But wait, how is ANOTHER debt supposed to