Money Today That Matters Tomorrow
[2013 Update] As I was updating this article, originally written in mid-2011 following the first debt ceiling deal, I got a major sense of deja-vu. After 18 months we are back in the same place with a dysfunctional Congress who barely passed legislation to avert the fiscal cliff. But it’s …
Short term traders love earnings season and much like all things investing, the opinions of what to do with earnings season are as varied as the direction of markets tomorrow. Although every trader says they’re making money, are they telling the truth? Is trading during earnings season really a profitable …
Starting a family is a big step to take, this goes without question. This step manifests in many ways and one that is particularly noticeable is how having children can impact your finances. Children are a lot of things: lovable, inspiring, purpose-giving, and expensive. Some people think that buying a home …
Following enactment of the American Tax Relief Act (ATRA) a few years ago, the annual “AMT patch” legislation that Congress had to pass every year to ensure more people were not snagged by the Alternative Minimum tax is now no longer required. Instead the AMT exemption and associated thresholds based …
Is $68,000 considered a good income that you and your family can comfortably live on? Probably not in most places, but this is roughly the median income of the average American household in 2019 (before the pandemic!). Or stated another way – 50% of households make less than this amount, while …
With more than half the year in the rear view mirror, it’s time to start thinking about your potential annual tax liability and actions you can take to legally minimize what you will have pay the IRS. Here then are some easy to action mid-year tax moves that you should have on your radar now, rather than waiting till …
[Update as of July 23rd] It’s time to pay for the American dream. In various discussions around how to cut the national debt, so that we don’t have to keep raising the debt ceiling, one theme that is common in most plans is that Americans now and for generations to …
Using credit cards has become a way of life for many of us. For the most part, credit cards do offer a convenient way to make purchases, and they enable us to walk around without mounds of cash in our pockets. In return for this and other conveniences like reward …
Many people are confused when it comes to what the official retirement age(s) are. Which is unfortunate, because this is key for figuring when you can access your retirement savings without penalty, and to figure out how much you need to save for retirement. Here then is a quick recap …
Ever been curious about the seeming universality of the desire to purchase goods and services without paying for them immediately? Many credit card users fall victim to this desire for instant gratification knowing full well they can’t actually afford what they bought without going into debt. Deferring payment until tomorrow …
The US Bureau of Economic Analysis has released the 2010 Gross Domestic Product (GDP) figures which showed a 2.6% average increase across the nation. As the graphic below shows 48 states and Washington DC experienced real GDP growth, led by the eastern seaboard states. Texas, North Dakota and Oregon were …
Updated Information – Click here for the latest tax bracket tables and rates and current tax season information. 2012 and 2011 tax rates stayed the same as 2010 levels thanks to an extension of the Bush-era tax cuts. This has been confirmed by the IRS with the release of 2012 tax …
This site is focused on covering financial topics and the like where making money, saving money and spending money are key themes. As I research the topics I write about I often come across various articles that talk about the important things in life, and in the vast majority of …
With stock markets booming, it is little surprising that 401K retirement plan balances are at record highs. In a recent study covering 20 million participants across nearly 23,000 corporate plans, the nations largest retirement plan administrator Fidelity Investments, found that the average 401(k) account balance was over $129,000 last year, up …