Investing in stocks can be a great way to grow wealth over time. It can also allow you to gain more income through dividends if you invest enough. Learn how to get started, how to choose, as well as the risks you should consider. Blue-Chip Stocks Stocks in companies that are longtime market standbys are called “blue-chip stocks.” Even if they are not highlighted in the press, they are generally old and sturdy; they tend to be able to weather changing market conditions and economic storms....

Redemption offers for the best cash-back credit cards include statement credits, gift cards, and even the ability to redeem your rewards for merchandise. Here’s how to take advantage of your card’s cash-back options, from the how-to basics on cash-back redemption to potential problems to watch out for. Statement Credit One of the most straightforward redemption approaches is a statement credit. This reward appears as a credit on your statement and decreases your card balance by the amount of your reward....

If you’re considering becoming an independent contractor, or are one already, it helps to be familiar with the taxes you’ll be required to report and pay so that you can plan for tax time. What Is an Independent Contractor? An independent contractor (IC) is someone who directly offers services to the general public. Independent contractors may be people who work in professions—dentists, doctors, or attorneys. They may also work in such trades as plumbing, building contracting, or electrical work....

Additionally, if you are in a period of earning less income than usual or believe your income will be higher in the future, there are tax benefits to converting an old 401(k) to a Roth IRA in a low-income year. Converting a 401(k) to a Roth IRA involves a few, easy steps between your former workplace 401(k) administrator and the financial institution where your Roth IRA account is located. With the information below, you’ll have a better understanding of what a Roth IRA rollover is, what advantages it provides, the steps it takes, and alternative rollover options....

How To Save for a Down Payment How much you’ll need for a down payment can depend on your situation and the details of your loan. No down payment would be required if you received a U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) loan. You would have to come up with a more substantial down payment on a conventional loan to avoid the cost of mortgage insurance. Most lenders require 20% down to waive this requirement....

Understand the Housing Market When selling a home, most homeowners want to get the highest price possible in the shortest amount of time. A key to achieving both goals is selling at the right time. Buyer’s vs. Seller’s Markets Homes typically sell at higher prices and more quickly in seller’s markets—when there are plenty of buyers but a shortage of homes for sale. Why? Under these conditions, buyers are often willing to pay more, bidding wars ensue, and there’s pressure to make offers quickly to beat out the competition....

If your employer is paying you with a prepaid debit card, it may be even more difficult to stop living from paycheck to paycheck, but it can be done. These steps can help you start thriving financially so you can begin reaching your financial goals A budget that actually works has all of your expenses built into it so that you will not be surprised when your car registration and taxes are due, or when you have to pay your insurance premiums....

These tips can help if you’re wondering how to make your money stretch even further when you don’t have an emergency fund to fall back on. Government Assistance The American Rescue Plan was passed in early 2021 to help the country recover from COVID-19. Included were financial aid provisions to prevent foreclosures and rental assistance. This includes USDA loans, VA loans, FHA loans, and loans guaranteed by the Office of Native American Programs....

The Cost of High Credit Card Balances Not only are high balances bad for your credit score, but they’re also bad for your wallet. The higher your credit card balances, the more you’ll pay in finance charges (also known as interest). Those extra charges are paid to the credit card issuer for extending you the convenience of repaying your balance over time. And if your balance has a high-interest rate, those monthly finance charges make it more difficult to repay your balance....

In some cases, your employer may simply agree to let you work at the same or a similar job at a different location. In others, you may have to apply for an open position in the new location. It depends on company policy, workforce requirements, and staffing needs in both departments or locations. There are other reasons you may want to transfer. If you aren’t thrilled with your job but like your company, one of the first places to consider for new employment may be your current employer....

You can create a new resume and other documents using Google Docs, upload a resume from a word processing program such as Microsoft Word, and save, edit, store, and share your resume with prospective employers. Here’s how to use Google Drive to easily create and manage all your job application materials. What Is Google Drive? Google Drive is an organizational system, where you can create, store, and share files. Through it, you can: Create, edit, and save documents using Google Docs (Google word processing app)Upload files from your computerEdit and view files from your computer, tablet, or smartphone Store job materials online Share documents with prospective employers and networking contactsShare files with career counselors, friends, and family helping with your job search...

Because it’s a safety net, you should only use an emergency fund when you have true emergencies, like medical expenses, job loss, or divorce. Holiday shopping, a down payment for a new car, or new home appliances don’t qualify as emergencies. Instead, you should save for these expenses separately and leave your emergency savings for the times that you truly need it. For prolonged emergencies that lead to financial hardship, managing your emergency fund becomes important for ensuring you don’t exhaust your savings before the situation has improved....

Learn more about insurance endorsements and how they work. What Is an Insurance Endorsement? In property and casualty insurance, an endorsement is a document attached to an insurance contract that amends a policy. An endorsement may have its own limits and deductible. In life and health insurance, an endorsement is referred to as a rider. An endorsement can be added when the policy is issued, during your policy term, or when you renew your policy....

This question requires some self-reflection and can be tricky to answer. After all, you don’t want to highlight something you handled poorly during a job interview. If you think about this question ahead of time, you won’t find yourself swallowing hard and struggling to respond during your interview. Get tips on the best ways to respond to this question—along with what not to say. What the Interviewer Wants to Know When interviewers ask you questions about things you would have done differently at work, they want to gain insight into your job-related weaknesses....

Why Do People Switch Banks? Your bank or credit union is a safe place to keep idle cash, and interest earnings make your money grow. Banks lend your savings to other customers, allowing them to earn revenue off your money. In return, they pay you a portion of what they charge, which encourages you to keep your money on deposit. However, banks differ in the interest rates they offer. Some banks, such as smaller banks, are competing for your deposit funds and are willing to offer a higher interest rate....

What Is a Joint Tenancy With Rights of Survivorship? Let’s start with the “joint tenants” part of JTWROS. Joint tenants are two or more people who own property together. Four requirements or “unities” must be present to allow them to hold title this way: Unity of Time: They must take possession of the property concurrently, at the same time.Unity of Title: They must take title by the same “instrument.” An instrument is any document that legally transfers property, such as a deed or a will....

In most cases, though, the process of retaining your FEHB after you leave your federal job is simple and automatic. What Requirements Must You Meet to Keep FEHB After You Retire? A federal employee retiree had to have been enrolled in FEHB with active coverage at the date of their retirement to qualify for FEHB in retirement. And they must have been covered by the FEHB program for five years before retiring....

Learn what you should know about mutual funds and how they can help with successful investing. What Are Mutual Funds? Mutual funds are an investment that allows a group of investors to pool their money and hire a portfolio manager. With the fund’s stated goal or focus in mind, the manager invests this money in stocks, bonds, or other securities. The fund manager continues to buy and sell stocks and securities according to the style dictated by the fund’s prospectus....

If, after evaluating the pros and cons of quitting your job, you decide that it is the best choice for your situation, you can write a resignation letter to announce your decision to your employer. Review tips for resigning while you’re on maternity leave, along with sample resignation letters you can use as a starting point for your own letter or email. Reasons to Quit Your Job There are several reasons why you might decide to quit your job during maternity leave or afterward....

Like most good personal finance software, Moneydance has online banking capabilities. It features graphs, reports, and a nice summary page to give you a visual feel for where your finances stand. You can use it to set up payment schedules for recurring or one-time transactions. You can also get a Moneydance app for your iPhone if you want to keep your budget with you at all times. YNAB is great for anyone who’s really into keeping tabs on their budget, and it’s the budgeting software to check out for anyone who wants to get started with budgeting....