As investors have fled riskier assets recently amid interest rate hikes by the Federal Reserve and signs of a worsening economy, cryptocurrencies have fared even worse than traditional stocks. The benchmark S&P 500 index, for example, is still up 35.6% compared to where it was in December 2017, even though it’s currently in a bear market. Deflated prices for Bitcoin and other digital currencies have led to layoffs at crypto exchanges such as Coinbase and Crypto....

Find out more about developing a book of business and what you can use it for. What Is a Book of Business? A book of business is the list of clients maintained by someone who provides specialized professional services, such as financial services. Ideally, the professional regularly adds clients and customers to keep their book of business growing. Professionals who might keep a book of business include: Financial advisersPrivate and investment bankersFinancial plannersCertified public accountants (CPAs)LawyersInsurance sales agentsSalespeople...

In short, inflation is when the cost of things goes up. (Alternately, deflation is when costs go down.) Inflation can affect items that you buy on a regular basis, such as food and gas, but it can affect nearly every purchase that you make. There are both long and short-term effects of inflation. While inflation can have an adverse effect on your financial future, it can also make it difficult to meet your financial obligations right now....

But bundling isn’t always the right choice. While most companies offer discounts for bundling, there are many other factors to think about. Just the cost savings might not be the best reason to switch your car and home insurance or choose a new provider. Before you switch, you need to find out whether you really will save money. You also need to note any deviations from your current coverage. Once you know what the savings and plans will be, you can shop around for the best coverage and price....

Find out the pros and cons of purchasing a rental car, how the process works, and some tips for buying the right rental car for you. How Does Buying a Rental Car Work? Buying a rental car is similar to the process of buying a used car from a dealer. Rental car companies advertise the vehicles they have for sale online. You can also visit a location near you and inquire....

Here are some reasons a house might be sold at auction, the breakdown of the auction itself, and what you’ll need to know in order to participate. Why Homes Are Sold at Online Auctions You may be familiar with home auctions that happen in person, such as through a trustee’s sale or a sheriff’s sale; online home auctions contain similar elements, except the bidding is conducted completely on the internet....

Suppose the only information you had were those two lists: one showing stocks that hit new highs and the other of stocks that hit new lows. Which list would you pick from? Buy Stocks Low You could make an argument that, in the absence of other information, a selection from the 52-week low list makes as good of a guess as any. The company you randomly pick off the 52-week low list may be a great bargain—beaten up by an unappreciative market or caught in some regulatory squeeze that was about to end....

We then look at the same property with the mortgage included and using the actual cash invested. This gives us a cash-on-cash rental yield. Net Rental Yield Here’s an example if you’re renting a property for $2,400 a month and it’s unoccupied 5 percent of the year. The take-out for a vacancy for annual cash in is $27,360. Now calculate these costs: Annual insurance cost: $1,200Annual taxes: $1,400Annual repairs budget: $600Rent management fee: 6 percent...

How Old Does My Ex Have to Be? This question was emailed to me, “Hi, I have a question about benefits on my ex-spouse’s Social Security. I will be 66 in June. He is one year younger than me. We were married for 19 years, and have been divorced for 20. I did not re-marry. His earnings far exceed mine. Every article I read is unclear on whether he has to be 66 (full retirement age before I can collect half of his) or 62....

Transferring stocks from one broker to another is a bit of a process, however, and it can vary from broker to broker. Often, brokerage firms will add obstacles to make it harder to transfer stocks out of your account, so it’s important to be ready to jump through a few hoops or to pay fees to complete the transfer. Can I Transfer Stock From One Brokerage to Another? Yes, it is possible to transfer stocks and other investments from one brokerage account to another....

Getting a mortgage using only income from Social Security is possible, but affording a mortgage is not as easy as it might have been when you were working. There are other considerations to take into account when you’re buying a home as a retired person, too. Here’s what you need to know. Can You Get a Mortgage in Retirement? Yes, it’s possible to get a mortgage in retirement, even if your sole source of income is Social Security benefits....

The way the UTMA is written, such a gift to a minor is irrevocable and cannot be undone. There is no un-ringing the bell after the check has been deposited, the shares have been transferred, or the mutual fund transactions have been recorded. While the assets in the UTMA belong to the minor, there may be certain circumstances where a parent custodian may be able to withdraw from the account....

If you have a home equity loan but want better rates or different terms, there are ways to refinance. Learn more about how a home equity loan works and about the key differences in refinancing options to keep in mind. Who Qualifies To Refinance Their Home Equity Loan? Lenders look at several factors to determine whether or not you can refinance your loan, including your: Credit scoreHome valueMortgage balanceIncome and employment historyDebt obligations...

Do I Have to File a Police Report After an Accident? If you plan on filing a claim with your insurance, you will likely need to file a police report. If more than one driver is involved, it’s always a good idea, so you have proof of exactly what the accident entailed and the scope of any injuries. Will My Car Be Totaled? If the value of the repair to your car is higher than the value of the vehicle, it is certainly totaled....

Traditional CDs are actually savings accounts, but they’re also considered “fixed income” investments. A regular savings account provides a variable interest rate that changes, and you can move your money in or out fairly easily. In contrast, a CD provides a fixed interest rate based on how long the investor agrees to keep their money invested, which might be a few months to several years. You’ll usually face penalties for early withdrawals....

The new rule, which goes into effect next November, bans lawsuits and legal threats over time-barred debt, sometimes called “zombie” debt. It also prohibits creditors from “parking” debts on a consumer’s credit report without first informing them and requires collectors to inform debtors of their rights at the start of collections. Debt is considered time-barred if it is older than the statute of limitations provided under state laws. These are usually three to six years, although longer in some places or for some types of debt....

Comparing Broker Commission Rates Commission rates on trading commodities have declined a great deal in the age of electronics. Many discount brokers were charging in excess of $50 per round-turn—a buy and then sell transaction—in the early 2000s. Discount brokers began offering commissions under $10 per round-turn with the move to electronic trading. Commissions on Futures Rates on futures contracts are paid per contract, not per order. A transaction of 100 contracts is 100 times more costly than one of one contract....

Avoid Duplication If you are a sole proprietor, you may own both commercial vehicles (like trucks and trailers) that you use in your business and private passenger autos that you use for non-business purposes. Commercial autos owned by business entities must be insured under a business auto policy. Both commercial and personal auto policies provide automatic coverage for vehicles you acquire after the policy inception date. Both provide auto liability coverage for a vehicle used as a temporary substitute for a covered auto that is out of service....

Learn more about creative resumes and whether you should use one. What Is a Creative Resume? A creative resume is a resume that doesn’t follow the traditional resume templates. These resumes are typically creative, catchy, and designed to showcase your skills and qualifications in a way that plain words on paper can’t. Creative resumes can be infographics, video resumes, online portfolios, and personal websites with a career focus. How Creative Resumes Work Typically, creative resumes make use of the applicants’ creative skills and are appropriate for their industry and for the job they’re seeking....

The seven Delta Air Lines-branded credit cards issued by American Express have been significantly refreshed, and most of the offer changes are good news for current and future cardholders. Here’s the low-down on the most notable sweeping program changes, and why these airline cards are now more competitive for travelers. What’s Changed: Higher Earning Rates & Annual Fees, Plus New Benefits Whether you’re a new or long-time cardholder, these changes automatically went into effect Jan....