by Nicole DowSenior WriterWading through health insurance options when starting a new job or during open enrollment can be confusing. The alphabet soup of terminologies sure doesn’t help.For instance, if your PPO is an HDHP you might be able to open an HSA and save money toward your health expenses. Huh?In this article, we’ll demystify some of that medical insurance jargon and explain the benefits, rules and nuances of health
by Robert BruceSenior WriterWhether by choice or necessity, side gigs appear to be here to stay.From ride-sharing to food delivery to at-home businesses and traditional freelance gigs, Americans are getting more creative in how they earn side cash. In fact, according to the Pew Research Center, 16% of Americans have earned income from an online gig platform at some point. In a Bankrate survey, 45% of respondents said they have
by Robert BruceSenior WriterTwo words to describe buying a home over the last two years?Increasingly expensive.The price of homes in the United States appreciated 19.9% between August 2020 and August 2021, a 12-month record, according to S&P Dow Jones LLC.Depending on whom you talk to, the market is expected to continue to stay hot this year, though at not quite the same rate as 2021.So what should you be thinking
by Nicole DowSenior WriterThe finance industry may traditionally be a male-dominated space, but more women are making their voices heard.They’re blogging, podcasting, authoring books and gaining massive social media followings as they chart paths as bonafide personal finance influencers.And they’re helping countless other women increase their financial literacy and build wealth along the way. Here are just a handful of the female financial influencers you ought to have on your
Real Answers for Life’s Money Challengesby Robin Hartill, CFP®Senior EditorI was married 22 years. The marriage ended in 2002. When my ex-wife retires, will I be able to collect half of her Social Security? If so, how do I go about that? I am 61; she is 62 now.Also, would she be able to come after half of my Social Security? How can I prevent the latter? (I earned less
by Tiffany ConnorsEditor/WriterIf you’re a woman and have been worried about finances lately, you’re not alone.More than 60% of working women said they had to make changes due to a financial strain related to the pandemic, according to a 2021 survey by the Transamerica Center for Retirement Studies.Combine that with the fact that women are more likely to take time out of the workforce to shoulder caregiver responsibilities — plus that
by Cassidy Alexander Gold prices have been hovering around $2,000 per ounce after almost hitting the record high in early March and are expected to stay robust through much of 2022.Which means this is a good time to sell your gold jewelry if you’re looking for some extra cash. That tangle of chains in the back of the jewelry box or the heavy gold earrings you never wear could be
by Rachel Christian, CEPF®Senior Writer Estate planning has long provided mechanisms for passing on bank accounts and retirement accounts such as IRAs and 401(k)s. In most cases, the owner designates a beneficiary, which provides for a smooth transfer of assets after the owner’s death. But what about newer digital assets, like money in your Robinhood portfolio? Or the balance of your account in PayPal? And what about your cryptocurrency —
by Kari FaberStaff WriterBills, bills, bills. They never seem to end, do they? They take more and more out of your account each month before you even realize it.You can’t escape them entirely (wouldn’t that be great?), but you can stop them from being so darn painful every month. All it takes is ending your loyalty to a few companies you currently use for bills and fees that come every
by Tiffani ShermanContributorWant to invest in real estate but don’t have the money to buy a property or have no desire to be a landlord? There is a way and it’s called REIT investments.Investing in a REIT, or a real estate investment trust is a way to own parts of a property without the traditional tasks of maintenance, taking rents or finding tenants.A REIT involves buying shares of a fund
