2019 Year End Financial Checklist: 19 Tasks to Tackle
The end of the year can mean different things for different people. It may be a time of reflection and relaxation. Or, perhaps a scramble as you travel across the country to visit friends and family. In either case, setting aside time to focus on your finances is a good idea, and a financial planning checklist can guide the way.
Here’s an admittedly ambitious list. Pick and choose what makes... Continue reading
What to Look for in Investment Tracking Software
Prudent investors keep an eye on their money and ensure they’re sticking to their plan for the future. Whether you primarily manage your own investments or work with a professional money manager, the right investment tracking software can make this an easy task.
But there are dozens of options to choose from, each with its benefits and drawbacks. Here are a few of the features you should look... Continue reading
Simple vs. Compound Interest: Here's What You Need to Know
When you stash your money in savings at a bank or credit union, the financial institution pays you interest—free money you receive every month.
But you also see interest rates when you’re looking to borrow. That new credit card, your mortgage, a student loan — all of them come with an interest rate that lets you know how much you’ll pay your lender.
When you’re on the receiving end of interest,... Continue reading
Rollover IRA: Rules, FAQs & How-To’s
When you have money in a 401(k) or other type of retirement account, you may need to move it if you leave your job (or for other reasons). In this situation, you may consider transferring the money to a type of account known as a rollover IRA.
What is a rollover IRA?
A rollover IRA is an individual retirement account that can receive funds from a 401(k) or other type of retirement account.... Continue reading
What is Portfolio Management? 5 Things Investors Should Know
What comes to mind when you hear the term “portfolio management”? Depending on where you are in your life and career, you may only be familiar with the basics, or you may have a fairly well-rounded understanding of how investment portfolios work and why they’re so important.
Regardless of where you stand—whether you’re a beginner investor looking to expand your knowledge or an experienced... Continue reading
Estate Planning Basics: How to Get Started
Estate planning is about protecting the people you love, regardless of your age and income. That’s why everyone—not just the wealthy—needs to have a solid plan in place.
But what exactly is an estate plan, what should it include, and what might happen if you never get around to creating one? Knowing the answers to these questions can give you the basic tools you need to put together a solid plan... Continue reading
How Eric Dunn, Quicken CEO, Uses Quicken for Investing
Eric Dunn, CEO of Quicken, uses Quicken for Windows on a daily basis. In this blog post, Eric shares how he personally uses Quicken to track investments. Continue reading
Socially Responsible Investing: 3 Things to Know
In today’s investing world, socially responsible investing (SRI) seems to be everywhere. While the modern practice of values-based investing dates back to the 60s—when the civil rights movement led to the establishment of community development banks in low-income and minority communities— it’s been gaining steam in recent years as investor demand climbs.
Case in point - according to the US SIF (... Continue reading
Who Does the President's Personal Finances?
Despite being the leader of the free world, the president still has to pay personal bills, and many of them have opted not to pass off that responsibility to a financial professional. However, great diplomacy doesn’t necessarily mean great financial aptitude. In fact, not all presidents have been good at managing their money. Continue reading
