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When is debt not ordinary debt? When it’s packaged as exchange-traded notes. An exchange-traded note (ETN) is pegged to a market index, but functions like a bond. At maturity, ETNs pay out the return of the index it tracks. However, it won’t make regular interest payments like a bond. If you’re considering using ETNs to diversify your portfolio, you may want to consider some of their more eccentric features before diving in. Read More...
When you starting to invest, you take steps towards using money to earn money. You’ll take cash and buy different types of investments, or securities. There are many different securities you can invest in, and the ones you choose can depend on what type of investor you are. Once you take your personal circumstances and risk tolerance into account, you may able to select the securities that best fit your portfolio. Read More...
Traditional health insurance can be very expensive, but there are lower-cost alternatives. As you look for ways to save money while also protecting yourself in case you get sick or injured, it pays to be informed about those options. While examining the pros and cons of some of the alternatives, consider also consulting a financial advisor to take a glance at your whole financial life in a holistic capacity. Read More...
An irrevocable life insurance trust (ILIT) can provide peace of mind as you start your estate planning process. If you have a sizable estate or young beneficiaries, an ILIT can provide control over a life insurance policy that a last will and testament may not. The “irrevocable” part of that trust means that its creator, or grantor, can’t amend it once it’s set up. Such a trust has its benefits, but there are variable to consider before setting it in stone. Read More...
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Editor's Picks
Apr 19, 2019 Many people dread tax season. But if you're expecting a tax refund for the 2018 tax season (which you filed in 2019), you've got something…
Mar 29, 2019 "Chartered financial analyst" (CFA) and "certified financial planner" (CFP) are common certifications for individuals working in finance,…
Mar 13, 2019 If your portfolio is too large for you to handle on your own, it may be time to call in a professional. Wealth managers work with their…
Apr 09, 2019 Fee-only financial planners earn compensation for their services only. They don't earn commissions or kick-backs for recommending certain…
Feb 11, 2019 If you’re young and you're looking to purchase a new home to live in, maybe you should consider turning your first home into an investment…
Data Articles and Studies
Tech jobs are particularly desirable, because they pay well, show long-term signs of growth and are less vulnerable to automation. But women have faced systemic difficulties in getting these jobs. And even when women do find jobs in the tech world, they earn 84% of what men in tech do, according to Census Bureau data, and thus have less opportunity to save. This is true at the national level, but there are some cities where parity between men and women in tech is less of a concern. Read More...
A large majority (75%) of taxpayers overpay on taxes and receive a tax refund, according to IRS data. A smaller proportion (19%) see the opposite: They will have overestimated their withholdings and learn they still owe the IRS some money. Apart from overpaying and underpaying, there is another small, exclusive group of savvy Americans who manage the Goldilocks fantasy: withholding just the right amount so, come tax time, the tax balance between them and the IRS reads an even zero. Read More...
Americans have greater than $800 billion in outstanding credit card debt, according to data from the New York Federal Reserve. What’s more, roughly 8% of credit card debt is delinquent by 90 days or more. If you’re someone saddled by debt and trying to avoid those lofty interest rates by paying it off, moving somewhere affordable with high-paying jobs is a great strategy. That allows you to accumulate money in your savings account so you can easily pay off any charges you rack up. Below, we rank the best places to get out of debt. Read More...
Videos
Patrice Washington says she is an accidental personal finance blogger. Regardless, it’s a role she seems born to play, and one she’s certainly making the most of! Patrice is now much more than a personal finance blogger, she is a personal finance educator, author and advocate. You can see, hear and read Patrice pretty much everywhere from the Steve Harvey TV and radio show to her own books on personal finance. We caught up with Patrice in New Orleans for this edition of SmartAsset Talks. Read More...
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