Your car insurance premiums may be some of your largest regular expenses, especially when you’re just starting out. But there are some easy ways to save money on car insurance while still having valuable coverage – which could save you hundreds of dollars every year. Increase your deductible. Increasing the deductibles on your collision and comprehensive coverage from $500 to …
5 Things You Need to Know About Required IRA Withdrawals
If you’ve been saving for years in a traditional IRA or a 401(k), you’ve benefited from the tax-deferred growth of your investments. But you’ll finally have to pay Uncle Sam when you take the money out. You must start taking withdrawals after you turn age 70 ½, even if you don’t need the money. The following strategies can help you …
Get a Triple Tax Break from Health Savings Accounts
Health Savings Accounts are more than just a tax-advantaged way to pay for medical expenses. They can also help you reduce your taxable income, save for retirement, and even serve as a back-up emergency fund. There are a lot of misconceptions about who can contribute to an HSA and how they work. Here are answers to some key questions about …
How and Why You Should Improve Your Credit Score
Your credit score not only affects your interest rate for a mortgage, car loan and credit cards, but it can also have an impact on your car insurance premiums and even your ability to rent an apartment or get a cell phone. It’s important to stay on top of your credit score even if you don’t plan to apply for …
What You Need to Know About Signing Up for Medicare
More than 10,000 Baby Boomers turn 65 every day and they need to learn how to navigate a new system: Medicare. Even the first step – signing up – can be tricky. If you don’t know what you’re doing, you could be hit with a penalty, pay more than you need to, or end up with big gaps in coverage. …
Make the Most of Special Financial Benefits for Military Families
Members of the military and their families have special financial challenges because they tend to move frequently and may be deployed to dangerous locations on short notice. But military families also have access to some financial benefits that aren’t available to civilians. Here’s how to make the most of these valuable opportunities to improve your personal finances – and how …