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…

Social media is an easy way for scammers and others to try encouraging people to pursue some really bad ideas, and that includes ways to magically increase your tax refund. – IRS Commissioner Danny Werfel Tax scammers continue to become more sophisticated, which means it’s more important than ever to pay attention to any person…

Summer temperatures can feel just fine when you’re spending time outdoors, yet most of us want our homes to always feel cool and comfortable. That often means cranking up the air conditioning and turning on all the ceiling fans, which typically leads to higher energy bills until fall arrives. Fortunately there are some ways to…

If you picked up a part-time job for some extra summer spending money, you may have to set aside some of your cash for taxes. Here are some tips to help you manage the taxes on your summer earnings: Take advantage of tax-free earnings limits. If you anticipate making less than the annual standard deduction ($14,600…

Is trying to retire in your 30s or 40s the right move for you? Retiring early is an idea that an entire community of people across the United States is putting into action. It even has an official name – Financial Independence Retire Early, or FIRE. Read on to find out how it works. And…

Sleuthing your way through a tax audit or responding to a letter from the IRS by yourself is not the same as fixing a leaky faucet or changing your oil. Here are reasons to partner with a tax professional as soon as you receive a letter from the IRS:     IRS auditors do this…