How long it takes to build or improve your credit depends on a number of factors. In this article we examine those factors and offer some tips to get you started. Unfortunately, the answer is, “It depends.” It depends on what your credit score is now, and why. And it depends on how much you […]
The other day I received an email from the IRS about IRA contributions. Believe it or not, the IRS has done a lot over the last few years to provide really helpful information about everything tax related. So I signed up for the emails, and they have been extremely helpful. So today I thought I’d […]
When I first started investing, I had the hardest time figuring out which mutual funds to select. Over the years, I’ve learned that the key selection criteria are costs and asset class (e.g., large cap U.S. vs. small cap). Still, with 1,000s of mutual funds and ETFs, picking the right investments can seem overwhelming. To […]
What does it cost to raise a child? The USDA says it costs $235,000+ to raise a child from birth to 18. I say, not a chance. You can raise a child for much less with these tips. You’ve likely read reports from “experts” detailing the cost of raising a child, but how accurate are […]
Unfortunately, being underwater on your mortgage, or having less than 20 percent equity in your home, can make refinancing difficult. But the government has several programs to help borrowers take advantage of the current low mortgage rates or avoid foreclosure by lowering their monthly mortgage payments. If you’re underwater on your mortgage, take these steps […]
According to the Self Storage Association, self storage has been one of the fastest-growing pieces of the U.S. commercial real estate industry for more than three decades. And it’s no surprise. We have a lot of stuff, and we like to keep it. That’s evident from these statistics from the association’s 2012 fact sheet: There […]