Andy | Saving to Invest

Obama Jobs Act – 2012 Payroll Tax cuts, Unemployment Extension, Infrastructure Spending and Small Business Incentives

[Update Sep 2011] - President Obama has revealed details on his new $447 billion Americans Jobs Act and it is pretty much in line with what I had referenced in my earlier update (see below) before his speech. Here are the main things he is proposing that now go to…

Middle Class Doomed as Millionaires Boom – How You Can Join the Ranks of the Rich

According to a recent report from the Deloitte Center for Financial Services, the total number of US families with a net worth of over $1 million will double by 2020. All this while the unemployment rate hovers around 10% amidst a tight job market undergoing significant structural reform. Overall, the…

Obama’s 2012 Job Creation Stimulus and Tax Cuts – Can the New Economic Plan Really Boost The Economy and Lower Unemployment?

[Update - American Jobs Act a.k.a 2012 Economic Stimulus] In what is essentially the 2012 stimulus package, President Obama has released details on the American Jobs Act which involves spending over $400 billion dollars to boost economic growth. The key provisions are: Extension of employee payroll tax cuts into 2012,…

Saving $95,000 by Refinancing into a Lower Rate and Shorter Duration Mortgage

Many homeowners with good credit are ditching their old 30-year fixed rate mortgages for the 15-year or 20-year versions. This is primarily to leverage historically low rates for these shorter duration loans and benefit from the significant interest savings over the life of the loan. In fact, a friend of…

Health Insurance Tax Credits to Help Millions of Middle-Class Families in Affordable Insurance Exchanges

As part of new regulations under Obama's health care legislation the U.S. Department of the Treasury and the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) today took the next steps to establish Affordable Insurance Exchanges – one-stop marketplaces where consumers can choose a private health insurance plan that fits their…

Small Business Retirement Plans – 401k, SEP IRA, Simple IRA and ESOP plans – 2022-2023 Contribution Limits

Although many large organizations offer retirement savings plans, it is not necessary to be a part of corporate America in order to take advantage of tax-deductible retirement plans for investing in your future. In fact, as a self-employed small business owner or an employee of a small business, you have several options…

Payroll Tax Credit and Unemployment Insurance Benefits Extension

See updated details on the potential 2020 payroll tax cut [Updated- 2012 Payroll Tax Credit Holiday, Unemployment Benefits and Medicare Doctor Payments Extended to Dec 31st] With House Republican support Congress has passed legislation extending the federal payroll tax holiday through the end of the year without demanding spending cuts…

New Tax Credits and Programs to Help Unemployed Veterans – Wounded Warrior Work Opportunity & Returning Heroes Tax Credit

The Obama administration has proposed a host of new tax credits and programs to encourage employers to hire our growing army of veterans, particularly those that have been unemployed for a considerable time. This latest commitment to service members and veterans aims to provide a comprehensive plan to lower unemployment…

3 Types of Free Auto Insurance Quotes You Should Be Getting

Auto insurance is probably one of the most competitive industries out there. This is generally good news for consumers, who have access to hundreds of insurers and a myriad of options. However, because it is easier and the more hassle-free option many people tend to stick with their existing insurer…

2013 Debt Ceiling Increase Debate – Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, Defense, Education and Food Stamp Spending Cuts

[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…

Don’t Trade Company Earnings For a Short Term Gain

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…

Can You Afford to Start a Family? Important Financial Questions to Consider

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…

2024 vs. 2025 Alternative Minimum Tax (AMT) Income Exemption Phase-out Amounts

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…

How Much Do Americans Make? Breakdown by State Household Median Income

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…