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However, just because it’s labeled as a “senior” account doesn’t mean that it’s the better option. Sometimes a bank’s regular offering is a better deal, but you won’t know for sure until you dive into the details for yourself. The Perks of Using a Bank’s Special Account Whether you’re a senior, a college student, or a small business owner, finding a specialized account that’s designed for your situation can offer perks that you won’t find anywhere else....

Here’s what you need to know about creating a professional brand that will further your career ambitions, and not sabotage your efforts. What’s a Professional Brand? These days, there’s not much of a gap between personal and professional branding. Your professional brand is what matters to a potential employer, networking contact, or anyone who can help you find a job or grow your career. Whether you call it your personal or professional brand, it is important that it reflects who you are as a person....

Brainstorm Income Ideas If you can’t figure out how you can make more money from home, evaluate your interests, talents, and resources so you can brainstorm ways to use them to make extra money. In addition, the brainstorming process makes it easy to get many ideas out at once that you can revisit later if necessary. Using a mind map lets you connect different income stream ideas to your main business concept....

This property exchange takes its name from Section 1031 of the Internal Revenue Code. It allows an investor to replace one investment or business property with a like-kind property and defer the capital gains on the sale if the Internal Revenue Service’s rules are meticulously followed. In theory, an investor could continue deferring capital gains on investment properties until their death, potentially avoiding paying taxes on them altogether. It is a wise tax and investment strategy as well as an estate planning tool....

Why a Broker Is an Important Decision Ask yourself what type of company you would call if you should have a trade dispute. The purpose of this question is twofold. First, is it a reputable company that will honestly look into a trade in which you feel that you’ve been wronged? Second—and arguably more important—are its financials made available to the public and are they regulated? Both financial transparency and regulation are of paramount importance when it comes to how comfortable you should feel with your broker....

Your Business Credit Report Business and consumer credit reports are similar in that both provide information on how the subject of the report pays its credit obligations, such as credit cards and loans. Business credit reports (also known as commercial reports) may also contain information about trade or supplier credit. These are accounts that allow businesses to purchase and pay for goods or services later, with net-10 or net-30-day repayment terms, for example....

Here are some things you can do to help your spouse raise their credit score. Improve Your Credit First When flight attendants give their safety speech, they always say that you should fix your oxygen mask before assisting others. If you and your spouse both have bad credit, you can rebuild credit at the same time. All the steps given here can work for both you and your spouse....

One popular metal to invest in is copper. Copper is used in many modern electronics, including semiconductors and wiring. It plays a major role in multiple industries, including home construction and vehicle production. Copper also tends to be less expensive than other metals, like silver or gold, making it appealing to investors who are worried about trading in other metals due to their high prices. How To Invest in Copper in 3 Steps To start investing in copper, you’ll need to follow these steps:...

Plus, you’re flush with examples when it comes to answering questions about past triumphs and how you’ve tackled difficult colleagues or situations. You have substantial work experience on your resume and strong credentials you can bring to your next employer. Successful Strategies for Mid-Career Job Searches The flip side to this mid-career advantage: being in the middle isn’t always easy (just ask any middle child you know!). A mid-career candidate is too advanced for an entry-level job but often lacks the required qualifications for a senior level role....

They are an extremely useful tool for managing your business and its cash flow. The layout of the reports makes it easier for you to track your payments, monitor expenses, and make sure your credit remains top-notch. What Is an Accounts Payable Aging Report? Simply put, accounts payable aging reports give you an overview of what your business owes for supplies, inventory, and services. A quick glance at this report reveals the identities of your creditors, how much money is owed to each creditor, and how long that money has been owed....

For instance, any misuse or infractions in your personal banking activity can raise red flags and negatively impact your ability to open a business checking account. In this article, we’ll take a closer look at the impact of personal credit on opening a business account, how your banking activity is monitored, and what options you have if you encounter any issues. The Impact of Personal Credit Your personal credit report is a tool that banks use to determine your creditworthiness....

Depending on both your bank and the company you are paying, you may use a combination of the different online bill pay options. Divide Your Bills To set up online bill pay, start by gathering all of your bills and dividing them into three piles: Set Up Automatic Payments Set up automatic payments for all the bills that are a set amount each month. Most companies offer the option of signing up for an automatic draft or scheduled payment....

The chart below shows the average savings account interest rates on non-jumbo deposits from 2009 through today. Here are six tips for finding a savings account that will give you an interest rate hike. Consider Credit Unions and Local Banks Credit unions are insured by the National Credit Union Administration (NCUA), which provides coverage of $250,000 in insurance per owner, per insured credit union, and for each account ownership category, meaning individual or a joint account....

The estate pays the estate tax, and the beneficiary pays the inheritance tax, although an estate can be set up to pay that cost on behalf of the beneficiary. Not all states in the U.S. have an estate or inheritance tax. The federal government has an estate tax, but not everyone has to pay it. To avoid paying taxes on an estate or inheritance, you can set up at least one type of trust, and you can make other financial moves now so you pay less tax later....

Beware Unsolicited Offers To avoid being preyed upon, you should not respond to unsolicited marketing efforts, such as: Flyers thrown on your doorstep, stuck to the windshield of your car, or tacked to a telephone poleDirect mail from companies you’ve never heard of beforeTelemarketers who try to pressure you over the phone Of course, there are legitimate places to find a mortgage. But, like a lot of professions that involve large sums of money, complicated products, and unsophisticated consumers, there is a potential for fraud when choosing a mortgage lender....

Let’s review what you need to know before making a decision on whether to refinance a rental property. Learn how refinancing a rental property mortgage can benefit you, and how it may be different from refinancing a mortgage on your primary home. What To Know Before You Refinance Refinancing is paying off your existing mortgage with a new mortgage, so you essentially have a new loan. Many homeowners refinance to take advantage of lower interest rates, which can save significantly on interest payments in the long term....

All isn’t necessarily lost, however, if you could have claimed these fees but didn’t. You can go back and amend a tax return for three years from the date you filed it, or for two years from the date you paid any resulting tax, whichever is later. And the TCJA is set to expire at the end of 2025 unless Congress renews it, so it’s not out of the question that this deduction could come back at that time....

If your bank fails, it can put your financial well-being at risk. Learn the signs that a bank may be struggling and steps you can take to protect your accounts. Bank Safety Checklist No matter which financial institution you choose, you can take a proactive approach to making sure your funds are safe at your chosen bank or credit union. Insurance coverage: Only deposit your funds in banks that state that they’re insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) or credit unions that state that they’re insured by the National Credit Union Administration (NCUA)....

Write proposals in a way that make them worthy of your client’s attention. Indicate how the proposal will solve your client’s most vexing problems. This means you first need to clearly understand the issues your clients are facing and why they should do business with you. Accordingly, there are three basic sections you should always address when writing a business proposal: the client’s needs, your solution, and administrative details....

Sincerely, All About APY Dear APY, You’re absolutely right that in this high inflation environment you have to take every opportunity to make sure that your money isn’t eroding in value. You didn’t tell me how much interest you’re making in your savings account, but given that most high-yield savings accounts pay an interest rate of around 1.75%, it’s likely much higher than what he (or you) are earning in your regular bank account, where currently, you will only earn 0....