FAFSA vs. CSS Profile Why two applications? In short, the FAFSA is a standardized application used for federal financial student aid, such as Pell grants or loans. Many states and schools also use the FAFSA to determine their own financial aid. However, if a college wants more flexibility in the factors used to determine financial aid, the CSS/Profile allows for more variation. The Profile is used to apply online for non-federal financial aid from more than 200 colleges and scholarship programs....

Taking action to protect the environment and to promote human rights and equal employment opportunities are some examples of CSR. Businesses can also act to promote educational opportunities or women’s and minority rights. Socially responsible investing (SRI) is an investing interest strategy in which investors develop standards to invest only in businesses that strive to abide by acceptable social values. The Roots of Socially Responsible Investing Socially responsible investing in the U....

But be careful. A home office deduction is not always in everyone’s best interest. Consider the pros and cons of a home office deduction. And if you have any doubts, consult a tax specialist for your specific circumstances. Here are some things to consider before taking a home office deduction on your income taxes. Employment Status Affects Your Home Office Deduction It makes a difference whether you are an employee versus a self-employed individual....

Advantages of Day Trading Futures All positions must close by the end of the day, and no positions remain overnight when day trading futures. A futures day trader should sleep well at night as no risk exists. Most of the time, futures open at a much different price than where they closed the previous day. Price volatility means that the chances of unexpected losses or profits rise when positions remain on the books at the end of a trading session....

Definition and Examples of Business Insurance Exclusions A business insurance exclusion is a provision in a business insurance policy that eliminates coverage for certain types of risks. Some exclusions are broad, precluding coverage for a wide range of claims. For example, virtually all business auto policies exclude liability coverage for any covered auto while used in any professional or organized racing or demolition contest. The “racing” exclusion is absolute and contains no exceptions....

There are also different types of taxes, depending on various business activities, like selling taxable products or services, using equipment, owning business property, having employees, and of course, making a profit. If you are just starting your business, you need to know what taxes you’ll be expected to pay. If your business has changed—for example, if you have bought property or started hiring employees—you’ll need to know about the taxes on these activities, too....

The average rate offered for a conventional 30-year fixed mortgage climbed to 5.68% from 5.61% the previous business day, while the average 15-year rate rose to 4.77% from 4.72% the previous business day. Rates have leveled off some after spiking in April to as high as 6.19% and 5.26%, respectively—the highest levels we’d seen since at least 2019 (and likely much farther back.) Even with the most recent increases, both rates are still around half a percentage point below those April peaks....

The average rate offered to homebuyers using a conventional 30-year fixed mortgage rose to 4.32% from 4.24% the previous business day. The average for a 15-year fixed mortgage rose to 3.45% from 3.36% the previous business day. Their recent highs, hit last month, were 4.41% and 3.56%, respectively. Fixed mortgage rates tend to track the direction of 10-year Treasury yields, which usually rise with heightened inflation fears (and fall when those fears subside)....

There are plenty of similarities, but a few key differences make online banks attractive to web-savvy consumers. Identifying the main reasons to use an online bank can help you choose the right banking solution for your needs. Free Checking One of the top reasons to use an online bank is the potential for free checking, which is a checking account without the monthly maintenance fees that are usually imposed for having an account....

Banking Career Options The best part about a career in banking is that you can ultimately choose from a wide range of banking job titles beyond the familiar bank teller or loan officer roles. Also, there’s plenty of room to move up to higher paying positions as you gain experience, especially if you’re able to further your education. Top 10 Banking Jobs Check out your options to find the best career fit based on your interests, skills, and education level....

These risk reduction strategies will help the real estate investor to minimize the chances of a losing investment. The ability to do economical remodel or upgrades to increase rents is also a good indicator for the purchase of a rental property. Often, landlords will become tired of marketing and they will settle for acceptable rents, even if they are below current market rates. This skews some of the valuation and ROI calculations, but in a good way if you see it....

While most traders recognize the index names, many new traders don’t know how the stock indexes are traded. They often assume that they are traded like individual stocks. However, stock indexes cannot be traded directly. Instead, they exist for informational purposes only—as a way to track the performance of a group of stocks. Market data is available for the stock indexes, and they can be charted like any other stock, but there is no way to make either a long or short trade on the actual stock indexes themselves....

Various types of CDs have been created to suit different preferences, from standard to market-linked and jumbo. Learn all you need to know about the various types of CDs and how to choose the right one for you. How Does a Certificate of Deposit (CD) Work? A standard CD is a low-risk type of investment account offered by a financial institution like a bank or credit union, where money is deposited for a certain amount of time in exchange for interest earnings....

For instance, if one currency has an interest rate of 3% and the other has a rate of 1%, it has a 2% IRD. If you were to buy the currency that pays 3% against one that pays 1%, you would be paid on the difference with daily interest payments. This is known as the carry trade. You’re earning carry on the IRD. Economic changes in the 2010s, such as negative interest rates, have caused more people to look into and learn more about IRDs....

Every month the Census Bureau releases the Advanced Monthly Sales for Retail and Food Services estimate for the month before. The bureau also releases an estimate for the month before, and the data is collected quarterly. Retail sales are a key indicator of the health of the economy. Learn more about the estimate, its importance, and the latest reported figures. What Retail Sales Mean for You As an important measure of economic activity, retail sales are watched closely by investors, policymakers, and businesses....

Although it’s not only possible but extremely easy to use someone else’s debit or credit card or lend yours, not all banks or credit card companies will permit you to do so. Even if the practice isn’t forbidden by the issuer, both the person lending and using the card risk trouble if the issuer or other authorities find out. Understanding Your Card Terms Before you share your plastic with a relative, a friend, or an employee, review the cardholder agreement for your debit or credit card to determine whether sharing your card is permitted....

In this article, I’ll walk you through them step-by-step so you have a basic understanding of why the concept of value traps is important. Being aware of their existence can help you better manage your portfolio risk, avoiding situations that might otherwise tempt you to do something foolish. What Is a Value Trap? In the world of money management, the term “value trap” refers to a situation that, on the surface, appears to offer an investor the opportunity to acquire significant assets and/or earnings relative to market price, promising a chance at much higher-than-average profits than the broader stock market, but it turns out to be illusionary due to any number of factors....

But interest rates always rise again—and when that happens, how do those higher rates affect your personal finances? When you hear of the possibility of rate hikes by the Federal Reserve, you can take several proactive measures to minimize the effect on your financial situation. How Rising Interest Rates Affect the Economy When the Fed starts pushing up interest rates, you’ll see the effects flow through to your credit card debt, mortgage rates, and rates on car loans....

Fiction doesn’t really depict what work is like for most brokers. It can be a fulfilling career field if you’re the right kind of person. Before you jump into a career in the stock market with both feet, you need to learn more about what this job entails. What Is a Stockbroker? Stockbrokers are, for the most part, middlemen. Stocks are bought and sold through stock markets such as the New York Stock Exchange and NASDAQ, and most people who want to trade stocks need brokers to make trades on their behalf....

ETFs are traded on stock exchanges while the market is open. Unlike mutual funds, the value of an ETF fluctuates throughout the day in accordance with the value of its holdings, rather than adopting the net asset value (NAV) calculation used by mutual funds at the end of each business day. While passively managed ETFs track a benchmark such as the S&P 500 or the Nasdaq 100, the concept behind an actively managed ETF is that the fund manager(s) can deviate from a benchmark when selecting the fund’s holdings in an attempt to beat a benchmark’s performance....