What is an emergency fund? Sometimes called a rainy day fund , an emergency fund is money that you set aside to serve as your financial safety net for when you need it. What qualifies as an emergency? To a certain extent, an emergency varies by the individual, but one way to think of it...
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Learning how to live on your own can be an exciting time in your life, but it’s also a big and costly transition. One of the first and most important decisions you’ll need to make involves finding a place to live that fits your budget. Because this is typically your largest expense, it raises the...
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In 2017, roughly 16.7 million people were affected by identity theft, totaling at nearly $16.8 billion stolen. Many seemingly harmless behaviors can make you vulnerable to identify theft: making purchases over the phone, recycling old bills or logging onto free WiFi. And simply losing your wallet or digital devices can be a golden opportunity for...
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These days, having a high credit limit can seem like a form of financial stability. It’s nice to know there’s extra credit available if you need it. And even if you don’t need it, a higher credit limit can actually result in a higher credit score and increased borrowing power. It’s all about something called...
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For Millennials, figuring out how and where to save money and invest it is a little trickier than for previous generations. In many ways this group has the same financial concerns of previous generations. They might be paying off student debt, saving for a house, putting money into retirement accounts, building an emergency fund and...
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Inflation impacts everyone’s lives, especially when it comes to the cost of living. Inflation is an increase in prices over a period of time and an associated decrease in purchasing power. However, the cost of living refers to basic expenses such as food, housing, and transportation. If the costs of everything go up (inflation), then...
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Key Takeaways: What is a safe amount to withdraw each year in retirement? The Center for Retirement Research at Boston College has found that many older Americans could be at risk of emptying their accounts by age 85, although half of them will live beyond then.[1] To avoid emptying your account prematurely, the 4% rule...
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If you’re running a business, you should have a contingency plan in case one or more key people leave, no matter if it’s because of retirement, death, a disagreement over strategy or a job opportunity at another firm. In some cases, such planning is crucial to ensure an orderly transition in ownership. It is an...
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Plan ahead to minimize the expenses incurred when using an ATM of credit card on vacation. There are so many things to keep track of when traveling to another country: the language, the culture and the currency. Just thinking about the currency exchange can make a vacation seem exhausting. An easier solution? Use your ATM...
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