How to Vet Holiday Deals and Avoid Scams
Published: November 12, 2021
Supply chain issues, shipping delays and lingering fears from the pandemic have injected a heightened level of stress and scarcity into this year's holiday shopping season. That could lead some consumers to fall for scam deals or buy products that aren't quite what they expected. Here's how to avoid a Black Friday deal that's too good to be true - and how to get the best real deals this holiday season.
Use It or Lose It: Take Advantage of Benefits Before Year-End
Published: November 3, 2021
Retirement plans, health insurance and other benefits you get through your employer often reset with (or near) the new year. How can you best take advantage of your employee benefits as the year winds down? Taking the following steps helps ensure you get the most from your benefits before the year ends.
The Power of Having Savings Goals
Published: October 26, 2021
You know you want to get ahead with your finances. Maybe you imagine this as feeling financially secure, as knowing that your family will always be taken care of, or as reaching a place where you feel like you can finally relax and enjoy your money. But if you dig a little deeper into this vision, what are the specific accomplishments that you see? Do you imagine owning your own home, or living completely debt-free? Maybe you picture helping a family member pay for college, or being able to afford a certain lifestyle in retirement.
Beat Your Summer 'Revenge Shopping' Debt
Published: October 12, 2021
The joy of shouting to your friends over the roar of a crowded bar, the giddiness of seeing the world rushing by below you from the seat of an airplane, the weirdly constricting sensation of wearing pants that aren't elastic - the summer of 2021 brought back many experiences we had forgone during the past year and a half of the pandemic. But this push to re-create a world that felt something like "normal" may have brought back another familiar feeling: the anxiety of racking up debt.
Don't Just Pay Your Bills - Pay Attention
Published: September 17, 2021
Forget the daily $5 latte as an already timeworn example of less than mindful spending. One financial advisor had a client spending some $3,000 a month on sushi - without realizing it. The advisor convinced his client to track a month's worth of spending and both of them were surprised by the results.
5 Sneaky Things COVID-19 Might Do to Your Tax Bill
Published: September 15, 2021
Staying home for months on end has taken a toll on everyone, but it can also take a toll on your tax return. Here are five unexpected ways the pandemic could affect your taxes - and what tax pros say you can do about it.