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While this open-ended question might seem vague, it allows you to show yourself in a positive light. In your response, you can strategically highlight how your work style is a good fit for the company at hand. Get tips on how to answer interview questions about your work style, what (and what not) to say when you respond, and review examples of the best responses. What the Interviewer Really Wants To Know This question helps interviewers decide whether you will fit in well with the company culture and the requirements of the job....

There are a few different ways you can add them to your portfolio. One way is to buy individual municipal bonds; the second way is to buy a mutual fund that invests in municipal bonds. How to Buy Individual Municipal Bonds You can buy individual municipal bonds through bond dealers, banks, and brokerage firms. In some cases, you can even buy them directly from the municipality. You can buy them in two places: either on the primary market, which is for newly issued bonds, or on the secondary market, which is a market for trading bonds after they have been issued on the primary market....

Federal and State Business Income Tax Rates The TCJA reduced the federal corporate tax rate from a progressive tax rate that went up to 35% to one flat tax of 21%. This rate applies to corporations whose tax year began after Jan. 1, 2018. State corporate tax rates have also changed. Fifteen states and the District of Columbia cut corporate taxes between 2012 and the beginning of 2020. However, New York state actually increased corporate taxes for businesses making more than $5 million....

Although Social Security is only one part of a secure retirement plan, it’s helpful to get a rough idea of how much you can expect. If you’re eligible for Social Security, your monthly benefit is based on two factors: How much money you earned during your working careerThe age you choose to start getting payments Let’s look at how each of these affects your future Social Security income. Are You Eligible for Social Security?...

Barriers to Selecting the Right Benefits for Families The Affordable Care Act (ACA) was supposed to help families to obtain low-cost health insurance and wellness coverage while supporting long-term, responsible use of health care. Unfortunately, many families have found they’re faced with premiums that are far from affordable, and a wide range of costs that aren’t covered when they’re trying to find health care services. Surprise medical bills have become commonplace because consumers may find it difficult to understand the plans....

It’s tempting to pick the cheapest policy, but that could be a mistake. While cost is important, it’s not the only part of the quote that matters. You also need to evaluate what each policy covers and if it’s the right amount of coverage for your needs. Additionally, it’s essential to verify that the insurer is reputable and in good financial standing. What Makes Insurance Providers Different? Not all home insurance companies are created equal....

What Is a General Ledger? The general ledger is the foundation and core document of your accounting system. It is created from the accounting journal entries you have made. Accounting journal entries are made for every financial transaction your firm undertakes and are made in chronological order. The general ledger takes the entries of the financial transactions from the accounting journal, stated in debits and credits, and breaks up the entries into their separate accounts....

A HELOC typically has a variable interest rate, which means the interest rate can change from month to month. A home equity loan—which also lets you borrow against your home equity—frequently comes with a fixed interest rate. In some cases, you may be able to convert a variable-rate HELOC to a fixed-rate home equity loan. Read on to learn how to do that and whether it’s right for you. If not, there are alternatives that might be a better fit for your needs....

How to Decipher a Job Advertisement Job postings are typically broken out into several parts. Although the names of these sections can vary, expect to see information about the company, details on the desired qualifications of applicants, and some description of the responsibilities involved in the role. Job title: Keep in mind that job titles can have different meanings across industries and companies. For example, “editorial assistant” and “assistant editor” may sound similar, but are distinct positions....

Below, we’ll discuss why a chart of accounts is so important for your small business; how to make a chart of accounts, and some common account types. What Is a Chart of Accounts? A chart of accounts is an important component of bookkeeping that allows a business owner to index and keep track of all monetary transactions in which the business engages. The list is part of a business’s general ledger that breaks down and classifies financial activity into categories....

Let’s take a look at some of the laws, benefits, and potential complications of making a gift of a financial asset. Benefits of Donating Stocks and Other Financial Gifts The obvious benefit of donating stocks and other financial gifts to charity is that you can support a cause that’s important to you. In addition, there are some key financial benefits to be aware of, too. Tax Deductions First, taxpayers who itemize their deductions can take a tax deduction for donations to qualified organizations if they meet certain record-keeping criteria....

Here’s what you need to know about answering questions about resigning during interviews. What Interviewers Really Want to Know Potential employers will want to know about your reasons for moving on, to help them decide if you’ll be a good addition to their company. Your response will help give interviewers a sense of your character and what motivates you. Interviewers may also be trying to determine if you left for a good reason or are perhaps a bit impulsive....

But unless your investment portfolio is already booming or you’re just flush with extra cash, you’ll likely need to secure financing in order to purchase your chosen property. How does this work with investment properties? Will it cost you more in time, money, or hassle? Let’s take a look. Duplex, Multifamily, or Commercial Real Estate? The first step to financing your investment property is to recognize what category it falls into....

Along with expressing appreciation, your thank-you letter, email, or phone call is an opportunity to: highlight your relevant qualifications;show your enthusiasm for the role;mention important details that didn’t come up during the interview. When you are selected for a job interview, it means that you’re a serious contender for the job. That’s why it’s important to take the time to follow up after every single job interview, including in-person and phone interviews, as well as second interviews....

Learn more about the three ways to calculate this ratio and what you can learn from each. What Are the Three Types of Calculations? Below are the three most commonly used calculations. 1. Last Year’s Earnings This takes the current price of a stock divided by last year’s corporate earnings. Let’s look at a company with a stock price of $50/share. Let’s assume the company is making a profit; it reported earnings of $5/share....

Some car insurance companies offer the purchase of gap insurance. They often add it as an endorsement or rider to your auto policy, or you may find it through a car dealership or finance company. While gap insurance makes good sense for new cars, you can cancel it after your car ages a bit. If you cancel before the end of a policy term, you can request a refund for unused coverage....

A list of references includes people a prospective employer might contact to learn more information about you. These people should be able to speak to your qualifications for a job. Sometimes an employer will contact only one person on the list, and other times an employer will contact everyone. A list of strong references can be a great way to demonstrate your qualifications for a position. When Not to Include References If a job posting doesn’t request references, don’t list them on your resume or otherwise include with your job application....

You Need Comparable Sales to Make a Wise Offer The most difficult thing is figuring out the sales price. Unless buyers have at their disposal all of the comparable sales—and many don’t—there’s really no way to pick an accurate sales price. Buyers tend to compare home prices based on the homes they’ve seen that are for sale, which aren’t comps. Sales prices can vary wildly. This is when you’ll be glad you have a real estate agent to help guide you when making a purchase offer on a home....

However, your resume isn’t just a list of what you did when. Rather, it’s your most valuable tool in landing an interview—a “sales pitch” for your candidacy. Thus, the experience section needs to highlight your best qualifications for the job for which you’re applying. How to Make Your Resume Sound Better You can write job descriptions that will make your work history sound better, get past the applicant tracking system, and impress the hiring manager....

So without further ado, and in no particular order, here are five ways to maximize mutual fund performance. Use No-Load Funds Costs matter tweaking your portfolio to get better returns from your investments. When it comes to keeping costs down, it should go without saying that no-load funds are better than load funds. Since you’re not paying any loads, you have more money working for you, increasing performance. All else being equal, the fund that does not charge a load will keep more money in the pockets of investors than the ones that charge loads....