If you’re a conservative investor, or think that you should be, find out the best way to invest conservatively with mutual funds. You may also want to learn how to build your own conservative portfolio with a diverse selection of funds. Conservative Mutual Funds Definition Mutual funds that are conservative are commonly referred to as “conservative-allocation funds” because they have an allocation (mix of stocks, bonds and cash) that is relatively low in risk....

Water-Related Exclusions Many commercial property policies contain water exclusions like the ones found in the standard ISO Special Causes of Loss Form. This form excludes three categories of water damage. Flood The water exclusion applies to damage caused by water that accumulates in various forms, including a flood, waves, mudflow, and water that backs up from a sewer or drain. The exclusion is very broad as it is subject to the anti-concurrent causation language that appears at the beginning of the exclusions section....

Learn more about these expenses and how to report them on Schedule C if that applies to your type of business. What Business Expenses Are Deductible? Unlike personal expenses, business expenses are, for the most part, deductible. The IRS defines business expenses as expenses that are “ordinary and necessary.” “Ordinary” means it’s a common expense in your industry. “Necessary” means it’s helpful and appropriate for your business. For example, a graphic designer would need graphic design software....

In this article, learn how banking accounts and credit history are linked and why it’s in a consumer’s best interest to maintain both good credit and sound banking history. What You Should Know About ChexSystems While banks don’t check credit reports in the traditional sense, there is a special report that banks can pull from ChexSystems. In addition to an internal application and identity verification, banks typically query a database on potential clients....

You may have a shopping addiction if you shop to deal with negative feelings, argue with loved ones about your spending habits, buy things on credit that you couldn’t afford to buy in cash, or feel guilty or ashamed after going shopping. If you think you might have a spending problem, it’s important to acknowledge these issues. You may need to seek professional help, which will allow you to take control of your finances....

Your Job Is Interfering With Your Family Responsibilities If you are having trouble achieving a balance between your career and your family, you may find yourself stressed out. You may have even considered taking a hiatus from your career altogether but don’t know if that is the best thing to do. Before you quit, investigate whether there are alternative work options that can help make your work schedule more bearable. For example, you can see if your boss is amenable to letting you work a ​flexible schedule....

Deceased Person Is Survived by a Spouse and/or Descendants Here is what will happen if the deceased person is survived by a spouse and/or descendants (e.g., children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren): Survived by a spouse and descendants: In this case, the surviving spouse will receive a life estate in the deceased person’s probate real estate and will inherit half of the deceased person’s remaining probate estate. The deceased person’s descendants will inherit the remaining ​probate estate....

However, there are some authentic programs offering grants for single mothers and fathers, including those listed below. There are also merit-based educational grants for single parents and programs to help repay borrowed funds. The Federal Pell Grant Program The Federal Pell Grant program is not limited only to single mothers, but it is often touted as a “single mother grant,” because government Pell Grants have helped many single mothers—and fathers—to go back to school and increase their income potential....

As an employer, your business is responsible for paying unemployment taxes to the IRS and making reports to the IRS on Form 940, Employer’s Annual Federal Unemployment (FUTA) Tax Return Unemployment Taxes at the State Level Both the federal government and most state governments collect unemployment taxes. The federal government collects unemployment funds and pays into state funds—known as State Unemployment Tax (SUTA). The federal funds help to supplement what the states collect....

Now the chef and owner of Fearing’s Restaurant at the Ritz-Carlton hotel has about half his typical kitchen staff of 35 and has been forced to close for dinner on Sundays and Mondays and lunch on Mondays and Tuesdays. Customers have told him how disappointed they are when they’ve arrived—sometimes with clients in town on business—only to realize they can’t get his well-known Southwestern cuisine that day. “We don’t have enough people....

Novice traders can have trouble choosing the trading style that best suits their personality, but you must do so to achieve long-term success as a professional trader. If you are a trader and do not yet feel as though you have found your trading style, you still can. Here are some of the personality traits that go with the different styles of trading. Choosing the trading style that best suits your personality gives you a better chance to profit as a trader....

So how do you know your pension is really going to be there for you? What Is a Pension? A pension is a retirement plan with a defined benefit. This amount is paid out to employees after they retire. Pensions are different from retirement plans such as a 401(k). These have a defined contribution instead of a defined benefit. The details of the benefits in a pension are often worked out between the workers’ representatives and the management of the company....

State of the Union Priority Kick-Off Speech Jan. 24, 2012 - President Obama outlined his budget priorities in the 2012 State of the Union Address. The theme was to reduce income inequality by extending the 2010 tax cuts to everyone except those making $250,000 a year or more. Feb. 13, 2012 - President Obama submitted his budget to Congress. March 20, 2012 - House Budget Committee Chairman Paul Ryan submitted the House budget proposal, the Path to Prosperity....

To do this, you have to know how capital gains taxes work. You’ll also need to be able to estimate your taxable income each year. Managing your capital gains means looking for years where it makes sense to “harvest” gains or losses in relation to your projected tax bracket for that year. Short-Term vs. Long-Term Capital Gains You pay capital gains taxes when you’ve owned an interest-earning investment for more than a year and sell it....

In fact, there are a number of free options for people making under certain incomes, but many people don’t realize they exist or get them confused with other options that may or may not be free. (And TurboTax is only making it worse with a misleading ad campaign, according to a lawsuit the Federal Trade Commission filed last week.) Here’s what you need to know in simple terms. If you go to the IRS webpage linked here, you’ll see eight free online tax prep options for those who qualify....

Unemployment typically rises during recessions and falls during periods of economic prosperity. The rate declined during several U.S. wars, particularly during World War II. The unemployment rate rose during the recessions that followed those wars. Here’s how the unemployment rate has changed throughout history and how it has compared to gross domestic product (GDP) and inflation. How Unemployment Tracks Recessions The unemployment rate is the percentage of unemployed workers in the labor force....

While the creator of cryptocurrency flagship Bitcoin is somewhat mysterious, there’s plenty we know about the history of cryptocurrency that could influence your decisions around investing and trading in this relatively new asset class. The Challenge of Digital Currency Digital currencies offer a unique challenge compared to traditional currencies like dollars and euros, called “fiat” currencies in the cryptocurrency community. That’s because, unlike dollars and cents that can be physically exchanged and tracked, cryptocurrencies exist only in the digital domain....

Here’s a quick look at the most significant economic indicators of the day and what they tell us S&P CoreLogic Case-Shiller Home Price Index Single-family home prices were 20.6% higher this March than last March, according to the S&P CoreLogic Case-Shiller U.S. National Home Price NSA Index. That’s up from 20% the index recorded in the previous month. It’s the biggest gain in home prices in more than 35 years of data....

Some types of charitable giving provide different tax breaks than others. No matter what type of charitable giving you prefer, it’s important to know the tax implications so that you can plan and budget for donations while knowing how your taxes will be affected. Charitable Giving and Tax Deductions Charitable giving can be deducted from your taxable income, possibly bringing you down into a lower tax bracket. Deductions generally rely on three factors: You’re generally limited to deducting no more than 60% of your adjusted gross income (AGI), although there may be lower thresholds depending on the type of donation....

Debit Cards and FICO Scores The FICO score is the most important credit score for major loans like mortgages, auto loans, and most credit cards, but it is based on how you handle credit—and debit cards are typically just an extension of a checking account. Payments are drawn from a checking account, just as if you were writing a paper check. As far as FICO is concerned, the factors considered in your credit score include:...