- What Is a Trade Line and How Does It Work?
When you open a new credit account, financial institutions create what is known as a “trade line.” A trade line is a record of a credit account, including its status and activity, as reported by lenders to credit reporting agencies. It reflects your borrowing and repayment behavior, playing a significant role in shaping your credit… read more…
- What Is a High-Yield Corporate Bond?
Corporate bonds, which are a type of debt security, function as a tool for corporations to raise capital. A high-yield corporate bond offers higher interest rates than a typical corporate bond because it carries a higher risk of default. The “high yield” refers to the greater interest or coupon rate that investors receive as compensation… read more…
- What Is GDC for Financial Advisors?
A gross dealer concession (GDC) gets paid to a brokerage firm when a financial product is sold by a salesperson or financial advisor on commission. These products include securities like stocks, bonds or mutual funds, as well as insurance products like annuities or long-term care. A percentage of that GDC will also get paid to… read more…
- Financial Planning Before, During and After a Divorce
Navigating the complex world of finance is difficult enough on its own, but when you combine it with the emotional upheaval and legal proceedings of a divorce, it can become overwhelming. Financial planning at different stages of the divorce process is vital to minimize financial risks, ensure fair asset division and build a secure financial… read more…
- 7 Financial Planning Strategies for Single Women
If you’re a single woman, most general financial advice also applies to you — but with a twist. As the gender pay gap holds steady, you may need to be a little more vigilant to create an independent financial future. Here… read more…
- How Does High-Net-Worth Lending Work?
If you’re going to the bank for a loan, you might think it would be easier as a millionaire. However, when it comes to high-net-worth lending, more money can mean more problems if the individual doesn’t have conventional income or… read more…
- 10 Financial Planning Tips for Young Adults
Getting your financial footing can be a challenge when you’re young, especially if you have student loan payments or a new mortgage make you feel penniless. However, it’s never too early to start financial planning. By creating a budget, improving… read more…
- 5 Financial Planning Tips for Millennials
Millennials — generally defined as adults born between 1981 and 1996 — face some unique challenges when it comes to financial planning. While the oldest millennials are entering midlife and potentially their peak earning years, the youngest may just be… read more…
- Roth IRA Income Limits for 2024 and 2025
A Roth individual retirement account (IRA) can be a helpful tool for retirement planning. These tax-advantaged accounts offer a way to save money in addition to what you might be contributing to a 401(k) or similar workplace plan. And if… read more…
- Marriage Dissolution vs. Divorce
If your marriage is coming to an end there are many important decisions that lie ahead. One of the biggest is deciding between a marriage dissolution or a divorce. Both dissolution and divorce are legal processes, and the outcome is exactly… read more…
- What Is Depreciation and How Is It Calculated?
Depreciation is a concept and a method that recognizes that some business assets become less valuable over time and provides a way to calculate and record the effects of this. Depreciation impacts a business’s income statements and balance sheets, smoothing… read more…
- How to Retire in Japan: Costs, Visas and More
Japan is known for bullet trains, amazing cuisine and some of the cleanest, litter-free streets in the world. Overall, the nation is a beautiful place to both visit and live. In addition to its beautiful landscapes, there are plenty of… read more…
- Financial Planning for Couples
Managing the finances of two people is significantly more complicated than doing the same job for a singleton. Couples planning their financial lives often have more concerns, more accounts and more documents as part of their plans compared to two… read more…
- The SECURE 2.0 Act & Student Loan Matching: What Is It and Who Qualifies?
The SECURE 2.0 Act has opened a new door for burdened student loan borrowers by offering a side door to achieving loan payoff and making crucial retirement contributions as soon as possible. But many are still left confused about this… read more…
- Doing a Roth Rollover? Beware the 5-Year Rule
The Roth IRA has been called “the Swiss Army knife” of personal finance because of its flexibility and the tax-free status of its earnings. That’s the reason so many retiring workers move to roll their workplace 401(k) accounts into a… read more…
- Divorce Planning Checklist: How to Prepare
Divorce is difficult, regardless of the circumstances. To get through this hard time, it can help to focus on concrete solutions. That’s where a divorce checklist comes in. A divorce checklist can offer a sense of clarity and direction when… read more…
- Everything You Need to Know About This Hot Investment That Can Generate Guaranteed Retirement Income
When planning for retirement, there are myriad options for how to invest. The most common option is to use a retirement account — either a workplace plan like a 401(k) or one you get through a financial institution like an… read more…
- What Is a Letter of Credit and How Is it Used?
A letter of credit is a written document from a bank guaranteeing the seller of a product or service will be paid as long as the goods or services are provided, as specified. Letters of credit are widely used as… read more…
- High-Net-Worth Financial Planning
Financial planning is the process of creating a plan for managing your money and assets. High-net-worth financial planning is aimed specifically at individuals and families who have accumulated a greater degree of wealth. If you’re a high-net-worth individual (HNWI), it’s… read more…
- What Is Copy Trading and Should You Do It?
If you want a portfolio that matches the performance of investing pros, copy trading may help. In a nutshell, copy trading emulates a stock market expert’s trading activity. If you think this sounds like a smart strategy, keep in mind… read more…
- Social Security Disability Benefits for Dependents
Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) can pay benefits to the family members of someone who is disabled and unable to work. Spouses, children and even ex-spouses of someone receiving SSDI benefits may qualify for their own monthly payments. Each qualifying… read more…
- Private Banking vs. Wealth Management
While some may use the terms private banking and wealth management interchangeably, there are important differences between them. Wealth management typically involves tailored financial planning services, investment management or a combination of both. Private banking usually entails a variety of… read more…
- How Do Medical Savings Accounts Work?
A medical savings account (MSA) is a tax-advantaged account in some Medicare Advantage plans with high deductibles. MSAs resemble the health savings accounts (HSAs) available to members of non-Medicare high-deductible health plans (HDHPs). Medicare funds MSAs with tax-free contributions, and… read more…
- Divorce Process: Step-by-Step Guide
Getting divorced can be much more complicated than getting married. The process required to end a marriage also involves lots more interaction with the legal system and, in some cases, can require the help of attorneys, many thousands of dollars… read more…
- End-of-Year Financial Planning Checklist
The end of the year means different things for different people as they come up with resolutions and set their intentions to improve various aspects of their lives. But there’s one thing that everyone should do as the calendar starts… read more…