You turn on the television, and there it is, an ESPN ad touting the first college football game of the season. And where there’s college football, there is, well, college. That’s right, it’s back to school time for millions of students across the United States. But whether you are entering your first semester or your […]
Rising inflation has made personal budgets a hot topic again. And the internet is full of articles on the elements needed to create an effective budget: income, fixed expenses, variable expenses, and unplanned expenses. Those things are important, and plenty of financial experts can tell you how to incorporate them into a budget. But there […]
Hitting 50 is one of the milestones in life that cause many to pause and reflect. Some think about relationships with family and friends. Others use the moment to learn from past successes and mistakes. But it’s hard to deny that many also have one thought about the future. That is, will I be able […]
Businesses have enjoyed over a decade of interest rates that barely registered on balance sheets. Unfortunately, that low interest environment has made it easy to forget what to do when the Federal Reserve does raise rates. Some of you have been there, but it’s been a while. Others may be navigating uncharted waters. Either way, […]
So, you’re back from the honeymoon and setting up a life together as a married couple. Congrats! You have so many great times ahead of you. Of course, great times happen more frequently when newlyweds are on the same financial page. And that means setting up a budget. But don’t worry, budgeting isn’t a chore. It’s […]
It’s that time of year. The beach and the mountains are calling. You might be getting invitations to weddings in far-flung locales. And in the middle of the year, most of us are itching for a break from the daily routine. So, our internet browser entries are full of vacation searches that our bank account […]
Admittedly, many articles on this blog regarding taxes are cautionary. However, that’s prudent since the goal is to help you navigate events like audits and avoid pitfalls like liens against your personal property. But it’s not all doom and gloom with the IRS. A tax refund can be a bright spot in your year and […]
The Federal Reserve made its biggest interest rate hike in 22 years, and more are on the horizon. In an environment like this, where inflation is outpacing personal income and the investment outlook is murky, it can be easy to get lost in confusion. International strains like the war in Ukraine and ongoing pandemic restrictions […]
The term gig economy was batted around an awful lot the past two years, and with good reason. The number of workers who made money working on short-term contracts or through freelancing grew by 34% in 2020, according to SmallBizTrends. That trend is only expected to grow as the global pandemic continues to shape the […]
The buzzword on everyone’s lips these days is inflation. It’s in the news and in everyday conversations with friends and family. But, of course, inflation, in and of itself, isn’t a bad thing. The Federal Reserve tries to ensure a modest rate of inflation, about 2% every year. Doing so gives them wiggle room to […]