Key Takeaways: Estate planning can be difficult to talk about—a 2021 Gallup poll showed that 64% of American adults working with a financial advisor have never discussed their estate plans with that advisor. A distribution of assets plan can help ease your anxiety and broach the difficult subject of legacy planning with a trusted financial...
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Many panic when they see water leaking from the roof. The first instinct may be to fix it yourself to save a few bucks. However, roof leaks can cause significant damage to a home if the underlying cause isn’t discovered and repaired properly. Knowing how to prevent a leaking roof and what to do when...
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When your ride suddenly won’t start from a dead battery, knowing how to use jumper cables is a good skill to have. At first, jump-starting a car can seem like a stressful situation, but you’ll quickly realize it’s one of the easiest ways to start your vehicle. To bring your battery back to life, all...
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In any given year, weather disasters can result in billions of dollars of damages. During hurricane season, affected properties can expect to see flooding, broken windows, downed power lines, leaking roofs and more. Hurricanes in particular create strong winds that are capable of uprooting trees and debris, which can fly around and damage properties of...
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No one ever thinks much about their windshield wipers until it’s pouring rain and they’re listening to a symphony of squeaks. Just like tires, oil and brakes, your windshield wiper blades gradually become worn down over time and must be replaced. But for those who’ve suddenly found their rainy day visibility lacking, there’s good news....
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The phrase “exotic pets” brings up a plethora of associations, many of them negative. Illegally sourced monkeys, baby tigers, Burmese pythons let loose in the Everglades, these are just a few of the headlines that come to mind. But the truth is that these are just the most publicized examples of exotic pets. There are...
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Buying new tires can be a confusing chore. What do all those numbers mean? Should I go with winter tires or all-season? And, of course, how do I know when I need new ones? Taking care of your tires and maintaining good driving habits can help extend the life of your tires, but eventually you’ll...
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Working remotely seems like a great option for giving your career more freedom, but it can also have its own unique challenges. Whether you’re new to working remotely or are a longtime practitioner, these quick tips will help you boost productivity, streamline your process and make the most of your endeavors. Working from home means...
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When your child starts college and you have an empty nest, you might have a to-do list, including travel abroad and fixing up the house. But before you book a flight, borrow money to turn your child’s room into a home theater or think about other activities for empty nesters, consider that a growing number...
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According to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (known as HUD)[1], the difference between manufactured, modular, and mobile homes all comes down to differences in construction and safety. Manufactured and mobile homes must be built according to HUD’s building codes while modular homes must follow local, state, and/or regional building codes. Mobile, manufactured,...
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Spending money is a fact of life. You need to spend money to pay for the essentials, like food, clothing, and a roof over your head. So it’s good to know that a budget can help you manage those expenses and keep your spending in check. To avoid impulse purchases and other temptations, try to...
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The automotive market, online and off, is saturated with new and used cars that you can review with just a few clicks. Often overlooked during car research, the total cost of ownership is essentially a calculation of all the costs involved in buying and using a car over a period of time.1 This total cost of...
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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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Now more than ever it’s difficult to navigate life without a solid credit history. From applying for a loan to renting an apartment, good credit is a must. If you’re just starting out and lack any form of credit history – or the information on your credit report is mostly negative – the following are...
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A revocable living trust, or simply a living trust, is legal entity created to hold ownership of assets generally used to determine how their assets will be handled after they die. The person who creates this living trust is called the grantor or the trustmaker and typically also serves as the trustee, meaning they handle...
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