How Much Does a Legal Name Change Cost? You may face a number of fees if you decide to change your name, and those fees will vary depending upon the state or county you’re in. You may find that your fees are higher or lower than they are for a friend who is doing the same in a neighboring state. Chances are, however, you’ll pay anywhere from around $50 to possibly upwards of $500 to change your name....
There’s a price to be paid for safety in a low-interest-rate environment. If you want to guarantee your principal and want a guaranteed return, you should expect your return to be low. If a three-month CD is paying a 1.5% annual percentage yield (APY), that means you’d earn only $1,500 annually for every $100,000 you invest. What about locking your money up for a longer period of time? You might be able to get a 3....
The Price Risky Borrowers Pay What exactly is a high or low price? For most loans, you pay interest in return for the ability to borrow money. With risk-based pricing, you pay more or less interest depending on the lender’s evaluation of the risk they would be exposed to by lending to you. If you’re a safe bet and the lender is all but certain you’ll repay, you’ll qualify for the best products and lower interest rates....
Why Are Short-Term Disability Benefits Important? While becoming injured or ill does happen at home and other places, a surprising number of disabling incidents happen in the workplace in any given year, creating a substantial need for disability insurance coverage. A 2018 report released by the union organization AFL-CIO found that each day approximately 150 American workers die on the job, and some 7.4 million to 11.1 million worker injuries take place each year, often going unreported....
Banks may limit the number of overdraft fees they charge in a single day, but even then, the fee can get quite expensive, particularly for people who overdraft regularly. Frequent overdrafters average around 11 overdraft or insufficient funds fees (NSF), according to a 2020 study from research firm Oliver Wyman, and overdraft and NSF fees generate $17 billion annually for banks. You have options for waiving overdraft fees, though, especially if you don’t routinely overspend your checking account....
How to Change Your Employer ID Number If You Made a Mistake If you made a mistake on your EIN application, such as if you listed a non-owner or officer in Item 3 or elsewhere, do not submit a new EIN application, Form SS-4. Instead, submit a letter to the IRS, preferably on your company letterhead. Include the name and the taxpayer identification number of the current principal officer, general partner, grantor, owner, or trustor....
Investors, traders, lenders, and financial institutions often use business credit scores to judge the current position and future economic capacity of your company. That’s why, as a sole proprietor, it’s important for you to know, maintain, and perhaps improve your credit score so more business doors can open for you. Learn about what a business credit score is, how it benefits your business, how to check it online, and how to improve it for better market positioning....
Before you choose a credit card, get the answers to a few key questions. The answers to most of these questions can be found in the disclosure included with the credit card application. Type of Card There are many different types of credit cards to choose from: regular credit cards, rewards credit cards, and student credit cards, to name a few. Understand what kind of card you’re applying for before filling out the application....
How To Fill Out a Deposit Slip The process of filling out deposit slips varies depending on what you’re doing. For example, cash and checks go in different sections, and getting cash back from your deposit requires an additional step. Fortunately, the process is easy, and the basic steps appear below. Provide Personal Information Write your name and your account number on the deposit slip. If you have pre-printed deposit slips from the back of your checkbook, this is already done for you....
You can create a custom LinkedIn URL to add to your resume, email signature, and anywhere else you’d like to market your credentials. Hiring managers will be able to easily access your LinkedIn profile and see recommendations and skill endorsements from your colleagues, clients, and managers. Get advice on how to include your LinkedIn URL on your resume, create a custom URL, and make your profile stand out to employers....
If you are unsure what structure is best, review the advantages and disadvantages of the U.S. Small Business Administration website. If you have determined that a corporation is the best structure for your business, here is a review of some of the benefits of forming a corporation – follow these seven steps to becoming incorporated. You should always consult an accountant and/or an attorney if you have questions about the process....
Loading the back of your truck with bags of wheat, barley, and hops is the wrong way to buy commodities unless you’re planning to open your own microbrewery. Commodity exchange-traded funds (ETFs) provide an option to invest. What Are Commodity ETFs? Commodity ETFs are a simple way to include resources in your investment goals. You’ll benefit by gaining exposure to their price and performance without owning the resource itself. These ETFs consist of stocks or futures and derivative contracts that track the prices of the resource....
Before you invest with an “all-in-one” mutual fund, be sure to cover all of the basics of investing. How Do You Use Balanced Funds? Balanced funds are also known as hybrid funds. These are mutual funds that provide a combination (or balance) of underlying investment assets; these could be stocks, bonds, and cash. This is asset allocation in its simplest of forms. Balanced funds usually have a stated objective. This may be described as aggressive, moderate, or conservative....
The Value of Internships Internships can be of great value when it comes to gaining experience and getting hired. Since most companies seek candidates with previous relevant experience in the field, internships are crucial for college seniors who are seeking their first real-time job after graduation. It doesn’t matter if the internship is paid or if you are receiving a credit to complete the internship experience, the only thing an employer focuses on is what type of knowledge and skills you gained when interning for the company....
You Have a High Debt-to-Income Ratio When lenders evaluate your loan application, they consider available credit as an opportunity for debt. They may calculate your debt-to-income ratio as if your credit cards were totally maxed out to gauge you at your riskiest possible debt level. You can do a similar DTI ratio calculation. If you maxed out your credit cards what would your debt-to-income ratio look like? Would it rise above 37%?...
Meanwhile, student loan interest rates for private loans may reflect the Federal Reserve’s interest rate cuts enacted in early 2020. However, in March of 2022, the Fed began hiking interest rates to combat inflation, which may push private loan rates higher in 2022 and beyond. If you have student loans or plan to borrow, it’s important to monitor the trajectory of interest rates. Federal Student Loan Interest Rates Federal student loan interest rates are set according to a formula established by Congress in the Higher Education Act of 1965....
First and foremost, getting a credit card specifically for your business can help you separate your work and personal accounts. If you choose your credit cards carefully, the rewards you’ll earn can benefit your business big time. For example, if you choose a credit card with unlimited 2% cash back, guess what? Your business just got 2% cheaper to run, as long as you follow good credit card management principles....
This interview is your last chance to make a good impression on a potential employer. You want to show the company that you’re the best possible pick, since it’s very likely that you’re on a shortlist of just a few other top candidates. What to Expect During a Final Interview Depending on the level of the position, your final interview might be conducted by a member (or members) of the company’s senior leadership, or, if it’s a small company, by the founder/CEO....
Employees Are Adapting Well to Their Remote Work Situations As employers begin to slowly reopen their physical work locations, some may find that their employees are getting more comfortable with their remote work-from-home situations and are less anxious to return to the office. Some employees may have underlying health conditions that the coronavirus could significantly and adversely affect. Other employees, meanwhile, are simply enjoying and thriving while working alone in their home offices, becoming meeting pros, achieving some sense of work-life balance, and increasing their productivity in the process....
The Best Ways to Prepare for an Interview A study from JDP reports that applicants spend up to seven hours researching the company before their interview. Many candidates (64%) also research their interviewer. Because interviewing is often stressful, 70% of those survey practice their responses out loud, and 62% prepare anecdotes to share with the interviewer. Here’s how to research the job and company, how to practice interview questions and answers, how to dress for the interview, how to follow up after the interview, and more interview preparation tips....
