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Long term care insurance is something important to think about when it comes to planning for your retirement. You may feel you've done everything you were supposed to. You worked hard, contributed to your 401k and prepared yourself for retirement. Unfortunately, all of that may not be enough. 70% of Americans 65 or older will require some long-term care before they die. This can become extremely expensive, and you…

Life insurance can be a way to create wealth for the retirement years if used correctly.  With retirement age ever increasing, more people are looking for ways to increase their wealth to avoid working well into their 60s and beyond. Life insurance can be an active way to increase wealth that is often overlooked. When setup correctly, life insurance can be a very successful wealth-building tool  With 43% of…

If you are looking to make more money, choosing the right state to live in does make a difference. Choosing poorly without knowing all the facts, could put a real strain on your wallet. MoneyRates.com recently released its list of the 10 best and worst states to make a living in 2020. Topping the list as the best place to make a living is Washington, which has a low…

Anxiety bubbles up in your stomach as you check your bank account. Your latest paycheck barely covers rent and food for this month. Hopes of enjoying the night out with your friends this weekend are dashed. How are you supposed to make ends meet and enjoy your life at the same time? This situation may sound dire, but according to a 2018 study from CNBC, nearly one-third of Americans…

The two main components of personal finance are saving and earning. How to save and earn the most can be as complicated as you want it to be. Starting with the wrong understanding of basic personal finance concepts can be like digging a hole with a rake instead of a shovel. Income Tax Brackets It is foolish to avoid making extra money because it might bump your income into…

Personal finance takes discipline. Many people have the delusion they can control their spending and maximize the use of their income without tracking anything. If they take time to write down and add up all their expenses vs. their income, people usually realize they are overspending and not working efficiently toward their goals. Make a Budget To get control of spending and reach financial goals, a budget can be…

A frugal lifestyle is becoming more and more popular these days.  If you are looking to become more frugal, your life does not have to be extreme to be effective. People don't have to hang up used dental floss to dry. Sometimes, the cheap version of a product is the worst deal because it will only last half as long as the more expensive version. Thinking before spending can…

Debt collectors want you to think that they can harass you whenever they want. Some of them will even outright lie or scare you in order to get you to pay off the debt. There is good news for you – you no longer need to put up with it. Here is what you can do about those pesky collection agencies. Collection Agencies Fall Into Two Categories You will…

There are a few types of credit inquiries individuals will encounter in life. Not all of them affect credit scores, but none of them will improve your credit scores.  Like Google and its algorithm, the Fair Isaac Corp. does not divulge the details of how FICO scores are derived. The major reporting agencies only give out general criteria. Although the factors are the same for each individual, the weight…

Anyone is subject to ID theft these days.  And when it happens, your credit can be damaged. That’s because criminals steal your ID to commit fraud and forgery in your name. Basically, ID theft is when someone takes your personal information without your knowledge or consent and uses the data for ill-gotten financial gain. Your personal information includes your name, address, birthday, credit card numbers, bank accounts, medical records…