Day traders participate in not only the stock market, but in the futures and foreign exchange (forex) markets also. Each of these markets works differently. If you’re thinking about day trading it helps to learn more about stocks, forex, and futures so that you can make informed decisions. What Is Day Trading? Day trading is the act of purchasing and selling (or selling and purchasing) the same security on the same day in a margin account....
The IRS uses a set of rules that measures evidence of control and independence in three categories: behavioral, financial, and type of relationship. Either a worker or an employer can file Form SS-8 and receive a determination on this question from the IRS. What Is Form SS-8? The information you provide to the IRS on Form SS-8 is used to differentiate independent contractors from employees. Businesses must withhold income taxes, Social Security tax, and Medicare tax from an employee’s pay, and they must match the employee’s Social Security and Medicare contributions....
Private lenders and investors are an option to explore if you’re looking for money to start or grow your business, but it’s not right for everyone. Consider the pros and cons, plus the other options you have, before making a decision. How Does Private Lender Financing Work? Private lender financing allows you to get a private loan through a variety of lenders. From online business loan firms, “fintech” companies, and more....
If you’ve been working to improve your credit, you may need to dispute certain items on your credit report. Resolving inaccuracies and addressing other negative or unverifiable items on your credit report can be an efficient way to improve your credit score. Credit Bureau Responsibilities The three major credit bureaus—Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion—are required to include only accurate and verifiable information in consumer credit reports. They collect consumer credit information from lenders and other sources, then resell that information to businesses that need to evaluate consumer credit applications....
What to Do When You Get a Job Offer When you receive a job offer, you typically don’t want to say “yes” and take the job on the spot. Even if you know you want the job, take the time to evaluate the job offer to be absolutely certain that the position is right for you. Then decide if the compensation package is reasonable. If you don’t think you want the job, there may be a good reason to decline the offer....
There were 326,000 initial claims for benefits last week, 38,000 fewer than in the previous week and about 20,000 less than economists had expected, according to seasonally adjusted data released Thursday by the Department of Labor. Some economists said the last few weeks may have been skewed by a reporting anomaly in California, which reported the biggest decline of any state last week after a large bump the previous week....
The housing market has been on fire during the pandemic, with demand outstripping supply as people stuck at home have yearned for more space to live and work. Fierce competition for the depleted inventory of existing homes has put even more pressure on builders, but shortages of ever-more-expensive raw materials are slowing the pace of building. A lack of available land and labor are two other major headwinds likely to continue to drive prices higher, according to the National Association of Home Builders....
What Is the Cash Value of a Life Insurance Policy? Cash value is the amount of money inside a permanent life insurance policy. It is the accumulation of funds that remains after your premiums pay for policy fees and expenses, including the cost of insurance. Increases in the cash value over time can help offset increased insurance costs as the insured person gets older. How Cash Value for Life Insurance Works When you pay premiums on a permanent insurance policy, a portion of that money goes into what is referred to as the cash value of the policy....
Using income to define the middle class has one significant drawback: It doesn’t account for the assets a household has, such as real estate or investments. For example, many retired households have a high net worth but a modest household income. They don’t need a high income, because their homes and cars are often paid off, and they don’t need to save for retirement. How Is Net Worth Calculated? Net worth is a measurement of wealth: It is the total of all the assets a household owns minus all the debt it owes....
The national Current Employment Statistics report shares information related to all aspects of the job market. This includes the unemployment rate, the absolute number of jobs added or lost, total hours worked, average hourly wages, and how the jobs picture for various sectors has fared (such as government, restaurants, or manufacturing). The job market is the heartbeat of the economy. That’s why the employment report is so important. It’s an indicator of economic health....
Sales of new single-family houses in July ticked up 1% to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 708,000, the bureau said in a report Tuesday, surprising economists who had expected a downturn. The increase was the result of more homes coming on the market, economists said. “Builders have plenty of projects in the pipeline to meet demand and are likely to keep construction activity running on all cylinders for the foreseeable future,” economists at First Trust said in a commentary....
Paceline, the maker of the fitness app, launched its first credit card last week, a Visa Signature that rewards cardholders who meet weekly fitness targets with 5% cash back on sneakers, gym memberships, and even groceries and pharmacy purchases at select stores and providers. Other purchases earn 3% cash back as long as users meet those targets. Paceline says its card, which comes with a $60 annual fee, is the first to reward consistent fitness habits with credit card rewards, although the idea of linking exercise to cash isn’t new—and it’s the high cash-back rates that make the card noteworthy....
Often, if you can give the seller a reason to care about you, they may be more likely to accept your offer. Learn more about tips for negotiation that will help you get the home you want. Put a Human Face to the Offer Real estate is a people business. While you may think real estate is all about numbers and expediency, it is really about people management and persuading people to do what you want....
Employers might conduct drug and alcohol tests as a condition of employment, randomly, or because of an accident or injury. They might also perform tests because an employee appears to be under the influence of drugs or alcohol on the job, if unexcused absence from work or lateness is an issue, or if performance appears to be impacted by drug or alcohol abuse. So, what can you do if you are concerned about passing a drug test?...
The PCEPI is also called the PCE price index. Of all the measures of consumer price changes, the PCEPI includes the broadest set of goods and services. How It’s Calculated The Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) estimates the PCE price index each month and publishes its findings in a report called “Personal Income and Outlays.“ The BEA uses the same data that creates the quarterly gross domestic product (GDP) report that measures U....
Take a look at what you could face. Louisiana No Proof of Insurance Penalties Failure to abide by minimum car insurance laws in Louisiana could lead to fines, limited recovery of damages, or impoundment of your car. If you don’t have insurance, you’ll be fined between $500 and $1,000 for the first offense. Even neglecting to carry proof of insurance—meaning you forget your insurance card at home when you’re out driving on the road—can quickly cause you to have your car impounded and the license plates removed....
Many consumers are swiping right on buy now, pay later (BNPL) purchases, and a new survey found these glowing new relationships are pushing credit cards to the back of people’s wallets. The credit card industry also brought us news of sweeter bonus categories for the Capital One Savor cards and another way to use new Amex cards online right away. This credit card news roundup contains what you should know about the cards in your wallet....
The Physicians Mutual family of insurance companies includes Physicians Mutual Insurance Company ($2.6 billion in assets and $269.8 million in total claims paid in 2020) and Physicians Life Insurance Company ($1.75 billion in assets and $163.2 million in total claims paid in 2020). The company headquarters is located in Omaha, Nebraska. Rob Reed is the current President and CEO of the company. Ratings and Awards Physicians Mutual has consistently high financial strength ratings from these insurance rating organizations:...
Popmoney Basics Here’s how Popmoney works and what you can do with it: Electronic Transfers Popmoney moves funds directly from one bank to another bank using the Automated Clearing House (ACH) network. Unlike other forms of payment (like PayPal or Venmo), you don’t have a Popmoney account that holds any balance—the money is always in the sender or recipient’s bank account. Payments can be made to an individual using their email address or mobile number....
Learn a full definition of pricing, how it compares to cost, and some common pricing strategies. What Is Pricing? Pricing refers to the decision-making process that goes into establishing a value for a product or service. There are many different strategies that a business can use when setting prices, but they are all a form of pricing. The price that’s set during the pricing process is what the customer will pay for that product or service....
