Posts

Contact Your Employer Make sure the information on your W-2 really is in error. Sometimes the amounts shown are slightly different from the amounts reported on your final pay stub of the year. The W-2 might include adjustments in taxable income or tax-free benefits. If you have verified any errors, the first step is to contact your employer (or their HR/payroll department) to make them aware of the issue and request that they send a new, correct W-2 form to you by the end of February....

Examine Your Contract and Resend Your Invoice The first step is always to reference your contract—that is, of course, assuming you took the time to create a contract that you and your client both signed before starting the work. Hopefully, you stated the terms, how much you were to be paid and when, and addressed any late fees that would be charged if the client failed to pay within your time frame....

First, we’ll look at ways to pay an attorney, then at how a retainer works. Ways to Pay an Attorney The way you pay an attorney depends on the type of case and whether you want one-time work or a continuing relationship. Attorneys set their fees based on a number of factors, including the amount of work the attorney will need to do for your case and the complexity of the case....

Characteristics of a preferred risk driver: Age 25 or older Clean driving record Minimal not-at-fault claims Good insurance credit score Homeowner Prior to six months of insurance with liability limits of 100/300 or higher Most of the preferred driver characteristics are self-explanatory. However, it may surprise you to see your prior liability limits factor into your driving status. Insurance companies prefer clients to carry liability limits of 100/300 or higher because it is the best protection against lawsuits....

Find out what you need to know before you open a brokerage account so that you can choose a firm that aligns with your goals. Choosing a Brokerage The type of brokerage you choose will determine your available options and the level of service you receive. Full-Service vs. Discount Brokers There are two types of stockbrokers: full-service and discount brokers. Full-service or traditional brokers work closely with you, answering your phone calls and questions, placing your trades for you, and even recommending investments....

On March 9, the Dow fell 2,013.76 points to 23,851.02, a 7.79% drop.On March 12, it fell a record 2,352.60 points to close at 21,200.62. It was a 9.99% drop, almost a correction in a single day.On March 16, the Dow lost 2,997.10 points to close at 20,188.52. That day’s point plummet and 12.93% freefall topped the original October 1929 Black Monday slide of 12.8% for one session.By the last day of March 2020, the Dow had closed down 13....

How Do You Exchange Currency? Whether you go to a currency exchange kiosk overseas, process an exchange through your local bank branch, or request the currency online, it works the same way: You request a different currency than you have. The institution processes the exchange based on its exchange rate and fees. You pay the amount due in one currency and receive the amount requested in the other. But the place you choose to do the exchange could make a big difference in how much cash you end up with....

What Makes Investors Buy High Many investors do the reverse. It’s not that they start with the intention of buying high and selling low, but far too often, they use price and price movement as their only signal to buy or sell. Stocks that have gone up in price quickly—especially those in trendy industries with a lot of press—often attract even more buyers, which drives the price up even higher. People get excited about what they read, and they want a part of the action....

Since the bureau began operating in 2011, it has brought major legal action against credit card issuers for unfair marketing, billing, and collection practices. The CFPB has required many major credit card issuers to refund millions of dollars to cardholders, citing a variety of violations. Here are some of the major companies that have been forced to refund customers since 2012. 2018 Citibank Citibank encountered an error in 2017 that necessitated that the bank refund around 1....

Let’s say, for example, you and your spouse are both working outside of the home. One of you earns $40,000 per year, and the other earns $60,000 per year. At this point, you are accustomed to living on both of your incomes. To turbo-charge your finances, consider weaning yourself off of that. Take the First Step As your first goal, the two of you should aim to live on the higher of the two incomes....

The credit card industry, infamous for making up its own rules, says that a credit card deadbeat is someone who pays their credit card balances in full and on time each month. Here’s why you don’t want to listen to what the credit card industry says. Why Does the Credit Card Industry Use “Deadbeat?” Credit card companies make a large portion of their money from interest and fees paid by cardholders....

Consumers’ ever-more-dismal attitudes add to recent evidence that a major shift is underway in the hot housing market of the COVID-19 period. With so many things going against buyers, many are giving up on house hunting. Interest in mortgages and refinancing has plummeted to the lowest level in decades, and fewer homes are selling. That in turn, should slow the rate of price increases, cooling the market, some economists predict....

It exceeded $31 trillion in for the first time on Oct. 4, 2022, and it has increased by at least $1 trillion each year since 2016. What’s Stopping the U.S. From Paying Down Its Debt? Most creditors don’t worry about a nation’s debt, also known as “sovereign debt,” until it’s more than 77% of gross domestic product (GDP). That’s the point at which added debt cuts into annual economic growth, according to the World Bank....

You don’t want to fall in love with a home only to find out that living there will cost more than you can afford. Learn several overlooked costs to prepare for before you start looking for a home. Closing Costs Closing is the last step in the mortgage process, and many people tend to underestimate how much it can cost. When closing occurs, your loan has been approved, your home inspection is done, and you’re ready to get your keys....

But even when a hiring manager does provide feedback—often in response to your inquiry about where you stand—you may not get a straight answer. It’s worth asking: Why aren’t hiring managers direct about letting you know that the company does not intend to make an offer? One reason is that it can be uncomfortable to share bad news. Another reason is that they don’t want to say anything that could lead to a discrimination complaint....

The alarm bells aren’t ringing solely because of national debt levels, though. Individual students are graduating from college with an average of around $29,000 in student loan debt, a burden that can affect their ability to reach major financial milestones, like buying a home, investing, or saving for retirement. In some cases, having too much student loan debt can even prevent you from being able to stick to your monthly budget and pay all your bills and living expenses....

Here are five basics every landlord should know about security deposits. State Security Deposit Limit All U.S. states allow landlords to collect security deposits, and the maximum amount depends on the location of the rental property. Some states, such as Illinois and Texas, have no limit on how much can be collected. In Connecticut, landlords can’t require more than two months’ rent as a security deposit. This limit is reduced to one month’s rent if a tenant is 62 years of age or older....

Avoid Probate A probate is the process of validating a deceased person’s will and placing a value on their assets, paying their final bills and taxes, and distributing the rest to their beneficiaries. Avoiding probate is by far the most common reason why people seek out the advice of an estate planning attorney. While many have never dealt with probate, they still know one thing: they want to avoid it at all costs....

Credit Card Types Not all credit cards are created equal. There are several types of credit cards, and a single credit card issuer may issue any or all of them, sometimes even multiple versions of the same type of credit card. Here are just a few of the most well-known types: A standard credit card has no extra perks or benefits but may offer a low-interest rate to attract customers. A balance transfer credit card offers an introductory balance transfer interest rate and sometimes a low fee on balance transfers....

1. Long Process Short sales may not be the best choice for those wanting or needing to purchase a property quickly. Getting a short sale approved can be a long process. They can be completed in as little as a month or could take up to a year to be finalized. Many factors can influence this time table including a lender’s experience dealing with short sales, whether the seller has already been approved for a short sale and the number of lenders involved....