Breathe a sigh of relief, but don’t erase the memory of the debt collection just yet. Sending payment to a collection agency isn’t the end of your relationship with that debt collector. After you pay the debt collection, there are a few more steps you should take to make sure the collection account is completely closed. Make Sure the Payment Cleared Your Bank Check your bank records to be sure your payment was processed....
The average rate offered for a 30-year conventional fixed mortgage moved up to 6.13% from 6.07% the previous business day. The 15-year rate also rose, stepping up to 5.30% from 5.25% the previous business day. Our mortgage rate data only dates back to 2020, but if other measures are any indication, both rates are near their highest levels in over a decade. Fixed mortgage rates tend to track the direction of 10-year Treasury yields, which usually rise with heightened inflation fears (and fall when those fears subside)....
Take a look at the top 10 most popular foreign ADRs, as well as some important considerations for investors before purchasing them. What Are ADRs? American depository receipts are essentially American versions of foreign stocks. They are a popular way for American investors to invest in foreign companies. ADRs are created when U.S. banks purchase a bulk lot of shares from a company, bundle them into groups, and reissue them on a U....
What Is Passive Income? There are two main types of income: passive and active. In an email interview with The Balance, Sandy Yong, author of “The Money Master,” said that active income is the exchange of time for money, such as a full-time employee or someone who is self-employed. Your earnings directly relate to how much time you work. Usually, you have a set schedule and get paid regularly—however, if you stop working, you stop getting paid....
The negotiations were successfully concluded on October 4, 2015. Officials from each country signed the agreement on February 4, 2016. However, each nation’s legislature had to approve the agreement before it went into effect. Before that could happen, on January 23, 2017, President Donald Trump signed an executive order to withdraw the United States from the agreement. The TPP Lives on Without the U.S. On March 8, 2018, after Trump withdrew the U....
The Difference Between Treasury Bills, Notes, and Bonds The difference between bills, notes, and bonds are the lengths until maturity. Treasury bills are issued for terms of less than a year.Treasury notes are issued for terms of two, three, five, seven, and 10 years.Treasury bonds are issued for terms of 30 years. They were reintroduced in February 2006. The Treasury also issues Treasury Inflation-Protected Securities (TIPS) in terms of five, 10, and 30 years....
Despite the high price tag of going to college, a degree often is necessary to be competitive in the job market. Indeed, it’s estimated that 70% of all jobs in the American economy will require postsecondary education by the year 2027. Based on the increased educational requirements for jobs and increasing tuition amounts, it’s probable that student loan debt will continue to increase. Average Student Loan Debt Student loan borrowers numbered approximately 43....
Find a Buyer’s Agent First Don’t try to go it alone. Buying a home is an intricate process with a lot of interlocking pieces. You’ll benefit from professional assistance, and it’s a free service for you because sellers pay the agents’ commissions. But there are agents…and then there are agents. Choose wisely: Don’t call the listing agent thinking they’ll do whatever it takes to earn twice the commission under a dual-agency arrangement—a situation in which the agent represents both the buyer and the seller in the transaction....
Closed vs. Open-Ended Funds Mutual funds are divided into closed-end and open-end funds, and the latter is subdivided by load and no load. Closed-end funds have a set number of shares issued to the public through an initial public offering. Because these shares trade on the open market and closed-end funds don’t redeem or issue new shares like a typical mutual fund, the fund shares abide by the laws of supply and demand and normally trade at a discount to the net asset value....
The UCC is relevant to many different types of business transactions, from the exchange of goods and the transfer of money to the sale of investment securities and the content of lease agreements. Learn what this set of laws covers and how it affects business in the U.S. What Is the Uniform Commercial Code? The Uniform Commercial Code was originally released in 1952 in an effort to create a standard for commercial transactions that could be applied anywhere in the U....
Here are the basics of virtual business, some examples of industries that are particularly well-suited to go virtual, and the pros and cons of making the switch. What Is a Virtual Business? A virtual business is one that focuses on its digital capabilities to scale back its physical presence. While virtual businesses are united in their efforts to move work online, they all retain different levels of physical operations. In the most extreme example, all employees work virtually, and the “headquarters” is wherever the CEO lives....
Novice traders who try to use these kinds of systems often don’t fare well. Shorter-term systems require more trading skill. You may be betting against a larger overall trend without knowing it. Weekly charts are more likely to reveal these kinds of trends. Forex trading is all about trading with the trend, so a weekly trading system is likely to produce better results. It’s about using indicators on a weekly chart that can help you stay on top of the direction of momentum....
Learn more about these skills and how to develop them. What Are Collaboration Skills? Collaboration skills are what enable you to work well with others. Most work environments require collaboration, so these skills are essential. These skills include understanding a variety of perspectives, managing priorities from everyone in the group, and meeting expectations as a reliable member of a team. Successful collaboration requires a cooperative spirit and mutual respect. Employers typically seek employees that function effectively as part of a team and are willing to balance personal achievement with group goals....
For example, most states require you to have a minimum amount of auto insurance coverage. Therefore, your insurance policy limits must be equal to or greater than those legal limits. The New York State Vehicle and Traffic Law, for instance, requires the following minimum policy limits: No-fault (personal injury protection): $50,000 per person. Liability insurance (bodily injury and property damage): $25,000 for bodily injury of one person, $50,000 for injuries resulting in the death of one person, $50,000 for bodily injury of two or more people in one accident, $100,000 for injuries resulting in the death of two or more people in any single accident, $10,000 for property damage liability per accident....
But Roth IRAs are not necessarily for everyone. You could end up with a smaller nest egg than you’d like in retirement if you don’t use a Roth correctly. Here are some risks to using Roth IRAs and how you can minimize them. What Is a Roth IRA? A Roth individual retirement account (IRA) is a qualified retirement account in which your investments can grow. They won’t be taxed when you withdraw them in retirement....
Because the unemployment job search and work requirements vary by state, you should check your state’s website to verify your compliance, but there are some general guidelines. Review unemployment work search and availability guidelines and requirements for tracking your job search activities. Unemployment Work Search & Reporting Guidelines While the rules regarding looking for work vary from state to state, unemployed workers collecting benefits in traditional circumstances need to be searching for a job....
When an account is current, there is either no payment due right now because you’ve recently made a payment, or the only payment due now is the minimum payment for the current month. Your credit card issuer wants you to bring your account current because delinquent accounts mean they’re losing money. Paying your account current benefits you as well. Stop Calls From Your Credit Card Issuer If you’re behind on payments and you haven’t made any payment arrangements, you’ll receive frequent phone calls from your credit card company asking you for payment....
For those who need credit repair services, you can better understand whether hiring a specialist is in your best interest and determine which specialists are right for you. And if you’re interested in becoming a credit repair specialist, it’s important to understand the job so you can set yourself and your clients up for success. Credit Repair Specialist Certifications There are no specific professional or licensing requirements for credit repair specialists....
Learn more about how the federal gift tax works and whether it applies to your gifts. How Does the Federal Gift Tax Work? The federal gift tax applies to valuable financial gifts that one party gives to another one. It isn’t meant to regulate everyday gifts. Because it’s meant to keep people from avoiding estate taxes after their death, the gift tax is payable by the donor, not the recipient of a gift....
What Is the 360 Review Process? In a 360 review, feedback about an employee’s performance, skills, and contributions is solicited and then shared with the employee. Coworkers who participate in the 360 reviews usually include theemployee’s manager, several peer staff members, reporting staff members, and functional managers from the organization with whom the employee works regularly. The 360 review tends to focus more on how the employee affected the work of other employees than on whether the work was accomplished, which is the goal of a typical performance review....
