Amanda Dixon is a personal finance writer and editor with an expertise in taxes and banking. She studied journalism and sociology at the University of Georgia. Her work has been featured in Business Insider, AOL, Bankrate, The Huffington Post, Fox Business News, Mashable and CBS News. Born and raised in metro Atlanta, Amanda currently lives in Brooklyn.
Few tax breaks have been more controversial than the mortgage interest deduction. Proponents of the tax benefit contend that it encourages Americans to buy homes. Opponents, on the other hand, argue that it reduces tax revenue and leaves lower-income individuals at a disadvantage. For the second year in a row, SmartAsset assessed how the mortgage interest deduction and the property tax deduction could affect homeowners across the country during tax season. Read more
The age of 26 is the magical time surrounding the Affordable Care Act (ACA). Until they turn 26, young adults are allowed to remain covered by their parents’ health insurance plans. If your 26th birthday is right around the corner you may have a lot of questions, especially if you’ve never had to purchase your own insurance before. Not sure when to get health insurance? We’ll tell you when to begin shopping around for a plan. Consider working with a financial advisor as you plan how to access medical insurance. Read more
If you’re planning on using a tax break to minimize your tax bite, keep in mind that deductions come in different shapes and sizes. There’s the standard deduction that any taxpayer can claim every tax year just for filing taxes. And there are itemized deductions that you can write off instead of taking the standard deduction. There are also above-the-line deductions. Here’s everything you need to know about above-the-line deductions, including how they work and who can take advantage of them. A financial advisor can walk you through different tax strategies for your financial plan. Read more
Vacation home prices have skyrocketed in recent years, causing home sales to fall. According to a report from the National Association of Realtors, vacation home sales declined by 18.5% between 2014… Read more
Paying taxes is a fact of life for most Americans. Whether you work for a business from 9 to 5 or you’re self-employed, you’re expected to turn over a portion of your pay to Uncle Sam. There are many… Read more
Having to face healthcare expenses without insurance coverage is impossible for most families. Families who need help paying for healthcare for their children may qualify for CHIP insurance coverage.… Read more
Not all students can cover the cost of their college education with the grants or scholarships in their financial aid packages. Some begin their college careers by taking out student loans, while… Read more
Consumers across the country are burdened by credit card debt. A recent report from ValuePenguin found that 38% of U.S. households have credit card debt that they need to pay off. Among households… Read more
A preferred provider organization (commonly referred to as a PPO) is one of many types of health insurance options available. A distinguishing feature of a PPO is the ability to see doctors as you… Read more
Buying a home isn’t something you should do on a whim. After all, homebuyers have to make a lot of decisions. Besides choosing a location and deciding how much you’re willing to pay, you’ll need to… Read more
Applying and getting approved for a credit card can be done in minutes but receiving a physical card in the mail typically takes 3 – 10 days. Some credit card issuers will offer instant use of your… Read more
Picking a health insurance plan for the first time can be quite challenging. There are many different kinds of plans to choose from. And you may need to have coverage from multiple insurers in order… Read more
If you’re planning to go abroad soon, you’ll need to have access to foreign currency. While you could make all your purchases with a credit or debit card, you run the risk of wasting too much money… Read more
The U.S. economy isn’t exactly booming. While the unemployment rate has fallen to its lowest level since 2007, the economy is still growing at a relatively slow pace. Some places, however, are better… Read more
Traveling outside of the country doesn’t have to be expensive. There are ways to save on everything from plane tickets and food to hotel accommodations. One easy way to cut costs when you’re abroad… Read more
Timing is everything and when it comes to buying a car, that saying couldn’t be more true. Negotiating and haggling with car salesmen can reduce the price of what you have to pay for a new whip. But… Read more
Not all ski resorts shut down when the winter season ends. Quite a few stay open throughout the year, giving tourists something to do in the summer months and nearby communities a much-needed… Read more
All debts aren’t created equal. Many scoring models, including the FICO® scoring model and the VantageScore, distinguish between two types of debt when calculating your credit score. In other words,… Read more
Thanks to the Affordable Care Act, the uninsured rate in America has plummeted. Now that folks can be charged a penalty for not having insurance, only 8.6% don’t have healthcare coverage. While the… Read more
When do you pay off your credit card bill? Some people pay their full balances every month by the due date listed on their credit card statements. Others carry a balance from month to month but make… Read more
The unemployment rate gets plenty of media coverage. This ratio represents the percentage of people in the labor force without jobs who’ve been actively looking for work within a four-week period.… Read more
Many credit cards come with enticing rewards. Some promise to give consumers cash if they spend a certain amount of money within the first few months. Others offer sign-up bonuses in the form of… Read more
Hosting a successful conference starts with choosing the right venue. But in order to decide where to hold your event, you’ll need to consider several factors. Will there be enough hotels available… Read more
Some folks don’t like being stuck inside. They prefer to spend their free time participating in different outdoor activities, from cycling and backpacking to whitewater rafting. Finding a peaceful… Read more
If you ever need ton resolve an issue with the IRS, whether or not it’s related to your federal income taxes, you will need to contact the IRS. That can be intimidating. You may not feel like you… Read more
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