2012

IRAs for Kids are a Great Way to Build Weatlh

December 13, 2012

IRAs for kids are a great way to teach children about investing and the power of compounding. Photo: Gerard Van der Leun The biggest mistake I’ve made investing is a mistake almost all of us have made. The mistake is not picking the wrong investment. It’s not buying or selling at the “wrong” time. And [...]

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How to Give Financial Advice as a Gift at the Holidays

December 12, 2012

With the holidays approaching, it seems we’re all in a mad dash to our favorite retailers. Between figuring out what to buy for those on our list, to buying the gifts, and then wrapping them, there’s no time to enjoy the holidays. And on top of that, how many gifts will we buy that end [...]

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The Best Small Business Credit Cards of 2013

December 11, 2012

Photo: InspirationDC Since I started my small business in 2007, I’ve used a business credit card for several reasons. First, it helps keep business expenses separate from personal expenses. Second, it helps my company build credit should I ever need to apply for a loan. And third, it makes preparing my tax returns at the [...]

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Serve Prepaid Card from American Express Review

December 10, 2012

It’s now been about five years since I began covering the prepaid market. Over those five years there have been major changes to prepaid debit cards. First fees began to come down, to the point that many prepaid cards are free. Then some major companies entered the market, such as Wal-mart and Chase. And now [...]

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5 Places To Keep Your Down Payment When Saving to Buy a Home

December 10, 2012

Photo: Phil Romans Saving to buy a home is both exciting and overwhelming. When my wife and I were saving to buy our first home, I thought we’d never have enough for the down payment. But somehow we came up with the money. One of the keys to our success was saving the cash in [...]

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British Airways Visa Signature Card–Free Business Class Ticket

December 4, 2012

If you’ve done much international travel, you know that British Airways is the Cadillac of airlines when it comes to luxury. It is probably best known for its business class seats that convert into beds, making long flights much more comfortable. And now the is a great way to earn free travel. In this review [...]

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A 60 Second Guide to the Family and Medical Leave Act

December 3, 2012

The Family and Medical Leave Act was passed in 1993. I can still remember when President Clinton signed FMLA into law amidst a lot of controversy. Many believed that employees needed the benefits and protections FMLA provides. Others were concerned that the government intrusion into business would have unintended consequences that would harm employers and [...]

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Beware the Certified Used Car

November 30, 2012

The last car I bought was a Certified Used Car. That moniker gave me some comfort about the quality of the car. After all, the car was c-e-r-t-i-f-i-e-d. Surely that means high quality, right? Not so fast. And I should have known better. The car I bought was a 2011 Toyota Camrey Hybrid. It was [...]

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Should You Refinance from a 30-Year to a 15-Year Mortgage?

November 29, 2012

With mortgage rates once again at an all time low, the rate on a 15-year mortgage is really tempting. According to Freddie Mac’s weekly survey, the average rate on a 15-year mortgage is just 2.63%. And that’s almost 70 basis points lower than the rate on a 30-year fixed. And the really low rate has [...]

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