- Understanding FINRA Rule 2111: Suitability
Financial professionals who recommend clients buy a security or financial product are held to ethical standards that can be enforced by law. One such standard is known as the suitability rule, which is described in Rule 2111 of the Financial… read more…
- Is the Santa Claus Rally Real? – 2020 Study
The U.S. stock market hit record highs leading up to Thanksgiving in 2020. Two days before the holiday this year, the Dow Jones and S&P 500 indexes broke 30,000 and 3,600 points, respectively. While some stock analysts and investors are concerned that these prices belie a frothy market soon set to pop, others speculate that… read more…
- Fiduciary Duty vs. Suitability Standards
Two key terms that retail investors are likely to run across when looking for an investment expert are “fiduciary” and “suitability.” The terms describe the standard of care and behavior that investment professionals are expected to follow when dealing with investors. Investment experts who follow the fiduciary standard are required to put their clients’ interests ahead… read more…
- How to Minimize Your Self-Employment Taxes
The self-employment (SE) tax is the equivalent of the tax regular employees and their employers pay. It’s the way self-employed people, freelancers and independent contractors contribute to the Social Security and Medicare funds. With a tax rate of 15.3% applying to… read more…
- A Guide to Prenuptial Agreements in California
As you prepare for marriage, you’re probably thinking about everything but a prenuptial agreement, otherwise known as a prenup. However, even people in rock-solid relationships sometimes choose to sign a prenup. Every state, including California, has laws that pertain to… read more…
- How to Write Your Financial Aid Appeal Letter
When you fill out the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA), you should receive written notification from your school of choice explaining how much aid you qualify for and what type. A financial aid appeal letter is a written… read more…
- Understanding Form CRS
When working with a financial advisor, it’s important to understand what services they provide and how they’re compensated. Reviewing your advisor’s Form CRS, also known as a client or customer relationship summary, is a good place to start. This form… read more…
- Does a Prenup Protect My Future Assets?
A prenuptial agreement is a legal document that couples contemplating marriage use to lay out financial and other obligations that would come into play in the event of divorce or the death of one of the partners. Prenups are primarily… read more…
- What Is Purchase APR?
Credit card issuers can charge you additional interest for making purchases while carrying balances on your credit card. This fee is known as purchase annual percentage rate, and it varies depending on your provider. In this guide, we tell you everything you need to know about purchase APRs. A financial advisor can help you manage… read more…
- What Is an Independent Contractor?
Independent contractors are professionals hired by individuals (or companies) to perform a service. Each one has different classifications under the IRS, which also means different tax obligations. However, it can sometimes be difficult to make the distinction between an independent contractor… read more…
- How to Establish and Build Business Credit
Access to credit lets small business owners acquire inventory and equipment, hire new employees, weather seasonal fluctuations and expand. Establishing and building business credit is an important task for any business that isn’t prepared to pay cash for anything it… read more…
- How Much Does a Prenup Cost?
When planning for a marriage, couples may not consider the possibility of divorce. However, many financial experts recommend that everyone get a prenup in case a divorce occurs. The marriage rate is 5.1 per 1,000 people while the divorce rate… read more…
- 4 Expense Report Apps to Consider
Controlling costs is a central task for all businesses, and the job starts with tracking and reporting expenses. A plethora of well-designed expense report apps can help with this essential task. The best simplify collecting data is by scanning receipts… read more…
- How to Pay for College: Strategies and Tips
Figuring out how to pay for college can be one of your biggest financial challenges, whether you’re a student or a parent who’s preparing to send one of your kids to school. According to CollegeBoard, the average cost of tuition… read more…
- Places Where Americans Give the Most to Charity – 2020 Edition
About three in four American adults (73%) said they donated money to a charitable organization in the past year, according to an April 2020 Gallup poll. That’s a new record low, beneath even the charitable giving rate of the Great Recession era. Though the coronavirus pandemic, with its elevated unemployment, may have made Americans less… read more…
- What Are Trailing Returns and How Do They Work?
Mutual funds can offer a streamlined way to build an investment portfolio. Rather than purchasing individual stocks or bonds, you can buy mutual fund shares to gain exposure to multiple investments in a single basket. Evaluating the quality of mutual… read more…
- What Are the Stock Market Holidays?
Several reasons play a role in when and why the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) might temporarily close its markets, but the primary “culprit” behind the closings is national holidays. There are 10 main holidays on which NYSE closes its… read more…
- 5 States With No Sales Tax
Just as there are several states with no income taxes, there are also multiple states forgoing sales taxes. These states don’t impose state-level sales taxes, meaning you won’t be assessed an additional fee when purchasing a retail good or service.… read more…
- What Are the Different Types of Business Structures?
One of the most important decisions when starting a business is the business structure. The choice of business entity significantly affects matters like liability, taxes, control, financing and regulation, according to the Small Business Administration. While it’s possible to change… read more…
- Do Small Business Owners Need a Financial Advisor?
Running a small business can take up a significant amount of time and energy. You may be wondering if you should hire a business financial advisor to help stay on top of your business and personal finances. A financial advisor… read more…
- How to Calculate Inventory Turnover Ratio
The number of times a business sells and replaces its stock over a given time period is its inventory turnover ratio. The inventory turnover ratio, also sometimes called stock turns or inventory turns, helps retailers monitor and manage inventory. The… read more…
- What Are Current Liabilities?
Current liabilities are short-term business debts that are due to be paid before the end of the current fiscal year. These upcoming charges are reported on a company’s balance sheet. Current liabilities include obligations such as accounts payable and amounts… read more…
- Private Label: What It Is, Examples & More
Private label products are purchased by a retailer from a manufacturer and sold under the retailer’s own brand. Private label brands, also known as store brands, compete with national name brand products, often primarily on price but also sometimes on… read more…
- Guide to Short-Term Business Loans
If you need working capital for your small business over a period of three years or less, a short-term business loan could be right for you. Short-term loans help businesses acquire needed equipment, hire new staff and address cash flow… read more…
- What Is a Sinking Fund?
Say you have a $10,000 loan and are considering how to pay for it. You have two choices to make. One way would be to increase the amount you pay or the frequency of your payments. However, a second way… read more…