All Americans are now allowed to withdraw up to $1,000 every year from retirement accounts to pay for a broad range of emergency expenses. There are several reasons, however, why you should avoid tapping your retirement accounts at all costs. Reasons to leave retirement funds alone You’re diluting your retirement savings. Although the money comes in…

Very few things in life can create a higher degree of stress than having your Social Security number (SSN) stolen. This is because, unlike other forms of identification, your SSN is virtually permanent. Here are some things that you can do to minimize the risk of having your number fall into the hands of the…

Creating a sound financial foundation for you and your family is anything but easy. It is tough to save when everyone is tempting you with adding one monthly service after another. Add to that the high increases in things like property taxes and insurance and you realize that saving is becoming more of an art…

If you are concerned about protecting your valuables, here are several suggestions to consider for protecting them from would-be thieves: Rent a safe deposit box. It may make sense to keep seldom worn jewelry, coins and other important documents in a traditional safe deposit box at your local bank. But beware if you go this route,…

What everyone should know   Negotiating to decrease or zero out a credit card bill or other loan balance can help relieve a tough financial situation, but it can also give way to an unexpected tax bill. Here’s a quick review of various debt cancellation situations and how they impact your your taxes.   Consumer…

Small payments can save you big money when paying off your mortgage. With 30-year fixed rates reaching levels not seen in 25 years, adding even just a little extra to your monthly payment can significantly cut down on the interest you pay over the life of your mortgage. Here are several different scenarios to illustrate…

It’s easy to feel secure about the money you deposit with a bank you’ve come to trust. After all, most banks and credit unions offer certain levels of protection against fraudulent transactions. Banks, however, won’t protect you against all types of fraud. Here’s a look at the protections that banks and credit unions usually provide…

In our fast-moving world, using concise yet descriptive words and phrases can be very powerful when communicating important thoughts and ideas. While the term can incite eye-rolls if overused, certain words and associated phrases can be helpful as a communication tool when you don’t have the time for an in-depth conversation. Here are some of…

If someone asks what your most valuable asset is, your answer might be your house, vehicle, or investment portfolio. But there’s another answer to this question that’s worth considering – yourself. As you seek out opportunities to increase the value you bring to the table both in your personal and professional life, here are some…

With inflation hiking the prices of everything over the past 4 years, and schools asking families to fork over larger and larger sums of money every year to help with shared supplies, the cost of your back-to-school shopping trip can quickly spiral out of control. Consider these ideas to lower your back-to-school shopping costs. Wait…