401(k) Tricks You Probably Don’t Know

Key Takeaways Most people, when they are starting off in the workforce, end up working at a few different jobs for the first few years. Many companies offer matching 401(k) programs, and you can actually roll over one 401(k) at one company to another 401(k) at another company. Most 401(k)s have what’s called a loan […]

Your Money Timeline

Key Takeaways When it comes to investing money, the order in which you invest matters. Before investing in anything, make sure your emergency fund is set up and topped off. It’s important to know what your short, intermediate, and long-term goals are in order to know what assets you should invest in and when.

All Together Now – The Wealth Portal

Key Takeaways There are many apps out there that can help you track your finances separately, but it’s cumbersome and time consuming. A wealth portal puts all your finances in one place, providing you with a quick summary that you can easily glance over once a week to ensure nothing is amiss. Using a wealth […]

Save First, Spend Second

Key Takeaways If you want to build wealth successfully, you need to save first and spend second. The rule of thumb when it comes to saving is to save about 15%. If you spend first, you can get used to the niceties in life, and then it can be very hard to have to go […]

Half the Clothes, Twice the Money

Key Takeaways When we get ready for a vacation, we typically pack too many clothes and don’t budget enough money. When we make big purchases, we tend to forget all the associated costs that come with buying the item. If you plan in some extra money beyond the main cost of what you are purchasing, […]

Maintaining Your Vehicle

Key Takeaways Most cars come with a basic warranty package, but an extended warranty option costs extra and isn’t necessarily worth the money. The average vehicle’s lifetime is eight years or 150,000 miles and on average, costs $914 to maintain per year. If you pay your car off after five years, and you continue to […]

Auto Loan Basics

Key Takeaways When getting an auto loan, you want to be sure you know what’s involved so you are not caught off guard with hidden fees or payments. The elements to consider when getting an auto loan are your budget, savings, credit score, amortization, depreciation, and buying new or used. You can get a loan […]

To Buy or Lease a New Car

Key Takeaways Leasing limits your mileage, but you don’t tie up cash, you drive a late-model car, repairs are limited, and you don’t have to sell. Buy if you’re looking at used vehicles that you plan to drive for three-plus years and you don’t expect major lifestyle changes.

Used Car—Double the Benefits!

Key Takeaways Don’t tie up your cash when you’re young, but you have to be smart about your loan terms. Making slightly larger, or more frequent, payments than you’re required to can add up to HUGE savings down the road. A used car is often better than new when you’re young—especially when the savings is […]

Side Gigs

Key Takeaways Stagnant wages and large student loans have made it difficult for many young people to move down the road toward full financial adulthood. But there have never been more ways to supplement your income with freelance, independent contractor work. Freelance, independent contractor networks can be a great backstop for sudden job loss and […]